EU Biodiversity strategy

To report on progress to the EU 2020 biodiversity strategy, the European Commission extracted relevant information from the EU Member States’ 5^th national reports to the CBD. Of the 5 countries which had not finalized their national reports at the time of the synthesis (26^th of August 2015), Greece, Malta, Portugal and Lithuania provided information to be included in the synthesis.

The 5^th national reports were examined, and relevant information on selected actions under Targets 1-6 of the EU biodiversity strategy was directly copied. Thus, the information presented here is in the original language and wording of the 5^th national reports.

The focus was on information that is particular to the respective Member State rather than referencing EU wide information. In addition, only information that is not directly reported to the European Commission by Member States was retrieved from the reports. Each Member State had the opportunity to review the synthesis of its report and to provide additional input. For more information, please view here. The 5^th national report for Slovakia can be downloaded here.

In addition to the country synthesis which is shown below, Slovakia provided information on the cross-linkages between their national strategy and the European and global biodiversity targets.

EU target 1

Fully implement the Birds and Habitats Directives

(Please note that information from Member States in relation to Action 1a is supplied to the European Commission via other reports. To avoid duplication of reporting, information relating to Action 1a has not been included in this report)

Action 1d: Natura 2000 (and other protected areas)

Re-evaluation of the categories of protected areas (national parks and protected landscape areas), development of management plans for protected areas and proposals for the zoning of national parks.

Action 3a: Stakeholder awareness and enforcement

Measures for the sustainable use of agricultural soil include:

• Financial compensation for the management of agricultural land in upland and montane areas;
• Agri-environment payments;
• Payments within the Natura 2000 scheme, etc.

Awareness-building:

• Operation of Information Centres for Nature Conservation (Informacné Strediská Ochrany Prírody) in ca 10 cities;
• Operation of the Information System Natura 2000;
• Organisation of exhibits and seminars for various audiences and the “Envirofilm” film festival;
• Operation of the outdoor nature conservation educational centre in Varín; other outdoor activities for the public.
• Educational projects for private land-owners by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development: “Nature-friendly forest management”; “Establishment of Forests in Changing Ecological Conditions”; “Management of Forests in Various Ecological Conditions” (all of the above included seminars and publications for private forest owners)
• Public courses on the following topics: the use of permaculture, alternative practices of grassland and pastures management (Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra)
• Operation of the outdoor nature conservation education centre in Varín for schools and educators.
• Short programs, including interviews and debates in national and local television and radio networks.

Action 3c: Stakeholder awareness and enforcement

Organize regular workshops and training sessions for the employees of designated authorities, including the workshop on the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol and the use of the Biosafety Clearing House; training on microarray techniques, sampling and analysis of DNA for the detection of GMOs.

EU target 2

Maintain and restore ecosystems and their services

Slovakia has met its obligations for the reduction of air pollution under international conventions. Further improvement is required with regards to the pollution of aquatic ecosystems.

A formal expert group for the mapping and the assessment of ecosystem services in Slovakia (MAES – SK) has been established in 2014. In addition, assessments of ecosystem services for selected ecosystems had been performed in four national parks – Slovenský raj, Tatra, Velká Fatra and Muránska planina – before the establishment of the expert group, as independent initiatives. Slovakia is committed to finalize the pilot phase of MAES – SK by the end of 2014.

Table 16 Tasks related to ecosystem services included in the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Updated National Strategy for Biodiversity to 2020:

Action 6: Ecosystem restoration and green infrastructure

Slovakia has met the target with respect to terrestrial ecosystems, as over 25% of the area of the country has been protected by law. However, the protection of some protected areas, including some national parks, in practice is insufficient and does not comply with international standards. More progress needs to be done in the protection of inland waters

EU target 3

Increase the contribution of agriculture and forestry to maintaining and enhancing biodiversity

Target 3b: Forestry

The area of forests has been increasing in Slovakia; however, the proportion of forests (trees) showing signs of poor health has increased, too. Likewise, there appears to be a large proportion of sites in inadequate condition for most types of biotopes, with no/little progress within the last decade.

EU target 4

Ensure the sustainable use of fisheries resources and ensuring good environmental status of the marine environment

EU target 5

Combat Invasive Alien Species

• Priority invasive species (see the section on invasive species above) have been removed from protected and non-protected areas using Guidelines developed in the previous period of the implementation of the Updated Action Plan (2003 - 2007);
• Research on the ecology of weeds (agricultural pest species): “Restoration of grasslands invaded by weeds”, “Restoration of pastures in Slovak national parks invaded by ruderal species”, “Diversity, distribution and biology of threatened archaeophyte weeds in Slovakia”;
• Research on the effect of invasive species on biodiversity of native plant species: monitoring at permanent monitoring site on the 42 floodplain of the Morava River.

• The latest and most complete list of alien and invasive plant species of Slovakia was published in 2002, containing 125 species of archaeophytes and neophytes. The State Nature Conservacy (ŠOP SR) compiles data and manages a database of the distribution of 30 species of invasive plants (as of October 2014).
• The maps of their recorded distribution can be accessed at http://www.sopsr.sk/publikacie/invazne/index.php?id=mapy.
• However, Slovakia does not have an effective plan for the removal or management of invasive species in place.
• Slovakia revised its National Strategy for Invasive Alien Species in 2012 and sections of the Nature and Landscape Protection Act No. 543/2002 dealing with invasive species will need to be amended to comply with new EU legislation on invasive species adopted in 2014 (Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014).

EU target 6

Help avert global biodiversity loss

Action 20: Access to genetic resources and sharing of benefits

Slovakia has taken steps towards the accession to the Nagoya Protocol.