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National system of protected areas
Last update of indicator20.12.2023
Indicator definition
The indicator describes the overview of the national system of protected areas (number, acreage, % of the SR area for the various categories of protected areas) – their state and trend.
Related policy documents and targets
Greener Slovakia - The Strategy for Environmental Policy of the Slovak Republic until 2030 (Envirostrategy 2030) (2019)
2.3 Simplify the system and adhere to thenon-intervention in areas with the highest degree of protection
- The system of protected areas and particular degrees of protection throughout the entire area of Slovakia will be re-evaluated
- Until 2030, the whole system of protected areas will be re-evaluated, with the participation of all interested parties and based on the best practice, IUCN criteria and local needs.
- In regards to national parks, the re-evaluation will take place until 2024 the latest. The core zone will be formed by non-interference areas whose area will reach 50% of the total area of each national park by 2025 and 75% of the total area by 2030. In national parks where the subject of protection requires human management the non-interference area can be less than 50% of the national park area.
- The best preserved natural biotopes without the need for active management will remain, or will be included in, the so-called non-interference areas.
- Based on the needs of protected biotopes or species, small-size areas will be included among the non-interference areas, or they will be included among actively protected areas, or they will be split.
- In regards to national parks, the re-evaluation will take place until 2024 the latest. The core zone will be formed by non-interference areas whose area will reach 50% of the total area of each national park by 2025 and 75% of the total area by 2030. In national parks where the subject of protection requires human management the non-interference area can be less than 50% of the national park area.
- The best preserved natural biotopes without the need for active management will remain, or will be included in, the so-called non-interference areas.
- Based on the needs of protected biotopes or species, small-size areas will be included among the non-interference areas, or they will be included among actively protected areas, or they will be split.
- In the long term it is necessary to sort out the question of ownership in protected areas and gradually transfer as large an area as possible into the ownership of the state via exchanges, buy-outs, long-term lease, or contractual management and, if appropriate, in terms of state-owned land also via delimitation of competencies
The updated National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy up to 2020 (2014)
Area A: Nature protection
Objective A.1 To stop the deterioration of the status of all species and habitats, especially those covered by the EU legislation and achieve a significant and measurable improvement in their status.
An action plan for implementation of measures resulting from the updated National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy up to 2020 (2014)
Objective A.1
Measure A.1.1 Consistently implement the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive, adopted resolutions and decisions of international conventions, organizations and programs and improved national legislation in order to strengthen the protection of species and habitats and also link the network of protected areas on a scientific basis
Proposed tasks:
5. To implement approved LIFE projects aimed at protected species and protected areas
Measure A.1.2 To ensure the integrated management of important areas based on an ecosystem approach through the development and implementation of care programmes and their integration into sectoral concepts and strategies
Proposed tasks:
5. To implement approved LIFE projects aimed at protected species and protected areas
Measure A.1.2 To ensure the integrated management of important areas based on an ecosystem approach through the development and implementation of care programmes and their integration into sectoral concepts and strategies
Proposed tasks:
12. To ensure processing and implementation of care programmes and conservation programs of protected areas, and particularly those included in the Natura 2000, and sites of international importance, including caves (Subterranean habitats)
14. To ensure the implementation of management measures in protected areas during the period up to the approval of the their care programmes
15. To provide compensation for the limitation of common management – the transfer of protected areas with the 5th level of protection and selected areas with a lower level of protection to the ownership of state (purchase and exchange of lands), lease, contractual care
Measure A.1.3 To ensure implementation of international standards in nature conservation and effective management and financing of protected areas
Proposed tasks:
21. To establish evaluation and categorization of protected areas according to international standards IUCN and regular reporting
24. To establish the monitoring of effectiveness of care for protected areas into the annual planning and evaluation of the task fulfilment
12. To ensure processing and implementation of care programmes and conservation programs of protected areas, and particularly those included in the Natura 2000, and sites of international importance, including caves (Subterranean habitats)
14. To ensure the implementation of management measures in protected areas during the period up to the approval of the their care programmes
15. To provide compensation for the limitation of common management – the transfer of protected areas with the 5th level of protection and selected areas with a lower level of protection to the ownership of state (purchase and exchange of lands), lease, contractual care
Measure A.1.3 To ensure implementation of international standards in nature conservation and effective management and financing of protected areas
Proposed tasks:
21. To establish evaluation and categorization of protected areas according to international standards IUCN and regular reporting
24. To establish the monitoring of effectiveness of care for protected areas into the annual planning and evaluation of the task fulfilment
Key question
What is the state and trend in the national system of protected areas (PA)?Key messages
- The share of the so-called ”large-size" PA (protected landscape areas – PLA, national parks – NP and BZ NP – buffer zones of national parks) in the total area of Slovakia represents 22.27%.
- The number of the ”small-size“ PA (SSPA) in 2022 decreased by 17 areas compared to the previous year, mainly due to the zoning of Muránska planina NP.
- The total area of particularly protected parts of nature of the national system (the 2nd to the 5th level of protection) as of 2022 was 1,138,922 ha (without mutual overlaps) and constitutes 23.23% of the territory of Slovakia. Compared to the previous year, it decreased by 10,036 ha, mainly due to the reduction of the area of the Muránska planina NP and mainly of its buffer zone.
- During 2022, Vydrica PS and Muránska planina NP was declared and the process of declaring Devínska Kobyla NR began.
- In connection with the reform of national parks in Slovakia, approved by the NR SR on 14/12/2021 (Act No. 6/2022 Coll. amending Act No. 543/2002 Coll. on Nature and Landscape Protection as amended later regulations and which amend some laws), on March 31, 2022, national park administrations with separate legal subjectivity were established, which ensure uniform management of state lands in national parks.
- In 2022, the Government of the Slovak Republic approved the zoning of Muránska planina NP, the area of which was thus reduced from the current 20,338 hectares to 18,516 hectares, but there was an increase in the area of the non-intervention area with the 5th level of protection to 7,621.9 ha.
| Change since 2005 | Change since 2015 | Last year-on-year change |
|---|---|---|
 |
|
|
|
The acreage of SSPA increased (also their share), as well as the total area of the national system of PA in the SR.
|
In the medium term, there was an increase in the area of the PA in 3.-5. level of protection and the zoning of 2 NP (Slovak Paradise and Muránska Planina) took place. |
Although the total area of the national system of protected area decreased year-on-year (due to the zoning of the Muránska planina NP), the area of the protected area increased in the 4th-5th level of protection. In connection with the reform of national parks in Slovakia (from 2021), administrations of national parks with separate legal subjectivity were established. |
Summary assessment
Map of national network of "large-size" protected areas in SR
Source: SNC SR
Detailed assessment
The overview of protected areas in the Slovak Republic as at 2022
| Category | Number | Acreage (ha) | % of SR acreage (including the BZ) |
|
| Core area | Buffer zones | |||
| Protected landscape area (PLA) | 14 | 522,581 | x | 10.66 |
| National park (NP) | 9 | 315,739 | 253,896 | 11.62 |
| SSPA: | 23 | 838,320 | 253,896 | 22.27 |
| Protected landscape fragment (PLF) | 1 | 3 | x | >0 |
| Protected site (PS) | 192 | 14,923 | 2,425 | 0.35 |
| Nature reserve (NR) (including 3 private) |
441 | 23,337 | 5,615 | 0.78 |
| National nature reserve (NNR) | 189 | 77,977 | 1,992 | 1.78 |
| Natural monument (NM) (without caves and waterfalls) |
271 | 1,522 | 465 | 0.11 |
| National natural monument (NNM) | 60 | 59 | 3,407 | 0.07 |
| Municipal protected areas (MPA) | 12 | 586 | x | 0.01 |
| SSPA total | 1,166 | 118,406 | 13,904 | 3.11 |
Source: SNC SR
The total acreage of the specially protected nature parts in the SR, classified by the protection level (2nd to 5th level of protection, i.e. outside the special protection areas and buffer zones of caves, so-called National network of protected areas) amounted to 1,138,922 ha, which represents 23.23% of the Slovak territory and a decrease compared to the previous year by 10,036 ha (mainly due to the reduction of the area of the Muránska planina NP and mainly of its buffer zone).
- In addition to the above, there are territories in the Slovak Republic that are not classified by levels of protection - e.g. 22 caves (15 NNM and 7 NM) with a declared buffer zone with a total area of 3,683 ha (a large part of their territory overlaps with other protected areas of the national system).
- As part of the national system of protected areas, there are also municipal protected areas in the territory of the Slovak Republic, in which the levels of protection do not apply, but the conditions of protection set by the municipalities that declare them as municipal protected areas. Currently, 12 MPA with a total area of 586 ha have been declared.
An overview of protected areas in SR according to types and levels of protection
| Level of protection* | Category | Acreage (ha) | % of SR acreage |
| 1. level | „open landscape“ (outside the territory of the national system of PA) |
3,764,578
|
76.77
|
| 2. level | PLA**, NP BZ**, nature park, PS, PLF, D zones |
731,983
|
14.93
|
| 3. level | NP**, nature park, PS, PLF, SSPA BZ, C zones, BZ of „SSPA“ according to the law |
274,531
|
5.60
|
| 4. level | NNR, NR, NNM, NM, PS, PLF, SSPA BZ, B zones |
32,750
|
0.67
|
| 5. level | NNR, NR, NNM, NM, PS, PLF, A zones |
99,658
|
2.03
|
| 2. – 5. level | particularly protected parts of nature classified with protection level |
1,138,922
|
23.23
|
Source: SNC SR
* areas that do not have an assigned level of protection are not listed (municipal protected areas and cave buffer zones)
** area outside of so-called "small-size" protected areas (SSPA) located in them
Small-size protected areas
Overview of SSPA (2022)
Source: SNC SR
|
|
Number of SSPA
|
Area of SSPA
(along with their BZ)
|
% of the area of the relevant territory
|
|
on the territory of the PLA
|
265
|
24,237
|
4.64
|
|
on the territory of NP
|
207
|
76,095
|
24.10
|
|
on the territory of NP buffer zones
|
66
|
4,028
|
1.59
|
|
in the territory of the 1st level of protection (open landscape)
|
628
|
47,958
|
1.27
|
Large-size protected areas
Overview of the national parks of the SR
| Name | Acreage (ha) | Acreage of protection zone (in ha) | Year of establishment and possibly updating |
| NP Malá Fatra | 22,630.0 | 23,262.0 | 1967 as PLA, 1988 |
| NP Muránska planina | 18,516.0 | 13,002.0 | 1977 as PLA, 1997, 2022 |
| NP Nízke Tatry | 72,842.0 | 110,162.0 | 1978, 1997 |
| Pieninský NP | 3,749.6 | 22,444.2 | 1967, 1997, 2004 |
| NP Poloniny | 29,805.1 | 10,973.3 | 1997 |
| NP Slovenský kras | 34,611.1 | 11,741.6 | 1973 as PLA, 2002 |
| NP Slovenský raj | 19,413.0 | 5,474.0 | 1964 as PLA, 1988, 2016 |
| Tatranský NP | 73,800.0 | 30,703.0 | 1948, 1987, 2003 |
| NP Veľká Fatra | 40,371.3 | 26,132.6 | 1974 as PLA, 2002 |
| Total of 9 NP | 315,738.1 | 253,895.7 |
Source: SNC SR
Overview of the protected landscape areas of the Slovak Republic
| Name | Acreage (ha) | Year of establishment and possibly updating |
| Biele Karpaty | 44,568.0000 | 1979, 1989, 2003 |
| Cerová vrchovina | 16,771.2273 | 1989, 2001 |
| Dunajské luhy | 12,284.4609 | 1998 |
| Horná Orava | 58,738.0000 | 1979, 2003 |
| Kysuce | 65,462.0000 | 1984 |
| Latorica | 23,198.4602 | 1990, 2004 |
| Malé Karpaty | 64,610.1202 | 1976, 2001 |
| Poľana | 20,360.4804 | 1981, 2001 |
| Ponitrie | 37,665.4100 | 1985 |
| Strážovské vrchy | 30,979.0000 | 1989 |
| Štiavnické vrchy | 77,630.0000 | 1979 |
| Vihorlat | 17,485.2428 | 1973, 1999 |
| Východné Karpaty | 25,307.1072 | 1977, 2001 |
| Záhorie | 27,522.0000 | 1988 |
| Total of 14 PLA | 522,581.5090 |
Source: SNC SR