important plant areas in central and eastern europe - hirc.botanic.hr ...

SlovakiaMethodology summaryCriteria lists: the Criterion A list represents a wide range of globally, regionally andnationally threatened endemics and limited range species.There are also a high numberof eligible bryophytes, lichens and fungi species.Data and fieldwork: much of the selection of sites was based on existing data, althoughsome additional fieldwork was carried out primarily on mapping of non-forest habitats inthe regions not covered to date.The additional data on Criterion A species wereextracted from existing data sources as well.Site selection: the existing data on species and habitats were overlaid using GIS softwareto select the best sites, which were then verified by expert opinion. Other sites werethen added to ensure representation of the IPA network.The selection strategyproduced a range of site sizes depending on the qualifying features and the ecologicalsituation.Key issues: the integration of all taxonomic groups, and the use of all the available dataon threatened habitats were major factors in the project.Protection and management of IPAs in Slovakia:Total IPAs with National National protection European InternationalIPAs no legal protection of IPAs (lower level) recognition recognitionprotection of IPAs of IPAs of IPAs(high level)154 36 National Nature Reserves SAC* Ramsar sitesParks (31 IPAs) (95 IPAs) (121 IPAs) (16 IPAs)Protected Nature Monuments SPA*Landscape (26 IPAs) (78 IPAs) BiosphereAreas (48 IPAs) Protected Sites Reserves(16 IPAs) (5 IPAs)SAC* & SPA* = sites officially proposed by the Slovak Government to the European CommissionProtection of IPAsThirty-six IPAs currently have no legal protection in the national network of protectedareas. Most of those sites have been proposed for the NATURA 2000 network by theSlovak Government, or have been listed in the alternative proposal of SACs prepared bySlovak NGOs lead by DAPHNE.Although management planning has been used in natureconservation in Slovakia for several decades, it has not fitted fully with internationalstandards. New methodology is being developed and should be applied in all proposedNATURA 2000 sites over the coming few years. Management planning will be alsoapplied to the national network of protected areas; however, it is not the priority of theState Nature Conservancy.59