THE ENVIRONMENT Ministry has designated three new, mountainous regions – the Malá Fatra, Slovenský Raj and the Tatra Mountains – as Protected Bird Areas (CHVÚ), ministry spokesperson Beatrice Hudáková told the SITA newswire.
“This brings Slovakia closer to fulfilling a directive of the European Parliament and Council on the conservation of wild birds,” she said. “As of January 15, we have designated 37 of the required 41 areas.”
Each of the new areas coincides with other protected land in the region, and with national parks, Hudáková said.
She noted that the new Malá Fatra and Slovenský Raj areas are both important habitats for the peregrine falcon, and that golden eagles nest in the new areas in the Malá Fatra and the Tatra Mountains. Other birds that will be protected in the new areas include white-backed woodpeckers, collared flycatchers, the rufous-tailed rock thrush, the western capercaillie, the hazel grouse and the Eurasian pygmy owl.
Slovakia remains in legal hot water concerning its non-compliance with the directive.
Conservationists say a plan for designating all the required bird protection areas should have been proposed before Slovakia joined the EU in May 2004.
