'There’s a whole different kind of life here'

By Mette Meldgaard
Photo Mette Meldgaard

It was summer, everything was buzzing with life, and nature was in full bloom.

Milea Lasthein and Balder Dyekjær were met with all the nature they could dream of when they arrived in Kolpa Landscape Park in Slovenia last August, where they were to spend the next eight months as interns.

- It was incredibly beautiful, very idyllic, and felt a bit like we had driven straight into a postcard, recalls 25‑year‑old Milea Lasthein.

One of the first things they did was walk across the meadows to get closer to the Kolpa River, which forms a natural border between southeastern Slovenia’s Bela krajina region and northwestern Croatia.

- We reached a meadow greener than anything I’ve ever seen. It was full of butterflies, and there were praying mantises and lizards everywhere while European bee‑eaters were flying above our heads, says 23‑year‑old Balder Dyekjær.

These first impressions remain vivid in their memory. Today - on a freezing, snowy day in January - they recount their first encounter with the park and Slovenian nature.

A small country with big nature

This hilly, mountainous country lies between Croatia, Hungary, Austria and Italy, with access to both the Mediterranean and the Alps, and a short 47‑kilometre coastline along the Adriatic Sea.

It’s an ideal setting for nature.

Each habitat type has its own species, and the overlap between them creates 'ecozones' - transition zones where plants and animals from different ecosystems coexist.

- And that boosts biodiversity tremendously, Balder Dyekjær emphasizes enthusiastically.

Slovenia is also rich in forest. In fact, 58% of the country is covered by woodland - an impressive proportion for a nation about half the size of Denmark.

The road to Slovenia

The young Danes’ enthusiasm for the Central European country is clear and infectious. Yet it was almost by chance that they ended up in Slovenia at all.

Their goal was to find an internship somewhere within the EU so they could apply for the Erasmus grant. But few students from the Danish School of Forestry at the university of Copenhagen go abroad, so there wasn’t much guidance or many contacts available.

So their journey began with a simple Google search: 'nature parks Europe'. That produced a long list. They sent off resumes and applications across the continent and then heard nothing. Until an email suddenly arrived from Slovenia.

It was from Vesna Fabjan, director of Kolpa Landscape Park, who immediately saw potential in the inquiry from Denmark.

- As a former teacher, I’m very aware of how important it is for students to learn in a real, authentic environment. I will always support and encourage young people to gain hands‑on experience in the park whenever possible, she says when VÆKST visits the park headquarters in the village of Adlešiči.

The benefits go both ways, she adds.

- We also learn a lot from our interns, who bring new perspectives, ideas and experiences. This exchange of knowledge is enriching for both sides.

Milea Lasthein and Balder Dyekjær seized the opportunity right away even though they barely knew anything about Slovenia.

- I’d heard a little about Slovenia and maybe that it had a lot of nature. But I had no idea what kind of nature especially not in this region, Balder Dyekjær says.

Six months into their internship, Milea Lasthein feels it wasn’t a coincidence after all.

- It turned out to be absolutely perfect that we ended up here especially considering how incredible the nature is.

^{Director Vesna Fabjan at the park's headquarters in the village of Adlešiči.}

A formative journey

A new culture, a foreign language and different ways of thinking and working are all part of uprooting yourself and moving abroad. And it takes time to settle in.

- Before we arrived, I worried that people wouldn’t really take us seriously because we’re still students, Milea Lasthein admits.

But her worries proved unfounded.

- We’re often asked for input, and we can contribute new knowledge too. At the same time, it’s not our country and Slovenians know how things work here, so sometimes we just sit down and listen.

Communication requires effort from everyone. Not everyone speaks English, and sometimes gestures are needed.

- It can be challenging, but you figure it out, Balder Dyekjær says.

They’ve also discovered that many older locals speak a bit of German so suddenly German verbs are dusted off. And overall, they’ve met great openness and curiosity.

- Even if they don’t understand us, they want to. Slovenians are amazing to interact with. In Denmark, we tend to keep to ourselves, he reflects.

Professionally and personally, this is a formative journey, one that requires adaptability daily. Plans change quickly, and the interns are given a remarkable amount of trust.

- We’re given a lot of creative freedom to solve our tasks and they trust us to do it well and on time, Milea Lasthein says.

From the director’s side, the praise is mutual.

- Milea and Balder are exceptionally motivated and proactive students. They’ve impressed us with their strong commitment to nature and their willingness to engage in all kinds of work, says Vesna Fabjan with a smile.

- In many ways, they feel like a natural fit for our team and we would gladly keep them.

A mosaic of landscapes and edge zones

Nature in Kolpa Landscape Park is largely unspoiled, while centuries of human presence have shaped a unique cultural landscape.

The narrow park follows 40 kilometres of the Kolpa River - one of Europe’s cleanest and warmest rivers, still suitable for swimming.

- Nature here is remarkably well preserved and characterised by exceptionally high biodiversity, Vesna Fabjan explains.

That biodiversity is supported by clean waterways, varied habitats and vast forest areas.

Agriculture has also played its role. The steep terrain of Bela krajina is unsuitable for intensive farming but perfect for traditional, extensive agriculture, which helps maintain open habitats and supports biodiversity.

- This long‑standing balance between nature and low‑intensity human activity is one of the defining features of the park.

The Danish interns have also been fascinated by this.

- In the small flat areas you’ll find a field. In the bottom of a hollow you might find a vegetable garden. On the slopes, sheep or other animals graze. And right next to it, you have shrubs or forest. The edge effects and mosaic landscape exist here in a way we’d never see in Denmark, Balder Dyekjær explains.

- There are microclimates everywhere. Each area covers less than a hectare, and together they create a complex mosaic that tremendously boosts biodiversity.

Ownership of the land is another mosaic entirely.

^{Winter version of the Kolpa River with a view to Croatia.}

Management and diplomacy

Driving through the park, you pass one small village after another and see numerous small farms - an accurate reflection of the fragmented land ownership.

75 percent of the park is privately owned. The rest belongs to the state, the municipality or the park itself. Management therefore depends heavily on communication, dialogue and cooperation.

- We strive to present the park as something positive for local communities not as an obstacle, but as an opportunity. That’s why we actively involve residents in our activities and ensure the park creates additional opportunities and concrete benefits for them, explains Vesna Fabjan.

This understanding is also crucial for the interns.

- If we want to create a pond, for example, it’s essential to have a good relationship with the landowner so we can explain why the pond should be there and why it’s a good idea, Balder Dyekjær says.

Without cooperation, the park can’t get far with its projects, Milea Lasthein adds.

- There’s a strong pride among Slovenians about their land and how they manage it. Someone like me a ‘desk type,’ as we’re sometimes called can’t just walk in and decide to do something cool on their property. But if you can explain why it makes sense, they’ll gladly participate.

Some landowners are even enthusiastic.

- Some literally throw their arms in the air with excitement and don’t even need our help. They’ll cut down invasive bamboo themselves, for example, Balder Dyekjær says.

Rolling up their sleeves

Because of this complex ownership structure, the interns have worked extensively with monitoring and mapping.

From tracking heron populations, bird counts along the river, and mapping beaver activity some of which has flooded nearby fields.

Using GPS devices or their phones, they map selected areas, take photos, draw polygons and later match everything with cadastral data back at the office.

Balder Dyekjær describes one example: a Natura 2000 grassland that was becoming overgrown.

- The area was 10 hectares, and it ended up being around 300 parcels. Luckily not 300 different owners but still 300 parcels to check.

This large‑scale monitoring lays the groundwork for future management and projects provided the landowners agree. And this is where the many cups of coffee come in.

The interns have also gotten their hands dirty tackling invasive plants one of the biggest challenges along the river. A 40‑kilometre riverbank leaves plenty of room for invasive species, including Rudbeckia laciniata.

- There are over 20 invasive plant species here, Balder Dyekjær explains.

- After mapping them, we went out with gloves and pulled them up by the roots to try to reduce their spread. Some may return, but with less energy to grow to their previous size.

Another challenge is that landowners across the river in Croatia are not tackling invasives and the river pressure from tourism in summer is unsustainable.

Kolpa Landscape Park has now taken the initiative to start cross‑border dialogue with Croatia.

^{One of the projects the interns have followed closely is the restoration of a waterhole, which was originally built as a drinking water supply for cattle in the area. Today, the waterhole is an important habitat for amphibians, birds and insects.}

Balance

Milea Lasthein and Balder Dyekjær still have a couple of months left before they return to Denmark but the experience has already left a deep impression.

Most of all, they’ve been struck by Slovenia’s balance between people, animals and nature.

- Slovenians really understand a more holistic way of coexisting with nature. It doesn’t have to be as divided as we often see in Denmark. You can have small‑scale farming, nature and forest all side by side, Milea Lasthein says.

Balder Dyekjær agrees.

- They understand the interplay and they care about respecting nature. It’s so important, and it’s a message I really want to spread: that we can coexist with nature. Everyone can benefit there doesn’t have to be a loser.

In Slovenia, it’s natural that wolves, bears and lynx live freely. In rural Bela krajina, many people have sheep, horses and cattle but they also typically have a livestock guardian dog.

- Learning how Slovenians live alongside three large predators in a country half the size of Denmark has been incredibly inspiring, Milea Lasthein says.

- And as long as everyone respects each other, there’s room for all.

The nature-rich country has left a lasting impact on the two interns, who are certain they’ll return one day.

- You develop a bond with the country, the projects we’ve worked on, the park and the people here. It’s no longer just an internship. It’s become a huge part of our lives and identities something you can’t just say goodbye to.