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Status and Trends of Biodiversity

Overview

Slovakia is largely located within the mountainous territory of the western Carpathian arch. 40.8% of the country’s territory is covered by forest whereas the 50% is covered by agricultural land. During the last 40 years, many species-rich meadows and pastures were converted into intensively managed grasslands, therefore reducing species diversity. Vineyards, gardens and orchards cover small areas distributed throughout the country. They represent islands of higher biodiversity in the intensively used agricultural land and are important for the preservation of genetic diversity of cultivated plant species. The most endangered habitats in Slovakia are aquatic and wetland ecosystems as a result of drainage, dams, agricultural runoff and industrial pollution. In Slovakia, 2 939 species of vascular and non-vascular plants are threatened, up by 230 cases from the 2001 assessment, and 1 356 species are protected. Protected plant species represent 12.05% of all plants in Slovakia. Furthermore, 2 248 animal species are threatened, of which 754 are protected in Slovakia. In accordance with the EU legislation, all bird species naturally occurring in the European territory of the EU Member States are protected in Slovakia.

Number and Extent of Protected Areas

The total network of protected areas including buffer zones currently covers more than 22% of the Slovak territory. Two National Parks and two Protected Landscape Areas belong to UNESCO’s Biosphere Reserves and 7 Ramsar sites have been designated.

National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan

Major features of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

The 24 goals of the strategy include the identification of the status of biological diversity components, managing threatening processes, strengthening of in-situ biodiversity conservation and promoting ecologically sound and sustainable tourism concepts. Detailed strategic directions are given for each of these goals, for instance the designation of authorities for biosafety control including the establishment of an early warning system.
 

• National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan Part 1 (English)
• National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan Part 2 (English)
• National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan Part 3 (English)

Implementation of the Convention

Measures Taken to Achieve the 2010 Target

In 2004, Slovakia became a member state of the European Union (EU) thus nearly all its legal system has been harmonized with that of the EU, including legislation related to the conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of its components and fair sharing of the benefits arising out from its utilization. National red lists of protected animal species are developed for all groups of vertebrates and for selected groups of invertebrates. However, data on species are missing, especially for invertebrates. The Rural Development Plan of the Slovak republic 2004 – 2006 includes specific measures such as the support of agricultural and pasture management with an appropriate environmentally-friendly intensity, and the renewal of the ecological stability of agricultural landscape through the protection and restoration of networks of eco-stabilization elements. In terms of forest biodiversity, Slovakia is collaborating with the Ministerial Conferences on the Protection of Forests in Europe, the European Forest Genetic Resources Network, the Pan-European Forest Certification System, and Pro-Silva to promote conservation and sustainable use. In addition, the Forest Policy Concept recognizes as one of its objectives the sustainable development of forests and conservation of forest biodiversity. The National Criteria and Indicators of Sustainable Forest Management have been developed since 2004 and the National Pan-European Forest Certification system has been under development since 2001.

Initiatives in Protected Areas

A proposal for the Natura 2000 network of protected areas was prepared according to the criteria laid down in the Habitat Directive. The existing protected sites relevant to Natura 2000 include 38 Special Protection Areas covering 25.2 % of Slovakia’s territory and 384 proposed Sites of Conservation Interest covering 11.76 % of the territory. In 2004, a system of protected areas to conserve forest genetic resources through long-term protected Gene Reserve Forests and temporarily protected Approved Seed Collection Stands was endorsed by the Parliament. General Protection of landscape is ensured through ecological networks referred to as Territorial System of Ecological Stability. The foundation of this system is represented by biocentres, biocorridors and interactive elements of national, regional and local interest.

Initiatives for Article 8(j)

The Slovak Environmental Agency has developed activities through the Rural Development Programme aimed at the preservation of original rural architecture and traditional management of land. European Union Directives also ensure the preservation and use of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices in the agrofood branches. In conformity with these Directives, the National Programme for agricultural goods and food production support was adopted by Ministry of Agriculture.