important plant areas in central and eastern europe - Plantlife

Slovakia
Methodology summary
Criteria lists: the Criterion A list represents a wide range of globally, regionally and
nationally threatened endemics and limited range species.There are also a high number
of eligible bryophytes, lichens and fungi species.
Data and fieldwork: much of the selection of sites was based on existing data, although
some additional fieldwork was carried out primarily on mapping of non-forest habitats in
the regions not covered to date.The additional data on Criterion A species were
extracted from existing data sources as well.
Site selection: the existing data on species and habitats were overlaid using GIS software
to select the best sites, which were then verified by expert opinion. Other sites were
then added to ensure representation of the IPA network.The selection strategy
produced a range of site sizes depending on the qualifying features and the ecological
situation.
Key issues: the integration of all taxonomic groups, and the use of all the available data
on threatened habitats were major factors in the project.
Protection and management of IPAs in Slovakia:
Total IPAs with National National protection European International
IPAs no legal protection of IPAs (lower level) recognition recognition
protection of IPAs of IPAs of IPAs
(high level)
154 36 National Nature Reserves SAC* Ramsar sites
Parks (31 IPAs) (95 IPAs) (121 IPAs) (16 IPAs)
Protected Nature Monuments SPA*
Landscape (26 IPAs) (78 IPAs) Biosphere
Areas (48 IPAs) Protected Sites Reserves
(16 IPAs) (5 IPAs)
SAC* & SPA* = sites officially proposed by the Slovak Government to the European Commission
Protection of IPAs
Thirty-six IPAs currently have no legal protection in the national network of protected
areas. Most of those sites have been proposed for the NATURA 2000 network by the
Slovak Government, or have been listed in the alternative proposal of SACs prepared by
Slovak NGOs lead by DAPHNE.Although management planning has been used in nature
conservation in Slovakia for several decades, it has not fitted fully with international
standards. New methodology is being developed and should be applied in all proposed
NATURA 2000 sites over the coming few years. Management planning will be also
applied to the national network of protected areas; however, it is not the priority of the
State Nature Conservancy.
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