A law has been developed to establish several protected areas, regional and national parks, as well as the landscape in the Karst region. There is only one national park now and there are suggestions to have such a status for seven of the most important regions of rich natural values. The Alpine areas could be used for water supply. Wetlands are another natural value but there is a serious problem of protecting those in the vicinity of large towns like Koper and along the Mura river. Transboundary pollution at the coast in the Karst region coming from Italy.
Surface water is polluted due to the lack of waste treatment facilities.
Slovenia has no facilities for solid and hazardous waste deposits which are currently stored at the industrial sites and presenting a major hazard for the country. The most serious health hazard occurred a few years ago when the river Krupa was contaminated by Polychlorinated byphenols.