Nature protection and biodiversity - Why care? (Slovakia)

The geographical position of Slovakia in the middle of Europe, between the Carpathians and the Pannonian Lowland, determines the abundance of flora and fauna. Plant communities occur in diverse forms from thermophilic and xerothermic to hydrophilic, and from lowland to alpine examples. In Slovakia, there are 11 323 known plant species and 25 351 known animal species; among them, 1 432 plant and 722 animal species are protected in Slovakia. The Red List includes 2 860 plants and 1 935 animals. In Slovakia, nature and biodiversity protection with respect to the conservation of European natural values is of key importance.

Nature conservation and the protection of biological and landscape diversity are two of the basic national priorities included in the Action Plan for the Sustainable Development of Slovakia 2005–10 - main task No 10, the protection and reasonable use of nature and landscape

(http://www.tur.vlada.gov.sk/758/10-ochrana-a-racionalne-vyuzivanie-prirody-a-krajiny.php)

and the Programme Declaration of the Government of the Slovak Republic

(http://www.vlada.gov.sk/22872/2-5-zivotne-prostredie.php).

The significance of biodiversity protection in Slovakia is illustrated by the National Biological Strategy of Slovakia, which is implemented through the Updated Action Plan for Implementation of the National Biological Strategy of Slovakia for period 2003–10

(http://www.enviro.gov.sk/servlets/page/868?c_id=5450).

These documents have cross-sectoral character.