You are invited to explore the Jovsi Natural Park.
Jovsi is the name of a 460-hectare area of wet meadows along the Sotla River, located between the Kapelske gorice hills. The area is protected as a natural monument and is part of the Natura 2000 network. It is a wetland where numerous rare and endangered plant and animal species have found their habitat.
Jovsi is a scientifically rich area of floodplains and marshlands, harboring a great diversity of plant and animal species. The natural features and extensive farming practices create favorable conditions for about 60 bird species, including some of European importance such as the white-tailed eagle, golden oriole, black stork, corncrake, and black-eared wheatear. Notably, two species, the little bittern and black-headed bunting, reside here and are endangered in Europe. Quails, grasshopper warblers, and sedge warblers are also abundant. Besides birds, many other animal species have found their home here. The regulated stream Šica and former river backwaters provide ideal breeding grounds for several amphibian species, while the bankside plants host the marsh fritillary butterfly.
In addition to the rich animal life, Jovsi is also a habitat for numerous plant species. There are 132 recorded plant species, including some exceptionally rare ones such as the common sundew, marsh orchid, hairy helleborine, and duckweed.
Visitors to the Jovsi Natural Park can also explore the Koščevo Trail, a 1 km-long path that leads from Kapele to the outskirts of the Jovsi park. The trail is marked and equipped with informative panels. At the end of the trail in Jovsi, there is an observation tower, and in the center of the village, there is an information room with displays and other interactive elements.
