Click here to go to the following issues:
Economic Aspects | Natural Resource Aspects | Institutional Aspects | Social Aspects |Slovak Republic
Click here to go to these sections:
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
Food control is the responsibility of the Slovak Food and Agricultural Inspection, the State Veterinary Administration of the Slovak Republic, as well as other health protection bodies within the Ministry of Health.
Decision-Making: Legislation
and Regulations
Use of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes is regulated by provisions of the act No. 307/92 on protection of registered agricultural land resources and by the regulation of the Government of the Slovak Republic No. 152/96 on basic payment rates for abstraction of agricultural land from the registered agricultural land resources. Payments are calculated according to quality of the soil - code of classed soil-ecological units.
The list of biological means for plant protection has been elaborated (published by the Ministry of Soil Management, 1998) which are applied in system of ecological agriculture. There is a Commission for Ecological Agriculture under the responsibility of the Ministry of Soil Management which recommends the use of these means for their application in a system of ecological agriculture.
According to the act No. 61/1964 the regular, comprehensive agrochemical tests of soil are carried out which identify the basic agrochemical parameters. These tests are financed by the state. The following aspects are monitored: supplies of nutrients in soils, pH, carbonates, transfers of heavy metals, contamination of soils and intensity of fertilization (by the Research Institute of Soil Fertility).
Decision-Making: Strategies,
Policies and Plans
The main goal of Slovak agricultural policy is "to use the potential of agricultural land, as well as all available production and human resources for food production and non-food materials in an economic fashion, while respecting the requirements of the environment, the country's resource protection needs, and rural settlements. Long-term strategic goals and tasks of the agricultural sector can be summarized as follows: ensure food security of the state and food sufficiency for its population; provide economic stability and meet the income requirements of the agricultural and food industry; support regionally balanced development; protect agricultural land; and prevent xenobiotics in the food chain.
The loss of agricultural land has been reduced in recent years, thanks to the consistent enforcement of the Act on the Protection of Soil and a phase-down of building activities in Slovakia. Land adjustments are being performed which prevent increased erosion. The priority targets for environmental improvement and the protection of soil have been harmonized in the Strategy of State Environment Policy and also in the Concept and Principles of the Policy of Soil Management (both documents have been approved by Parliament). These targets are: to lower the intensity of the productive use of agricultural land areas; to harmonize the entire agricultural sector's economic and environmental considerations; to cover 150 to 180 thousand ha of steep and erosion-prone arable land with grass and to convert it to meadow and pasture land; to use approximately 300 thousand ha of pasture land in its natural form for extensive grazing only; to use around 80 to 100 thousand ha of land damaged with pollutants exclusively for non-food production while a gradual decontamination takes place; to introduce an organic way of agricultural land management; and to increase support of those entrepreneurial activities which serve agriculture and the settlement of rural areas.
Decision-Making: Major
Groups involvement
The National Agency for Development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprising operates in the area of the Programme of Comprehensive Support of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprising. One of the main results has been elaboration and adoption of the State Medium-Term Policy of Support of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprising, which defines individual objectives and intentions of the state support of small and medium-sized enterprising for the period up till 2000. The Report on State and Development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprising and its Support in the Slovak Republic is submitted to the Slovak Government and to the NR SR for discussion each year.
Programmes and Projects
See financing
Status
Currently, the land market is stagnant in Slovakia due to a number of factors such as the uncompleted restitution processes, the incomplete identification of land ownership, the absence of realistic land market prices, the low capital revenues in agriculture, and the insolvency of farming entities. The quality of agricultural land expressed in official prices shows that nearly two-thirds is found in the poorest land bracket, that is up to SK 50 thousand per ha. National parks, protected land areas, and water protection belts cover 23% of all agricultural land of Slovakia (550 thousand ha).
Compared to other developed countries, Slovakia's citizens spend more than 38% of their income on food. This is twice the European Union (EU) average. The state has guaranteed a level of agricultural production which is consistent with the threshold of food safety. In the context of an open market, the Government intends to keep production resources and home production volume at 90% of the expected real consumption of basic commodities in Slovakia, especially in regards to daily food consumption.
Due to the lack of finances for purchase of pesticides in the Slovak Republic their total use is very low in comparison to Western European Countries (the average use during last six years is 1.64 kg per ha).
Challenges
No information is available
Capacity-building, Education, Training
and Awareness-raising
No information is available
Information
No information is available
Research and Technologies
No information is available
Financing
In Slovakia there are programmes for:
- allocating the grants for production and consumption of bio-oil in accordance with the article 26 of the decree of the Ministry of Soil Management of the Slovak Republic No. 928/2/1999-100 on support of enterprising in agriculture
- allocating the grants for preservation of genofund and for crossbreeding of varieties, seed grains and seedlings and farm animals in accordance with the article 11 of the decree of the Ministry of Soil Management of the Slovak Republic No. 928/2/1999-100 on support of enterprising in agriculture.
Cooperation
In accordance with methodology of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) the occurrence of agricultural pests is being carried out together with diagnostics. If quarantine pests were identified in Slovakia, a notification would be sent to the EPPO Secretariat about this fact.
In accordance with conclusions of the Pan-European Conference on Rural Development, which was held in Bratislava in May 1997 under the responsibility of the Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for Agriculture and Rural Development, "the Conception of Rural Development in the Slovak Republic" was worked out and approved by the Slovak Government in 1998. It works out principles which are in compliance with EU principles, e.g. integrated principles, economic and social diversification, sustainability, as well as principle of planning and projecting the development of agriculture and rural areas "from bottom to top". The Conception is an innovative trans-sectoral document and together with passed act on ecological agriculture present very important documents necessary for integration of the Slovak Republic into the European Union. The Plan of Rural Development of the Slovak Republic is being currently prepared in accordance with the Conception of Rural Development. Sustainable development of agriculture belongs to the priorities of the sector of soil management and Programme SAPARD for the period 2000 - 2006.
* * *
This information is based on Slovakia’s submissions to the 5th and 8th Sessions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: October 1999.
To access the FAOSTAT Data Base for
information by country, item, element and year, click here.
Click here to link to the Biosafety
Information Network and Advisory Service (BINAS), a service of the United Nations
Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), which monitors global developments in
regulatory issues in biotechnology.
Click here to link to Country and
Sub-regional Information on Plant Genetic Resources of the Food and Agricultural
Organization of the United Nations.
Click here to go
to Web Site of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which includes information on the Codex
Alimentarius and the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme.
Click here to access the Web Site of the
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).
Click here to access the sixteen
international agricultural research centers that are members of the CGIAR.
| Slovak Republic | All Countries | Home |
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available
Decision-Making: Legislation
and Regulations
According to the United Nations Human Development Report, approximately one quarter of Slovakia's population, based on current estimates, lives in contaminated areas which do not meet the parameters of a healthy environment. In 1993, 156 settlements located in 12 regions were designated as areas of environmental stress. The emission of pollutants is responsible for high mortality, high disease rates, the impoverishment of natural organisms, and the shortened durability of basic materials. Through Decree No. 112/1993, the Ministry of the Environment has legally identified 12 affected areas requiring special air protection.
Decision-Making: Strategies,
Policies and Plans
The ozone layer has been depleted by 2-3% over Central Europe during the last ten years. In 1993, Slovakia initiated the National Climatic Program and the National Program for Reducing Emissions of Greenhouse Gases. The consumption of ozone-depleting substances has decreased from 0.4 kg to 0.2 kg per capita during the mid 1990s. An additional decrease in their consumption will require the gradual replacement of compressors in cooling equipment and the substitution of some technologies at a cost of SK 8.5 billion. The Government's short-term objectives for pollution control include the introduction of a ban on halon use effective from 1994, and a ban on partially halogenated hydrocarbons, carbon tetrachloride, and partially halogenated bromo hydrocarbons effective in 1996.
Decision-Making: Major
Groups involvement
No information is available
Programmes and Projects
No information is available
Status
Industrial production is the origin of a significant amount of air pollution in Slovakia. Slovakia produces four times the sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions of neighboring Austria, despite the fact that SO2 production has declined from 606,000 tons in 1988 to 374,000 tons in 1992. The reason for their reduction is the replacement of lesser quality fuel by more environmentally sound fuels such as gas, heating oil, coal with lower levels of incombustible components, as well as a general decrease of power generation and consumption after 1989. The conversion to gas has also contributed to the reduction of SO2 emissions. The ENOL block of power plants in Novaky, after renovation and installment of desulphurization equipment, should achieve a permanent 40,000 ton reduction in SO2 emissions per year.
Challenges
No information is available
Capacity-building, Education, Training
and Awareness-raising
No information is available
Information
The main pollutant emissions are monitored in Slovakia through a database that was established in 1985 and operated by the Slovak Institute of Hydro Meteorology. Air pollution is being monitored through a National monitoring system. Since 1994, some 32 permanent monitoring stations have been in operation (there were 18 in 1992). Air pollution measurement at these stations is based on an air index classification. Of the 26 locations in Slovakia evaluated in this manner, some 9 rank among areas with high pollution levels. Currently there are 7 stations in operation to monitor regional air pollution and the chemical composition of precipitation in Slovakia.
Research and Technologies
Imperfect combustion processes are the primary source of carbon monoxide emissions. Anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions, which have been more or less stagnant, originate predominantly from the combustion of fossil fuels, and they are monitored at the National level. Mobile sources, industrial technological processes, and local heating plants were the prime source of carbon monoxide emissions in 1994. Although the numbers of personal vehicles have been on the increase, they do not necessarily have a direct impact on air pollution in urban areas, due to the introduction of lead-free gas and other technical measures (catalytic converters, etc.). Solid particle emissions have decreased from 308.6 thousand tons in 1990 to 87.3 thousand tons in 1994. Imperfect burning processes are the main source of carbon monoxide emissions.
Financing
No information is available
Cooperation
In Slovakia, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was accepted in 1990. The London Amendment was approved by Slovak Republic Government Resolution 272/1993). The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was signed by the Slovak Republic on May 19, 1993.
The Slovak Republic is situated in Central Europe, in the area of the heaviest regional air pollution on the continent. According to the Evaluation of Transboundary Atmospheric Pollution in Europe (EMEP), Slovakia is situated in the area of greatest atmospheric pollution and acid rainfall in Europe. Transfer of transboundary air pollution represents some 70% of the overall regional air pollution and acid rain precipitation in Slovakia. According to 1992 measurements of the Cooperative Program for Monitoring, Slovakia is ninth among European states in sulphur dioxide emissions. Yet more than 50% of the sulphur dioxide emitted is transmitted across Slovak borders as long-term transboundary pollution, and the largest contributors to transboundary emissions in 1992 were Poland, Bohemia, and Hungary.
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of Slovakia to the f5th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1997.
For national information on air protection, click here.
Click here for national information from the Web
Site of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
For the access to the Web Site of the Ozone
Secretariat, click here:
| Slovak Republic | All Countries | Home |
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available
Decision-Making: Legislation
and Regulations
No information is available
Decision-Making: Strategies,
Policies and Plans
No information is available
Decision-Making: Major
Groups involvement
No information is available
Programmes and Projects
No information is available
Status
Achieving ecological stability will require changes in the approach to land use, improvement in forest conditions, the greening of towns and farm land, and significant long-term investment in the renewal of land. Protected areas help mitigate areas vulnerable to environmental stress. Of special importance are five National Parks, covering 199,724 ha (4%of Slovakia), and 16 protected areas in the countryside covering 660,493 ha (13.4% of Slovakia). The 448 state wildfire preserves encompassing 90,999 ha (1.85% of Slovakia) also perform an important eco-stabilizing function. One hundred and four protected habitat areas, covering 6,974 ha, are intended to protect endangered plant and animal species.
An additional 19 research areas, one protected park, three protected gardens, and 936 protected natural elements (646 trees, and 45 caves, abysses, and other natural phenomena) are legally protected as special parts of nature. In addition, special protection is afforded to trees growing outside forests; to 226 taxons of wild-growing plants (127 of them completely, 13 partially, 86 territorially); and to 176 species of animals living in the wild.
Challenges
Slovakia's lowlands and plains have been almost completely deforested and nearly all remnants of their natural ecosystems have been cleared. This process, combined with air pollution, has caused a retreat of sensitive plant types. Degrading processes and unfavorable factors are also encroaching on the few remaining eco-stabilizing areas, represented by the 87 registered Biocentres of National Significance, covering an area of 271,000 ha (5.5% of the area of Slovakia).
The negative influence of changing conditions on wildlife is manifested in decreased biodiversity, including the extinction of some species. Out of 2,500 taxons of naturally-occurring vascular plants, 1,326 (53%) were included in the Red List in 1993, including 31 that are deemed to be extinct (1.23%). Of non-vascular plants, 41% of lichen species, for example, have become extinct. Of the 751 taxons of vertebrates living in the wild, 27 fish, 20 amphibians, 19 reptiles, 79 birds and 30 mammals (23.3% vertebrae) are endangered or extinct.
Capacity-building, Education, Training
and Awareness-raising
No information is available
Information
No information is available
Research and Technologies
No information is available
Financing
No information is available
Cooperation
The Slovak Republic is party to the Convention on Biological Diversity which it signing on May 19, 1993 with ratification in 1994. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) became effective in the Slovak Republic on May 28, 1992. The Republic acceded to the Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals in 1994; and signed the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats in 1994). Slovakia is also party to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat.
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of Slovakia to the 5th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1997.
For national information on health and nature protection,
click here.
For access to the Web Site of the Convention on
Biological Diversity, click here:
For access to the Web Site of
the CITES Convention, click here:
For the Web Site of the CMS
Convention, click here:
For the Web Site of the Convention on the
Protection of the World's Cultural and Natural Heritage, click here:
For the country-by-country, Man in the Biosphere
On-Line Query System, click here:
Click here to link to the Biosafety
Information Network and Advisory Service (BINAS), a service of the United Nations
Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), which monitors global developments in
regulatory issues in biotechnology.
Click here to go to the Web Site of UNEP's
International Register on Biosafety.
Click here for the International Centre
for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Biosafety WebPages
| Slovak Republic | All Countries | Home |
No information available.
For access to the Web Site of the Convention to Combat Desertification and Drought, click here:
| Slovak Republic | All Countries | Home |
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
The main body responsible for decision-making concerning energy issues in
general is the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic. As far as
energy-related aspects of atmosphere and transportation are concerned, the
specific competence is given to Ministry of the Environment and the Office of
Nuclear Control of the Slovak Republic.
Each document that is
submitted by the Ministry of Economy to the Government for discussion is
commented on by other ministries, including Ministry of the Environment.
Proposals of concrete activities in energy sector are assessed in accordance
with the Act 127/1994 on environmental impact assessment. Article 35 of this act
lays down what it is necessary to assess basic development conceptions in energy
sector. Entrepreneurship in sector of energy is possible only based on license
and is subject to state regulation in accordance with the Act 70/1998 on energy
and on modification of the Act 455/1991 on trading business (trading act) as
amended by further regulations. The state regulation in the area of prices and
tariffs in energy sectors is carried out by the Ministry of Finance of the
Slovak Republic, in the area of economic competition by the Antimonopoly Office
and in the area of business conditions by the Ministry of Economy. Currently an
Act on establishment of an independent regulatory body, which should start its
operation since 1 January 2001, is under preparation.
The Ministry of Economy
of the Slovak Republic controls the State Energy Inspection (SEI), which has
been established under the Article 39 of the Act 70/1998. The SEI carries out
supervision over compliance with this Act, with generally binding legal
regulations issued in accordance with this Act and with measures applied in
accordance with this Act. It is divided to a central inspectorate which controls
regional inspectorates. The SEI is a budgetary organization seated in the city
of Trenčín and lead by central director who is also responsible for its
activity. The central director is appointed by the Minister of Economy. The
Ministry of Economy has also established the Slovak Energy Agency to ensure
realization of some activities determined by implementation of the Act on energy
and its implementing regulations.
The Ministry of
Economy of the Slovak Republic is a central state administration mining
authority. In accordance with the Act 51/1988 the bodies of state mining
administration are: the Central Mining Office seated in Banská Štiavnica and
the District Mining Offices seated in Bratislava, Banská Bystrica, Košice,
Prievidza and Spišská Nová Ves. The Central Mining Office is a budgetary
organisation lead by a Chairman who is appointed by the Minister of Economy. The
Central Mining Office controls the District Mining Offices.
Decision-Making: Legislation
and Regulations
As far as energy acts
are concerned, there are in particular the Act 70/1998 on energy and the Act
130/1998 on peaceful utilization of nuclear energy and subsequent implementing
regulations of the Ministry of Economy as amended by the further regulations:
The energy sector is incorporated in a broad
legislation of air protection covered by Ministry of the Environment:
·
Decree of the Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic
111/1993 on issuing expert judgments in air protection or waste management,
assignment of persons authorized to issue judgments and on verification of
professional qualification of these persons as amended by the Decree 53/1995;
Decision-Making: Strategies,
Policies and Plans
The strategic
objectives are determined by the Energy Policy of the Slovak Republic (January
2000):
Short-term
objectives:
The most important objectives in electro-energy:
The objective of the state policy in the area of
heat supply is:
The most important objectives in the area of gas
industry:
The objectives of the policy in the area of oil
supply:
·
to permanently seek opportunities of diversification of oil
imports to minimize risks connected to oil supply in long-term perspective;
The objectives of the policy in the area of coal
mining:
The medium-term objectives:
Strategic objectives:
Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement
Representatives of non-governmental organizations, scientific groups and
Association of employers are members of working groups which prepare important
documents.
Share of the private sector in production of electricity was 3.35
percent in 1999, which was 1,104 GWh. Distribution is provided by four
companies. In heat production the private sector occupies much larger area (81
percent including distribution, which makes 213 PJ.
They very actively criticize the governmental decisions, of which they do
not agree, and point out at saving measures.
Programmes and Projects
The Programme of support of energy savings and utilization of
alternative energy resources which is subsidized by the state budget up to the
sum of 30 million SKK yearly.
Energy labeling of domestic electric devices in
accordance with EEC/880/92.
Developing CO2 Cap and Trade Program
which is carried out by the Ministry of the Environment together with the Center
for Clean Air Policy, USA.
For 2000 the SEA was allocated the SAVE 2000
programme called Support of KGJ as a basis for Eastern-Western energy
partnership. It deals with introduction and support of co-generation units.
Implementation of the Decree of Ministry of the
Environment of the Slovak Republic 144/2000 on requirements
for fuel quality, keeping operational records on the kind, extent and way of
providing data to air protection authority.
The Programme of support of savings of energy and utilization of
alternative energy resources which is subsidized by the state budget up to the
sum of 30 million SKK yearly.
As early as 1992 Slovenské elektrárne (the Slovak
Power Plants Company) established a division of energy efficiency and elaborated
a DSM programme (promotion of energy efficiency and management on the side of
consumption) in collaboration with the company Power Smart Inc. from Canada. The
objectives of the programme are a) reduction of consumption in peak hours, b)
transfer of burden and c) improvement of efficiency of utilization of electric
energy in households and industry. In the framework of this programme pilot
projects are being run that are oriented to installation of heat pumps for
heating the premises and water in the sector of housing and efficient lighting
of houses and streets.
In the year 2000 the SEA was allocated the SAVE
2000 programme called Support of KGJ as a basis for Eastern-Western energy
partnership PROCHP. It deals with introduction and support of co-generation
units.
The further SAVE 2000 programme for Slovakia is
the programme called Extension of EXCOs TPF involvement in Public Sector CHP and
in DH schemes in the Czech and Slovak Republics. It deals with support of
funding projects of co-generation units by a third party (TPF: third party
financing).
In 1999 Slovakia was involved in programmes:
Analysis of obstacles in implementation of combined production of heat and
electricity in the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic, the National
programme of monitoring and identification of objectives in the Czech Republic
and the Slovak Republic, the Manual for self-governments in the Czech Republic
and the Slovak Republic.
The following forms of support provided by the
state can be considered as the most important ones:
Note: The issues of energy effectiveness and renewable resources of energy are in detail worked out in a document Draft Programme of reduction of energy demand and broader utilization of alternative energy resources, including support of research and development in this area, which was adopted by the resolution of the Government 1055/1999.
Status
Slovakia suffers from lack of its own primary energy resources (these
resources constitute only 11 percent of total consumption). The rest is covered
by import, in particular from the Russian Federation. Import of coal is
diversified.
Slovakia is electrified to 100 percent.
Fuel energy (specific resources of energy as gas, oil, fuel
wood, coal, etc.)
Currently there is a trend of gasification of boilers using coal. In
construction of new resources gas-steam cycles are being considered, mainly
because of economic reasons. Gas co-generation units are becoming still more and
more utilized. Small and medium boilers in housing and private sectors are being
replaced by gas boilers or are reconstructed to combust gas (in the case of
larger units). In this way consumption of coal is reduced in favor of gas.
Utilization of biomass is perspective for heat production. First of all the
waste water treatment plants use co-generation units of small outputs combusting
gas produced in these facilities.
Solar / hydro / wind energy
Solar energy is being utilized only minimally and wind energy even more
rarely. Mostly there are testing private facilities. On the other hand, the
hydro-energy is one of the pillars of the Slovak energy production. The
hydro-energy potential is utilized up to 58 percent in Slovakia and the trend is
to increase the level of its utilization.
Nuclear energy
Slovakia runs six blocks of nuclear power plants. In 2006 and 2008 two
blocks of older type will be phased out in Jaslovské Bohunice.
Others
One of the most perspective and important areas for gaining the
geothermal energy is the Košice basin. The water temperature achieves 115 oC.
The expected thermal and energy potential of usable volume of geothermal energy
is 1,276 MWt. The heat in CZT Košice should be primarily used for
low-temperature heating (heating of flats, greenhouses, dryers, recreational
facilities, air-condition of facilities for breeding poultry and agricultural
animals, fishery) or for production of electricity in the case of appropriate
abundance of boreholes.
In the area of the city of Dunajská Streda the geothermal energy is
used for heating the greenhouse and recreational purposes. In Komárno the
geothermal energy is used for bathing purposes. This water, however, contains
geothermal gas which is separated and used as fuel for small co-generation unit.
Slovakia is preparing transformation, restructuring and privatization of electro-energy which will be realized in the course of 2001. These processes will increase effectiveness of energy sectors and will contribute to rational utilization of energy. In the case of expected growth of GDP the consumption of energy will also grow, which will be also supported by production by independent producers, mainly on the basis of natural gas, share of which will further grow.
The Government has stated that among its long-term objectives it would like to reduce electric energy consumption to the average of member countries of the European Union (EU). The energy-supply system in Slovakia has limited resources. All available resources, including fossil fuels, hydroelectric power, and nuclear energy are utilized for the generation of electrical energy. The use of non-traditional, alternative energy sources is still in an experimental phase. Two large fossil fuel based thermal electric power stations are currently in operation, as well as six large district heating plants, and one nuclear power station. A second nuclear power station is under construction. The electrical energy grid is evenly distributed throughout Slovakia and is connected to systems in neighboring countries.
The split from the Czech Republic led to a modification in the east-west flow of energy. Western Slovakia became part of a territory with the most promising development prospects within Europe. The Slovak part of this territory is relatively well-prepared for this from an energy and power supply infrastructure viewpoint.
The reason for sulphur dioxide (SO2) emission reduction is the replacement of lesser quality fuel by more environmentally sound fuels such as gas, heating oil, coal with lower levels of incombustible components, as well as a general decrease of power generation and consumption after 1989. The conversion to gas has also contributed to the reduction of SO2 emissions. The ENOL block of power plants in Novaky, after renovation and installment of desulphurization equipment, should achieve a permanent 40,000 ton reduction in SO2 emissions per year.
Challenges
The area of Upper Nitra is the most threatened by emissions of
pollutants from thermal plant ENO Nováky. As far as consumption is concerned,
it is VSŽ Košice (metallurgy plant), ZSNP Žiar nad Hronom (metallurgy).
Long-term return rate of these investments (high investments, interest rates and low prices of energy), insufficient possibilities of the state budget to support these resources and technologies, under-capitalized businesses. Insufficient state budget.
Capacity-building, Education, Training
and Awareness-raising
Exhibitions RACIO ENERGIA, ELOSYS, AQUATERM, ENEF and further, various
conferences, workshops, seminars, competitions in mass media, advisory centers
There are courses, in particular physics, biology and ecology, which
include issues of environmental protection.
Energy auditors and so called competent representatives who run
businesses in energy sectors are trained via the Slovak Energy Agency
(established by the Ministry of Economy). They acquire a certificate of
professional ability.
Advisory and trade centers of energy enterprises, exhibitions EKOTOPFILM,
ENVIROFILM, etc.
Information
Information is gathered and processed by the Statistic Office of the
Slovak Republic. Business companies, which belong under the responsibility of
the Ministry of Economy, submit data also to the Ministry of Economy. The area
of heating management is monitored by the Slovak Energy Agency.
Official statistics is available. Other data and information are
presented at conferences, seminars and workshops.
www.infelen.sk <http://www.infelen.sk/>, www.economy.gov.sk <http://www.economy.gov.sk/>, www.energia.sk
Research and Technologies
Hydro-power:
Number of small hydro-power plant has been increased and this trend
still continues. Construction of one hydro-power plant with 64 MW output is
finishing.
Biomass:
Share in energy production and number of introduced units have been
increased. Gasification of biomass is developing in the area of waste water
treatment plants. Number of campaigns and undertakings oriented to energy
utilization of mainly biomass is extending.
Wind/solar energy:
Solar energy is utilized in particular for heat production. Wind power
plants are used only experimentally.
Nuclear energy:
Two blocks in the nuclear power plant Mochovce have been completed and
put into operation, which contributes to fulfillment of Kyoto commitments.
Geothermal energy is partially used for heat production.
In the framework of research and development in industrial sectors and energy
the following scientific and technical projects were realized in 1999:
Development of mass remote control of important technical components for
DSM SR, which was solved by VUPEX Bratislava
in the period 1996-1999; Improvement
of complex system for support of RODOS decision-making developed within the
European Union and its adaptation for the Eastern Europe. It was solved by VUJE
Institute Trnava in the period 1996-1999 (project solved in the framework of
international scientific and technical
co-operation EU – COPERNICUS); and Development of facility for
production of absorption containers for burnt fuel cells from nuclear
installations, which was solved by ZTS VVU Košice in the period 1998-1999.
In the area of hydro-energy it depends on achievement of consensus with
ecologists in building further small hydro-power plants. Environmental
evaluation of hydro-energy potential of the Slovak Republic is under preparation
which will determine a list and proper localization of small hydro-power plants.
In Slovakia there is an important producer of solar collectors that are,
however, exported.
Experiments are being carried out. Concerning major heating plants,
fluid combustion of coal has been introduced at ENO Nováky and further facility
of this kind of combustion is under preparation.
Fluid combustion – see previous item, gas-steam units, co-generation
units, utilization of geo-thermal energy.
Financing
The state budget contributes to the Programme of support of savings and utilization of alternative energy resources with a sum of 30 million SKK yearly (for private sector). There is a contribution also to the Programme SAVE II – 3.6 million SKK (private sector).
Cooperation
Investments of foreign investors in the Slovak Republic are protected.
The Slovak Republic has ratified the Convention on Energy Charter), besides that
the Government has adopted several measures providing potential investors with
advantageous conditions.
The Slovak Republic is connected to the international energy network
UCPITE and CENTREL.
Programmes INTERREG, Phare, SAVE II, SYNERGY
The third National Report on Climate Change is under preparation.
Emission trading is also under preparation and Joint Implementation projects are
being realized (with Denmark and the Netherlands).
The Protocol on Energy Charter and relating environmental aspects.
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of Slovakia to the 5th and 9th Sessions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 2001.
| Slovak Republic | All Countries | Home |
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
The Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for developing and implementing sustainable forest policy. Such a policy and its implementation is conditioned by available financial sources and by the constraints of the transfer of ownership process since 1989.
Decision-Making: Legislation
and Regulations
General legislation in force in the area of the environment (the act on the environment No. 17/1992) defined only general legislative frameworks for dealing with problems of the environment in the Slovak Republic. This act together with related legislative regulations does not create conditions for successful harmonisation of intentions of the State Environmental Policy in all relevant sectors. Orientation and priorities of the State Environmental Policy were determined only by direct or indirect implementation of environmental and ecological principles contained in sectoral policies, but not by principle of their common preparation. It has to be stated that today effective mechanisms for harmonization of cross-sectoral policies related to forests and the environment do not exist.
Certification is also a profitable business. It is transferred to certification of wood and wooden products. Certification confirms that the wood comes from forests managed according to agreed criteria. This offers a barrier against export of wood without certification from an accredited institution. Process of certification of wood and wooden products is permanently monitored in Slovakia. At negotiations of representatives of CEFTA (Bratislava, 4 December 1996) the Slovak Republic joined a common position that for certification the Central Europe will use an argument of long-term forest management according to forest management plans (in Slovakia since 1879) and the certificate will be provided for those, who show compliance with forest legislation in force. Providing the certifications free of charge will have a preference.
Decision-Making: Strategies,
Policies and Plans
Principle of sustainable forest management is determined by the Strategy and Conception of Forestry Development in Slovakia and the Principles of the State Forest Policy, as well as by the basic legislation related to forest management and nature protection. Legislative process in the area of forest management has not been completed and in the near future it will be fundamentally modified, with regard to sustainable forestry.
The targets of forestry development are determined by the strategic and policy plans approved by the Government of the Slovak Republic within the Resolutions No. 8/1993 (Strategy and Policy of Forestry Development in Slovakia) and No. 9/1993 (Principles of the State Forest Policy in Slovakia). The long-term strategic targets of development have been specified in the Programme Declaration of the Government in accordance with the strategy of sustainable forest management with stressing the public functions of forest, necessity of realization of remedial measures and consolidation of extent and quality of silvi cultural operations.
Basis for integrated land management and spatial planning is represented by regional territorial systems of ecological stability which respect the national trans-regional territorial system of ecological stability approved by the Resolution of the Government of the Slovak Republic No. 319 from 27 April 1992 which reflects the current state of ecological quality of the whole Slovak territory and indicates the opportunities for achieving the ecological stability as a precondition for conservation of diversity of conditions and forms of life in the territory and maintenance of production capacity of a country.
Direct linkage between forest management planning and preparation of territorial systems of ecological stability does not exist at present, although large forest complexes present a basis element of trans-regional territorial systems of ecological stability. Optimal solution for the future would be the adoption of a common approach on the regional level (i.e. forest regions in Slovakia) which could deal with issues exceeding the framework of current planning in forest management arrangements (e.g. issue of total percentage of forest land in a concrete area, issue of territory over the upper forest limit, etc.). Situation is also determined by the legislative specification of the land resources in Slovakia (agricultural and forest land resources) which rather strictly frames all land-related activities.
Decision-Making: Major
Groups involvement
No information is available
Programmes and Projects
Forest management’s share in gross domestic product is only 0.9 percent. Number of employees in forest management is gradually decreasing since 1990 and its share in total number of employed persons in Slovakia in productive age is 1.3 percent. The average salary in forestry was not very different from the national average in 1991, however, in 1998 it was lower by 14 percent. Despite of these facts the forest management participates in improving the employment in areas, where, except for agriculture, there are no other job opportunities. To deal with employment and improve incomes of rural population, the Ministry of Soil Management has elaborated Programme of development of rural tourism, including silvitourism. The Programme will be ensured via SAPARD project.
Status
Area of forests makes 41 percent of the whole territory of the Slovak Republic (forest lands 1,989,443 ha, afforested total of forest land 1,999,266 ha) (as of 31 December 1998). Out of this area the coniferous forests make 41 percent and leafy forests 59 percent. Production forests make 66.9 percent, protective forests 15.3 percent and forests for special purposes 17.8 percent. They are cultivated via shelter cultivation which, together with selection system, is applied on 57.1 percent of the area and this figure will be growing in the future. The average afforested supply is 206 m3 per ha. The health state of the forests is stabilizing, however, it is still significantly worse than the European average. There is high rate of salvage cutting which made 42 percent of total cutting in 1998.
There are more than 4,200 ha of deforested land above the tree line, while another 3,800 ha are in stages of deforestation in Slovakia. There are some 1.5 million ha of farmland threatened with erosion, 670,000 of which urgently require protection. Only about 15 to 20% of the renewed forests is recovered by natural forest regrowth, although by applying optimal natural conditions, up to 50 or 60% can be renewed. There is an acute need to reforest at least 60,000 ha in Slovakia, according to expert estimates.
The area of specially designated forest has increased to 14.2% of the total forest area, facilitating the stabilization of the ecosystem and contributing to the public use of forests. The annual harvest volume of forests has decreased from the original 6 million m3 per year to 5 million m3 per year, while the share of random harvests has increased (40-50% of the annual harvest volume on average). Approximately 180,000 ha of land is estimated to be suitable for forestation, including 60,000 ha of land requiring acute forestation.
The current status of the Slovak forests, with its mix of species, is incongruent with today's climatic conditions. The most precarious environmental conditions are found in the low-lying forested altitudes (up to 500 m) where the lack of rainfall is pronounced. Plans to modify the species composition of the most endangered forest requires a time frame of at least 40 to 50 years.
The health status of forests significantly deteriorated during the past decade due to emissions. Ninety-two percent of elms, 41% of firs, 11% of oaks, and 10% of pines have become extinguished in Slovakia. Deterioration can also be detected in younger age groups. The most afflicted coniferous tree is the pine (40%), followed by the fir (36%), and the spruce (29%). The average value of defoliation, calculated from research during a period of 7 years, has reached 27%. Persisting emission exposure and the weakening of forest capacity has increased tree defoliation and thinning of tree cover. Accidental tree cutting reached 60.4% of overall lumbering in 1994.
In relation with social changes after 1989 fundamental changes have been realized in recognizing and respecting private property and rehabilitation of proprietary relations which used to exist before 1948. In the area of ownership of forest land (forest crop) and its use several acts have been passed which deal with issues of rehabilitation of proprietary relations to forest land (the acts No.: 229/1991, 306/1992, 138/1991, 330/1991). Currently the process of re-privatization is almost completed (at present only 43 percent of forest area are owned by the state). Currently forests are owned by the state, municipalities, churches and by other legal and physical entities. All kinds of ownerships are equal (the Constitution of the Slovak Republic).
Challenges
The more fundamental application of principles of sustainable development of forest management in Slovakia will be dependent on economic possibilities of the state.
The act No. 287/1994 on nature protection does not solve fully the issue of compensations for material losses caused by different manners of forest management (articles 46 and 47), although such losses are defined explicitly defined in the act. Owner (administer, holder) of forest lands has increased expenses in managing forests, with respect to intensification of social functions, caused by application of finer and more suitable manners of cultivation, which have not been included in forest management plan or which were usually implemented under given conditions.
At the time of entering into force of this act there was no legislative regulation explicitly laying down the extent of material loss or how to calculate and use it in practice. Currently this issue is still not fully solved.
Currently a complex programme of recycle of forest waste does not exist in forest management. Partial projects are being implemented in utilization of wastes in the area of bioenergy.