Number of rare spring snowflake flowers have decreased

Thousands of protected flowers blossom near Jovsa.

(Source: Roman Hanc, TASR)

The national natural reservation Jovsianska Hrabina in Michalovce county is covered in white. The reason is the blossoming of spring snowflakes.

Their population has significantly decreased in past years, informed Ján Bosák, botanist of the Administration of the Vihorlat Protected Landscape Area.

SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement
SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement

“We can see this population of thousands blossom in March, lose their blossom in the beginning of April, their bulbs surviving in the ground until next spring,” he explained, as quoted by the TASR newswire.

SkryťTurn off ads

Protected by law

Spring snowflakes grow in ten localities in Slovakia, only in the eastern part of the country. The richest and best-known is Jovsianska Hrabina. They are protected by law. The societal value of the plant is almost €50.

“We would like to remind visitors that picking flowers or their bulbs is forbidden in the area of Jovsianska Hrabina,” said Bosák, as quoted by TASR.

Spring snowflakes grow in Vihorlat in several spots, especially near streams and wet meadows.

Disappearing snowflakes

Mapping from the last years showed that the population of the snowflake, especially in the reservation and nearby meadows, has significantly decreased in last ten years.

“It is caused by the too frequent droughts arising from significant changes in nature,” said the botanist, as quoted by TASR. He explained that the shortage of water lead to the drying up of wetlands and wet meadows.

SkryťTurn off ads

Jovsianska Hrabina is located at the southern edge of Vihorlat. It was announced in 1953 with an area of almost 260 hectares.

Top stories

The price of 400 food products has been capped by eight retailers.

News digest: Retailers' move to make food more affordable

A group of old houses in Banská Štiavnica damaged by fire, Eduard Heger's new party, and 10 biggest tax debtors.


9 h
Filip Toška holding chard in the hydroponic Hausnatura farm.

How a Mayan doomsday prophecy took a Slovak to hi-tech agriculture

Hydroponic farm run out of former telephone exchange.


9. mar
Mig-29

The quarrel over MiGs tests Slovakia’s ability to do the right thing

It’s not like Slovaks will get nothing from the transfer.


18 h
Masks stay mandatory in healthcare facilities.

The end of the pandemic? Covid-19 self-isolation will end soon

The legal mandate to self-isolate following a positive test will cease to apply.


17. mar
SkryťClose ad