When we come together for nature, great things can happen. And one such story is unfolding right here in Pohorje!
The Rogla–Pohorje Tourist Destination has been selected for the Green Destinations Top 100 Stories 2026 with its story "United for Pohorje: How Collaboration Laid the Foundations for the Pohorje Regional Park" – joining an inspiring collection of sustainable tourism stories from around the world.
This international recognition highlights the importance of cooperation in preserving natural heritage and developing responsible tourism. Our story is not simply about establishing a protected area. Above all, it is about people who recognised that the future of Pohorje is a shared responsibility.
Pohorje is one of Slovenia's most valuable natural areas. Its forests, raised bogs, the Lovrenc Lakes, meadows and rich biodiversity form an exceptional natural heritage that we want to preserve for future generations.
But nature knows no municipal boundaries. For many years, different municipalities, organisations and institutions were responsible for protecting and developing various parts of Pohorje, each with their own priorities and interests. Over time, it became increasingly clear that challenges such as climate change, tourism pressures and the protection of sensitive ecosystems could not be addressed effectively by working separately.
The solution was cooperation.
Six municipalities – Zreče, Vitanje, Mislinja, Lovrenc na Pohorju, Ruše and Slovenska Bistrica – joined forces with the national government, nature conservation organisations, regional development agencies and tourism stakeholders to create a shared vision for Pohorje's future.
A major milestone was the establishment of the Pohorje Regional Park in 2024, followed by the signing of a cooperation agreement on its management and financing in January 2025.
Today, the Pohorje Regional Park provides a common framework for protecting natural values, managing visitor flows, environmental education and developing sustainable tourism.
This cooperation creates new opportunities to protect sensitive habitats, develop nature-friendly experiences, improve the interpretation of natural and cultural heritage, and involve local communities.
Special attention is also given to young people, encouraging future generations to recognise the value of Pohorje's natural environment and their role in protecting it.
Perhaps the greatest achievement, however, is not simply the establishment of the park, but a change in the way we think. Pohorje is increasingly recognised as one connected landscape – a shared natural heritage that can only be preserved in the long term through cooperation.
Being selected among the TOP 100 sustainable tourism stories is a recognition of everyone who contributed to the establishment of the Pohorje Regional Park – municipalities, institutions, experts, local organisations, tourism providers and residents.
At the same time, it encourages us to continue our work. Many challenges still lie ahead, from protecting natural values and managing tourism responsibly to strengthening the involvement of local communities.
What has this journey taught us? That lasting change does not begin with boundaries on a map, but with people who choose to work together towards a common goal.
And it is precisely this spirit of cooperation that remains Pohorje's greatest strength.