Perspectives of the care of protected areas in Slovakia

Protected areas of Slovakia cover currently almost 11 170 km², i.e. 22.8% of the total country area. They include 7 national parks and 16 protected landscape areas. More than 1000 small areas, such as protected site, nature reserve, nature monument, national nature monument and national nature reserve cover 1 026 km², which is 2.2% of the Slovak territory. It is mainly method of management that affects the condition of protected areas. A large part of agricultural land in montane regions is not managed, a rapid succession occurs and the landscape' s character changes. This process has a negative impact on many protected areas. The forest management is becoming more market-oriented and an effort for rapid logging is recorded.