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the Renewal and Development of the High Tatras was established and took
the decision to divide affected forest into three zones: recreational zone, core
park zone both to be replanted by native species and two nature reserves and
NATURA 2000 sites protected under the EU Habitat Directive (Tichá and
Kôprová valleys) both to be left for natural evolution, with no management
activities (pick up of deadwood or pesticide treatment of insects).
Management regime of those two reserves (pick up of deadwood and
insect treatment), has become a dramatic and problematic issue as of the
competing positions of the forestry and nature conservation communities.
Forest management, in order to prevent insect outbreak, requires the
intervention on deadwood withing a six month of a natural wind
storm. Therefore the State forest administration intiated the collection of
deadwood in the reserves, arguing that, spruce monocultures particularly
weakened after a devastating storm, are an ideal habitat for bark beetles,
potentially damaging a neighbouring forest also, which is not under the
full protection regime. The risk of bark beetle was considered higher than
the potential damage done to the ecosystems by collecting deadwood,
as these ecosystems were seriously affected by the storm. In contrast the
position of nature conservation was to follow international treaties and EU
Habitat Directive, arguing that no interventions should be taken against
bark beetles in natural ecosystems as they are already in the process of
consolidation by natural succession. Evidence of new forest plants and
wild animals was documented (nesting wild birds and young trees) and
thus any action would most likely harm the environment. This position was
also supported by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN),
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and a later by the Director General of the
Environment of the European Commission (DG Environment) indicating
that management activities planned for Ticha valley are not in compliance
with NATURA 2000 principles and the EU initiated infringement against
the Slovak government.
The attempt to harmonize contradicting legal regulation and
management practices for forestry and nature conservation in protected
forest has not been sucessful. The consequence of this confl ict between
two parties responsible for the forest management in the Tatras National
Park created a barrier for coevolution of two existing regimes and their
adaptation to the post-disaster situation.
Intense or sustainable development?
The natural windstorm also created a platform for rapid development of
commercial activities in the National Park area. After recouping fi rst shock
from the devastation, by the windstorm destroyed landscape, developers
intensifi ed demand for the expansion of development projects offering
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