The entire region of Koroška is identified as an area with limited possibilities for farming. Because of its steep slopes and high altitudes, the region falls within the hill and mountain areas.
According to the data provided by the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning, the region is covered with 27 % of the Natura 2000 areas. Among these are also areas within the Karavanke Geopark, the Pohorje Hills, and areas along the River Drava.
The Koroška region is facing development problems. In comparison to other regions, all indicators show that Koroška is below the Slovenian average (with the exception of a relatively young but rapidly ageing population). The region is increasingly falling behind the most developed regions, and according to the development risk index, it is in 8th place out of 12 Slovenian regions.
On the basis of its own development potentials, the region seeks opportunities in the development of existing activities, as well as new, environmentally-friendly activities with a higher value added (particularly in the further development of the metal processing industry, the automotive industry component manufacture, the development of the wood-processing industry, tourism, and food self-sufficiency).
The Koroška region's vision by 2020 is to become (as well as remain) an economically successful and a socially and spatially connected community, encouraging creativity, entrepreneurship, openness, and inclusiveness of everyone, while enabling its population to enjoy a high quality of life, healthy and safe working conditions, clean environment, and a sustainable management of natural resources.