Activities of WWF in Slovakia has gradually developed and intensified since 2016 and WWF-Slovakia (WWF-SK) has been formally established in Bratislava in March 2019. The new founded organisation focused on the support of effective care for the protection of areas, forests, river basins, and long-term sustainable use of natural resources. Much of the actions cover transboundary issues, including protection and management of protected areas and its related biodiversity.
CONSERVATION FACTS:
Slovakia has a significant part of the Carpathian mountains, including the Ancient Beech Forests World Heritage Site as well as valuable wetland areas along the Morava and Danube Rivers.
Freshwater
- Lowland rivers: Morava and Danube with their valuable wetlands and floodplains. Especially floodplains of the Morava river are among the most biologically diverse ecosystems in Europe. WWF-SK is preparing a recovery of lateral connectivity at several places.
- Foothill Hron river is the second longest river in Slovakia where WWF-SK focusses mainly on longitudinal connectivity restoration and advocacy actions.
- The Belá river as a unique braided-wandering mountainous river: nature-based management in the floodplain is important for protection of its dynamic riverine ecosystem.
Forests and Protected Areas
- Slovakia is rich in terms of area as well as diversity of forests which covered 40% of the country and most of them are located in the Carpathian mountains. Old-growth forests belonging to the most valuable forests create only 0.5% of its total area. High-value beech forests in Eastern Slovakia are recognized as Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe (UNESCO) site.
Wildlife
- Slovakia is home of large carnivores such as brown bear, wolves and lynx. The estimated population of bears are 1500 individuals, wolves 300-600 and lynx 250-300 individuals.
Governance
- Slovakia is an EU member state (EU Presidency in 2016) and a party to the ICPDR, Carpathian Convention and EU Strategy for the Danube Region.
IMPACTFUL PROJECTS:
-
2021: WWF-Slovakia's most important campaign led to the establishment of the National Old-growth Forest Nature Reserve. The efforts had begun years earlier with mapping and identification of old-growth forests and continued through numerous negotiations and the preparation of the conservation proposal itself. The old-growth forest nature reserve was established in December 2021 covering 76 localities in various parts of the country with a total area of 6,462.42 hectares.
-
2021-2022: WWF-Slovakia is promoting green water management measures and raises awareness of the importance of free flowing rivers. A successful crowdfunding project supported the start of the river barrier removal movement in Slovakia. WWF-Slovakia was intensively involved in the development of the new water policy in Slovakia and all our requirements and proposals for green measures were incorporated into the concept.
-
2021: WWF-Slovakia implements programmes to protect large carnivores, improve coexistence with humans and support safe animal migration routes. After long-term efforts in cooperation with a NGO coalition WWF-Slovakia contributed to the year-round protection of the grey wolf in Slovakia.
INTERESTING FACT:
WWF in Slovakia is known for its frequent and impactful communication activities towards the public and its public relation activities in general. The WWF-SK team runs campaigns in support of nature protection and sustainable living.
_Tomas Hulik_small.jpg)
