Juraj Švajda

The main aim of the research is to identify landscape fragmentation (LF) in Slovakia with special emphasis on the contribution of protected areas (PAs) to mitigate the effect of LF. Results are presented in the final raster output (10 m grid). The raster contains 490,321,151 individual 10 m raster grids, with the LF average value of 59.12 % (where 0 represents fragmented landscape, 100 represents fully connected landscape by natural or semi-natural ecosystems) on the national level. Most of the territory of Slovakia falls within the range of values 55 – 65 %, which confirms the presence of significant continuous unfragmented areas. Based on the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) statistics results, there is a positive correlation of lower LF within the PAs network (p < 0.05, Table 1) in comparison to the unprotected part of Slovakia. The results of geographically weight regression (GWR) proved a medium positive correlation (r2=0.36; r2adj=0.36; n=49,003), thus confirming to a certain extent the role of PAs in the mitigation of the effect of LF. On the other hand, the level of protection does not correlate significantly with fragmentation values, where a higher level of protection is not significantly connected with a lower level of LF. For each category of PA, individual statistics of quality and quantity of LF are estimated and subsequently compared with unprotected parts of Slovakia. The comparison of all PAs with each other resulted in 1,132 unique assessments. The overall average value of LF of unprotected parts is still rather high (56.42 %) and it shows that there are still significant areas existing, which are situated in unprotected parts of the country. Spatial analysis revealed, that these important parts are covering 93,065 hectares, and are variously spread across the whole of Slovakia. The average value of LF for these newly identified areas is 68.5 %. As output, the results of this research present a comprehensive national map of the level of LF and lists of PAs ranked according to the overall assessment of LF.

Protected Areas (PAs) are the most widely applied tool for biodiversity conservation. The primary role of these areas is to protect and restore ecosystems, but it has become increasingly evident that in order to designate effective PAs it is also crucial to take into consideration how they contribute to sustainable local socio-economic targets. In the past decade studies focusing on social impacts of PAs have increasingly studied a number of impacts such as on people’s quality of life, income and connectedness to nature. Although the literature on social impacts of PAs has increased there is limited evidence regarding the distribution of these impacts across different locations inside and near PAs. Addressing this gap is useful for practitioners considering that it is now widely accepted that social impacts are a significant predictor for the level of public support for PA. In the current study we explore this topic and analyse the spatial distribution of perceived social impacts in 4 European Protected Areas using primary data from 1,251 households. We apply a new modeling framework using Bayesian statistics revealing that social impacts are often unevenly distributed between local communities and extend outside the boundaries of a PA. Our analysis also shows that spatial proximity with other people (what are the perceptions of people who live nearby) is more important for predicting most perceived social impacts of PAs compared to how close respondents are to a PA. Our results highlight that social impacts may be geographically unevenly distributed in PAs and we present a new way of measuring the spatial distribution of these impacts which can be useful for national park authorities and in general managers of PAs.

The modern approach to the management of protected areas (PAs) introduces a holistic perspective on these areas, in which they are not seen as isolated conservation zones, but as units integrated with their natural, social and economic environment. They are expected to harmonize their protective role with tangible benefits for local communities. Fostering both social and economic development is particularly important in underdeveloped, peripheral areas. The efficacy of management within this novel paradigm relies heavily on the attitudes and perceptions of local communities towards the PAs. As a result, the research was undertaken to identify local stakeholders' perceptions of the social and economic role of national parks (NPs) in the Carpathian region of the European Union (EU). The study was based on 170 interviews conducted in eight NPs, among four stakeholder groups (NPs authorities, local authorities, representatives of the tourism sector, local residents). Q-methodology was applied to achieve a comprehensive understanding of respondents' perspectives, along with their nuanced opinions. This methodology enables a statistical analysis that leads to the identification of groups of opinions and the examination of differences between them. Based on it, three main groups of opinions (perspectives) were identified in which the national park was perceived as: I) a stimulant to sustainable local development, II) a partner and a chance for future local development and III) a constraint on local development. Perspective I was dominant (44.7% of respondents), being the most typical for Pieniny NP (Poland) and Aggtelek (Hungary), and - considering stakeholder groups - for national park authorities (the most homogeneous group in terms of opinions). Perspective II was characteristic mainly of Retezat NP (Romania) and Magura NP (Poland) and perspective III appeared most numerously in Poloniny (Slovakia), as well as in Piatra Craiului (Romania). The local context, related to a particular NP, differentiated opinions more strongly than the stakeholder group or country of origin. Opinions regarding the current park-people relationships and impact of the NP on local development as well as expectations as to the commercial use of the park's territory (the vision of tourism development) differed strongly among the representatives of the perspectives. A consensus emerged regarding the belief that NPs should support local development (e.g. by promoting local products and ensuring the benefits of its functioning reach the local residents). Furthermore, there was a consensus in rejecting the top-down management model of NPs, with a vision for future development focused on fostering a park-people partnership. These consensus views provide a positive ground for the implementation of a holistic approach and an integrative management model for NPs in the Carpathians.

Protected areas (PAs) are the foremost policy tool for biodiversity conservation internationally. In order for PAs to deliver desired conservation outcomes effectively, equitably, and for the long-term, they require a high level of support from local communities. A mosaic of factors have been proposed aiming to explain the level of support for PAs focusing mainly on governance indicators, perceived social impacts and social attributes, such as personal norms and values. However, these factors are often explored in isolation and in studies of small scale within the scientific literature. To cover this research gap we run a structural equation model exploring how the interconnections between these factors can lead to higher levels of support for PAs using data from 3239 local residents in 10 PAs in Europe. Our analysis shows that the mediation effects of governance indicators, such as trust in institutions and level of public engagement, are important in explaining associations between an individual's social profile and their perceived social impacts with public support. Our findings also provide a useful and operational framework for PA practitioners and researchers illuminating pathways to increase the level of public support for a PA.

Assessing the environmental status of Protected Areas (PAs) is a challenging issue. To indicate that status, the identification of a common set of variables that are scientifically sound, and easy to assess and monitor by the PA practitioners, is particularly important. In this study, a set of 27 Essential Variables (EVs) for PA management was selected in a bottom-up process from 67 harmonised variables that describe the status of Ecosystem Functions and Structures, Ecosystem Services, and Threats in PAs. This bottom-up process involved 27 internationally recognised PAs, mostly European, with different level of protection, different extent, and a wide range of human-nature interactions. The EVs were selected by more than 120 practitioners, i.e. PA managers and rangers, as well as scientists, working in terrestrial and aquatic PAs. Across both terrestrial and aquatic PAs, scientists and practitioners largely identified the same variables as important. Data availability for these 27 EVs varied between PAs and averaged 67% across all studied PAs. As this set of EVs for PAs is defined through a bottom-up approach considering variables already in use both in management and research, it is more than for previous EVs likely to be adopted, applied and developed to record the status and changes in the ecological and socio-economic conditions of PAs and to forecast future changes. Thereby, the EVs for PAs present a common vocabulary and tool to enhance in a uniform way the (inter)national communication, exchange and comparison of information on the status of PAs between policy makers, scientists and PA managers. The perceived status of the EVs, on an average 3.6 on a scale to a maximum of 5, indicates the surveyed PAs are in a moderate to good environmental condition. Moreover, the EVs for PAs form a cost- and time-efficient tool for PA managers to monitor developments in essential elements of their PAs, including the potential for Societal Goods and Benefits (SG&B), and to (pro-)actively tackle the potential threats that may arise in their area. Likewise, for policy makers EVs for PAs may support decision making on ecosystem management, spatial planning, and predictive modelling on the future status and requirements of PAs in their country or region.

Protected Area (PA) managers and policy makers need to determine and demonstrate the effectiveness of PA management and keep track of the conservation status in ways that are practical, scientifically sound and comparable among PAs in various terrestrial and aquatic environments. As most existing methods for measuring the managerial efficiency of PAs are restricted to specific elements of the management or a limited number of detailed environmental aspects, often without the participation of practitioners, we aim for a generally applicable method developed in close cooperation with PA managers; the Protection Level Index (PLI). PLI includes ecological, socioeconomic , as well as managerial factors, and consists of twelve variables that together describe the state of a PA. Seven of those are derived from interviews with PA managers, and five of them are derived from GIS analyses. Data were obtained during face-to-face interviews with PA managers using a fixed protocol, thereby introducing a new way of incorporating the perception of the PA managers. PLI was tested in seven different PAs across Europe. The lowest final PLI score was for the Island Network of Protected Areas in La Palma and the highest final PLI score was for the Kalkalpen National Park. PLI is wider applicable than other related methods and more cost-effective. Therefore PLI can be used on a yearly basis to keep track of the progress of management activities and conservation status within and among (networks of) PAs.

Prírodný turizmus sa, predovšetkým v menej rozvinutých oblastiach Slovenska, javí ako jeden z primárnych nástrojov na sprostredkovanie reálnej ekonomicky ako aj ekologicky udržateľnej alternatívy s výrazným potenciálom pre rozvoj daného regiónu a zvrátenie jeho nepriaznivej demografickej situácie. Z tohto dôvodu bolo žiaduce zadefinovať rámce a princípy prírodného turizmu v slovenských podmienkach.

Veľmi rýchlo sa ukázalo, že za prírodný turizmus nemôže byť považovaná akákoľvek aktivita cestovného ruchu realizovaná v prírodnom prostredí, keďže mnohé z foriem tohto odvetvia majú nepriaznivý vplyv na prírodné prostredie, prekračujú únosnosť a ekologickú valenciu (toleranciu) územia alebo jednoducho neprinášajú výhody pre miestne komunity a sú len inou formou neudržateľného využívania prírodných zdrojov regiónu.

Naopak, prírodný turizmus podľa tohto konceptu má tieto negatívne vplyvy odstraňovať a objektívne prispievať k ochrane životného prostredia a zlepšeniu podmienok pre život ľudí.

Public governance and civil society play an important role in the preservation of the environmental and cultural values of the specific region of Tusheti. This area is an interesting study object also due to its unique governing model and different management issues including the historical background of the region and the current growth of tourism. In the region, where there is a significant number of initiatives supported by donors, a management plan for the protected landscape was prepared and put into practice and selected measures were implemented. Our evaluation of the activities was focused on relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impacts and sustainability of outcomes. On the basis of the formulated conclusions, a few recommendations related to process and system nature, implementation and replicability of approaches are suggested. The results show an increase in tourism in the region, which leads to an improvement in the quality of life of the local population. On the other hand, it represents a threat to natural and cultural values, historical identity and uniqueness. The Management Plan is an excellent platform for stakeholder cooperation and implementation of specific measures to protect this exceptional territory.

The Carpathians, as European mountains with exceptional natural and cultural values, are facing many challenges connected with sustainable development. Research provides important information for decision makers, planners and managers on how to deal with these issues. Here, we analyse by a systematic quantitative literature review 520 contributions to Forum Carpaticum conferences. Most of the research was conducted in Romania and Poland by universities and research institutes. Particular attention was paid to the topics of conservation and biodiversity, forestry and ecology, and land use and land cover change. Field research and data analysis, including modelling using modern tools, are among the most frequent approaches or technologies used for research. Research patterns potentially reflect the demand for, and supply of information and analysis in particular geographical areas and on specific topics. There are also growing impacts of technology and social media in this field. Our results could be used for indications of key future research directions and to identify current gaps in research in the Carpathians.

In conservation biology, there is a general consensus that protected areas (PAs) are one of the most effective tools for biodiversity protection. Worldwide, the area of PAs is continually increasing. But is the effectiveness of biodiversity protection improving with it? Since many PAs only exist as " paper parks " (i.e. they exist on maps and in legislation but offer little actual protection), the answer is uncertain. Moreover, it has long been known that, not only an increase in the extent of PAs, but also the efficiency of their management is fundamentally important for effective nature conservation. Therefore, there is a wide-ranging discussion about the actual effectiveness of PAs and factors that influence it. In the course of the EU pre-accession phase, a comprehensive field mapping of natural habitats took place in the Czech Republic in years 2001−2004. The mapping results were used to designate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) as part of the Natura 2000 network. In this study, the aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of this newly created system of SACs for protection of biodiversity represented by the mapped natural habitats. The NCEI index (Nature Conservation Effectiveness Index) was applied, calculated as the total area of a particular habitat type in all SACs

Nature trails have become very popular and have become the most widespread method of interpreting natural and cultural heritage. This paper presents the result of evaluation research of a nature trail in the High Tatras National Park (Slovakia). The holding power and attention capture of the individual panels were assessed by observation including further analysis of other factors related to the interpretive quality or location of the panels. Evaluation shows that the trail is overloaded with text and does not adequately link the communicated content with the surroundings. The individual trail panels have a relatively low degree of holding power and attention capture. The evaluation reveals the importance of good quality and thoughtful interpretation of natural heritage. Overall, the study also shows the difficulties associated with the use of statistical methods to analyze the effectiveness of selected trail features.

Tatra National Park is considered as the most visited protected area in Slovakia. Striking a balance between the preservation of natural resources and opportunities for public recreation often forces responsible authorities to make compromises between visitation impacts and protection. In this case, the microbial investigation of recreation effects on water and soil in the Tatra National Park were studied. The study areas were two valleys – Malá Studená, accessible by trail from south with higher human impact and visitation, including mountain huts Téryho and Zamkovského chata and Javorová, accessible from the northern part with a low number of visitors. Soil samples were taken from the main path, 30 cm away from it and water samples from or near the main path in both valleys. The selected colonies, after the cultivation on TSA medium were also analysed according to the dry and semi-extraction procedure of MALDI–TOF method. Most of the obtained strains are endospore forming, psychrotolerant species like Pseudomonas, Bacillus or Paenibacillus away of path, which corresponds with the climate and geographical conditions. But, the relatedness of soil sample strains in both valleys increases with rising altitude, with distance away from path; in contrast, the relatedness of water samples strains in both valleys increases with increasing distance sample areas from chalet and frequent visitors' places. Water and soil samples were processed for community level physiological profiling using Biolog EcoPlates. The obtained results of carbon source utilization abilities of bacterial communities in both valleys suggested lower diversity in Javorová Valley, which corresponds probably with less visitor intensity, with less anthropogenic impact as well as with less risk of xenobiotics presence in environment.

Crowding in America's national parks is a severe problem. Places like Arches National Park are witnessing such an influx of tourism that they are considering new management techniques. Understanding the social science of the situation through crowding studies assists park management in developing strategies for resource protection, recreation management, conflict prevention, and user satisfaction. The purpose of this research was to explore feelings and perceptions of crowding at the Bear Lake trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). The main goals of the study were to obtain information about visitors of RMNP during the winter season while examining the type(s) of activities they were engaging in along with exploring any feelings of crowding they might have felt. There were 428 completed questionnaires for this study. Results showed fewer conditions of crowding compared to summer users at the park. However, the results of this study also show that some individuals did experience crowding and even conflict during their visit. Such results are valuable as a complementary source of information to the summer studies that have already concluded. Photo elicitation methods also supported normative standards of low user encounters on the trail in order to deter greater feelings of crowding.

Since the last decades, natural disturbances in forests including protected areas have intensified. They have the potential to impact visual quality and safety of visitors as well as spread beyond protected area boundaries. While economic and ecological impacts are well studied , there is still a lack of work focused on human dimensions and social aspects. This study examines visitor perceptions towards bark beetle infestation in Tatra National Park, Poland. The findings, based on visitor surveys collected during the summer of 2014, indicate the significance of different factors influencing visitor attitudes towards the bark beetle. Age of visitors and importance of the bark beetle issue for them (based on subjective ratings of importance of bark beetle issue for respondents) are the most prominent variables. Also place of origin and environmental worldview were recognized as significantly important variables in accordance with similar studies. Results suggest management implications for park authorities including public relations and environmental education in order to increase knowledge and support for natural disturbance and ecological integrity policies in the national park.

The aim of this paper is to contribute to improving visitor monitoring in the Tatra
National Park, based on the results obtained from the pilot use of a counting device.
A direct data collection method was applied in order to monitor the number of visits.
In the study period from May 31, 2008, to November 20, 2008, a counting device
with pyroelectric detector (Eco Twin) registered the exact number of tourists entering
the specified sector of the hiking trail that leads from the crossing near Žabí brook
to Rysy peak. During the total observation period, the system registered 96 366
traverses. As a result, an average daily volume of visits and a total volume of visits
for the selected trail segment were identified. Temporal changes in the intensity of
recreational use on a weekly and daily basis were observed for the period from June
to October 2008 as well as the acceptance by visitors of seasonal trail closure. The
current number of visitors was related to the specified carrying capacity of the trail
and the impact of weather on the number of visitors was also taken into account.
For the next period, we suggested further lines of investigation. Extension and
improvement of research in this area is urgently needed because the amount and
dynamics of visits to the Tatra mountains has changed in recent years. This might
have an impact on the environment of the national park and biosphere reserve. The
management will have to take this fact into account.

High mountain ecosystems are considered particularly vulnerable to climate change because productivity, composition, and diversity are directly limited by temperature. The European Alps experienced a 2°C increase in annual minimum temperatures during the twentieth century, with a marked rise since the early 1980s.

The alpine landscape of the Tatra National Park has changed significantly over the past few decades, especially as a result of the development of tourism (i.e. hotels, ski slopes) which are likely to impede the effective management of nature conservation.

This study presents the results of a survey to ascertain the preferences and the perception of visitors to the Tatra National Park and its landscape. Scenarios of tourism development and landscape changes were presented to respondents verbally and by means of manipulated photos in order to visualize potential threats to the current appearance of the landscape. The data that this survey revealed and the statements made by the respondents with regard to the frequency of their trips to the National Park were combined to assess the effects of landscape changes on the recreation benefits of visitors. Furthermore, the willingness-to-pay, in terms of a hypothetical admission fee to prevent a further degradation of the ecological quality, was also ascertained.

The results show that the frequency of trips is significantly reduced if one of the scenarios were to become a fact. Annual recreation benefits (measured by the consumer surplus) currently amount to approximately EUR 1,040 per person, while the loss of recreation benefits, as a consequence of further changes to the landscape considered to be unfavourable by the respondents, would amount to EUR 329 to 475 per person. In addition, visitors stated an annual willingness to pay from EUR 23 to EUR 26 to prevent further negative developments. The conclusions that were drawn refer especially to the effectiveness of management in the Tatra National Park, to the combination of revealed and stated behaviour data, and the willingness-to-pay of the visitors.

The objective of this study was to determine the numbers and percentages of various groups of visitors hiking off trail, the motives driving visitors to do so and the damaging impact on nature and the environment. Sections of eight routes in the Pieniny Mts. National Park (NP) were selected for the study. On average, 29.4 % of visitors were found to have strayed from the official routes, with children being the most prominent group (38.2 %). The groups led by guides left the trails significantly less
than other groups (24.2 % and 30.5 % respectively). Technical reasons for leaving a trail, e. g. crowds or obstacles on the route, predominated over volitional reasons, such as taking photographs or resting (56.8 % and 43.2 % respectively).
The proportion of persons walking off route drops significantly when the route has kerbs (Z = 2.10638; p = 0.0352), and a convenient trail surface (7.06311; p<0.0001). Additionally, a negative correlation was found between walking off the
route and the mean (ρ = −0.2048; p = 0.0018) and minimum width of the route (ρ = −0.3244; p < 0.0001). A significant correlation was found between the type of habitat surrounding the route and the damaged surface (H = 37.4932; df = 2; p < 0.0001). In forest habitats, the breadth of the zone where vegetation was completely absent was significantly larger than in mixed habitats (Z = 5.35021; p < 0.0001), and non-forest habitats (Z = 5.35331; p < 0.0001). Similarly, in forest habitats the surface of the zone with damaged vegetation was significantly larger than in the remaining habitats (H = 154.7565; df = 2; p < 0.0001). The total length of informal trails branching off from the study areas was 242 m, which constituted 63 % of total length of the stages of the studied routes.

The aim of this study was to estimate the size and direction of tourism and recreation influence on protected areas within the
Natura 2000 sites. The research covered sites in Slovakia within the Alpine Bioregion. Information included in the Standard Data
Form (SDF) was analysed and the SDF used as a basic tool to collect data related to the Natura 2000 sites. The tool contains unified
information of forms of activities within a given area, their intensity and effect (positive, neutral, or negative) on nature. The
study revealed that almost a third of activities pursued in the Slovakian part of the Alpine Bioregion were related to tourism and
recreation in the wider sense. Furthermore, the influence of the majority of activities on the environment was considered negative
or neutral in all analysed Natura 2000 areas. Only ten forms of activities were found positive in some parts of the Natura 2000
sites. The findings also indicated that the intensity of the analysed activities was similar within the Natura 2000 sites and in the
adjacent areas. However, the effects of the selected activities were more often found to be negative within the Natura 2000 sites
than in their adjacent areas. The results obtained from this study suggest that broadly understood tourism and recreational activities
can be considered an inherent element of human influence on biodiverse areas. They should be taken into consideration in
managing and planning Natura 2000 sites and their adjacent areas.

National park management institutions must adapt as society’s goals and preferences change. This is
especially true in countries that recently joined the European Union and have ungone rapid institution change.
Tools for evaluating national park management are important for guiding such institutional changes. We evaluate
the ability of the Integrated Protected Area Management (IPAM) toolbox to identify areas of management
that should be targeted for improvement. We find that the IPAM toolbox breaks the complex task of protected
area management into specific tangable action areas, and that IPAM assessment can aid managers in identifing
specific areas of protected area management that need revisitng. We conduct an IPAM assessment for
all nine Slovak national parks and identify commonalities among the assessment results. These commonalities
point to necessary institutional changes beyond the control of individual park administrators. The IPAM
toolbox is a useful tool to aid national protected area institutions adapt to changing social and environmental
conditions. Ultimately, such adaptiation will lead to more efficent and effective park management.

The present paper
focuses on the
distribution of Pinus mugo
in the Carpathians, in an
area on the border
between Slovakia and
Poland. We analyze the
response of P. mugo
distribution to abiotic
habitat conditions in the
western Tatra Mountains and discuss possible implications
for research. The source data for this study were aerial
photographs from 3 periods (1965, 1986, and 2002).
Mountain areas covered by dwarf pine were identified and
analyzed by ArcGIS 9.2, and pine fields were classified with
the help of the gray scale mode. A strip of dwarf pine above
the upper limit of the forest represents a well-identifiable
boundary on the aerial photographs: 25 well-recognized localities were selected to examine the changes in the tree
line in the western Tatras. The distribution of dwarf pine
systematically increased in the western Tatra Mountains from
1965 to 2002 on all monitored sites. The percentage of total
surface area covered in P. mugo increased from 41.8% in
1965 to 51.8% in 1986 and to 58.2% in 2002. The study also
analyzes the dispersal of dwarf pine over 40 years in relation
with slope and elevation. The results of this study explain
ongoing and future vegetation changes and can be used as an
important contribution to monitoring of climate change in the
mid-European mountain areas.

Conservation in the post-communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe has
become a very hot issue in recent years. This paper describes experiences and new
approaches to planning with regard to the participatory and sustainable management of
Tatra National Park (TANAP). The main purpose of the project was to support the
development of a common vision among stakeholders and park authorities and to provide
assistance to TANAP administration for their preparation of a new park plan using
public participation in the planning process. The plan was developed using participatory
methods to bring the many, and sometimes conflicting, interests together to provide a
better balance for long-term sustainable management. The involvement of main stakeholders
in the development of the plan, yet to be officially approved, was expected to
ensure sustainability of project achievements. A popular version of the plan was produced
and made available to the public. Experiences from the project were utilised for reviewing
national legislation aiming for a national impact.

The presented guidebook was designed as the result of mutual work of the VIMOMA project’s partners, experts as well as the protected areas representatives, who participated in the projects’ workshop. The general aim of this guidebook is to introduce protected area managers, students as well as other stakeholders, to different tools and methodologies useful for efficient visitor monitoring and management. The guidebook also includes the developed methodological frameworks for visitor monitoring and management, which could be practically used in different protected areas. The guidebook is divided into five main chapters and a conclusion, which are related to the themes of the five thematic workshops.

Predkladané skriptá s názvom Prípadové štúdie z ochrany prírody a krajiny a starostlivosti o prírodné zdroje majú doplniť praktickými príkladmi prvé dve časti (Všeobecné aspekty ochrany prírody a krajiny, Národný systém ochrany prírody a krajiny na Slovensku).

Nájdete v nich dvadsiatku príkladov z histórie ochrany prírody, druhovej ochrany flóry a fauny, ale aj starostlivosti o prírodné zdroje vrátane chránených území. Prezentované sú nielen úspešné projekty ale aj také, ktorých realizácia bola menej úspešná a je doteraz výzvou. Z geografického hľadiska sme použili pre relevantnosť nielen príklady zo zahraničia a okolitých regiónov ale najmä z domáceho prostredia.

Viaceré z prezentovaných príkladov sú dôkazom toho, že ak chceme zabezpečiť ochranu a efektívny manažment druhov a území, musíme dbať nielen na biologické zákonitosti ale aj spoločensko-ekonomické súvislosti ochrany.

Vzhľadom na zameranie celého projektu vďaka ktorému tieto skriptá vychádzajú, pevne veríme, že ich využijú nielen študenti v študijných programoch ekológia a ochrana ekosystémov, environmentálne manažérstvo, geografia a rozvoj regiónov ale stane sa užitočnou motiváciou aj pre pracovníkov v praxi. Príklady možno vhodne aplikovať v rôznych predmetoch napr. ochrana prírody a krajiny, biologické základy ochrany prírody, manažment chránených území a druhov, ekologický monitoring a pod.

Skriptá boli napísané a vydané s podporou projektu „Inovatívne kroky pre potreby vysokoškolského vzdelávania v 21. storočí“ (ITMS: 26110230109) v súlade s Operačným programom Vzdelávanie. Projekt bol spolufinancovaný zo zdrojov Európskej únie. Poďakovanie patrí aj všetkým tým, vďaka ktorým uvedené prípadové štúdie vznikli a poskytli k ich spracovaniu podklady. V neposlednom rade aj recenzentom za starostlivé posúdenie textu.

Úbytok biodiverzity a narušenie život udržujúcich systémov Zeme sa v posledných rokoch stávajú čoraz vážnejšou hrozbou. Táto situácia len zdôrazňuje nutnosť potreby zmeny paradigmy a realizáciu účinnej a efektívnej modernej ochrany prírody. Predkladané skriptá s názvom Všeobecné aspekty ochrany prírody a krajiny sú prvou časťou troch učebných textov venovaných ochrane prírody a krajiny. Pre získanie celkového prehľadu čitateľom odporúčame aj ostatné dve časti. V nich sa pozornosť venuje problematike národného systému ochrany prírody a krajiny vrátane územnej ochrany (Škodová & Urban 2015) ako aj prípadovým štúdiám z ochrany prírody a krajiny a starostlivosti o prírodné zdroje (Urban et al. 2015).

Skriptá pozostávajú zo štyroch hlavných kapitol. Prvá je venovaná biologickým a ekologickým aspektom ochrany prírody a krajiny vrátane vymierania druhov, ohrozeniam a negatívnym vplyvom, ktoré pôsobia aj na ich biotopy. Druhá kapitola poskytuje stručný prehľad vývoja ochrany prírody a krajiny v globálnom ale aj národnom kontexte. Pre zabezpečenie vykonateľnosti praktickej ochrany je potrebný právny a inštitucionálny rámec, ktorý je popísaný v tretej  kapitole. Záverečná, štvrtá kapitola zdôrazňuje medzinárodný kontext, keďže chránené územia sú často dôležitou súčasťou medzinárodných sústav a sietí vrátane sústavy chránených území Natura 2000.

Skriptá boli napísané a vydané s podporou projektu „Inovatívne kroky pre potreby vysokoškolského vzdelávania v 21. storočí“ (ITMS: 26110230109) v súlade s Operačným programom Vzdelávanie. Projekt bol spolufinancovaný zo zdrojov Európskej únie. Poďakovanie patrí všetkým spolupracovníkom a recenzentom za starostlivé posúdenie textu.

This book is a collection of papers presented at the meeting "The Third West Carpathian High Altitude Biology Forum" intended for "Chamois Conservation". It was held in Tatranská Štrba, Slovak Republic, in October 2001. The timely volume contains field observations, data and analyses of many factors which influence the life of chamois. The book documents the latest knowledge on the ecology and history of "tatrica" subspecies including the role of man in its current population decrease. The book may be useful to naturalists, nature protection managers, foresters, researchers and students.

The Ranger Service is an essential part of the Protected Areas. They build a direct relationship with visitors, the PA Administration and the State Nature Conservancy SR. Therefore, Ranger Services should operate as efficiently and effectively as possible. This book offers overview of scope and legal framework of rangers in Slovakia and neighbouring countries, system of organization, ranger documentation and resources for ranger work in different areas.

Environmental education in protected areas must take in consideration targets of protected areas as well as global environmental problems. It should effectively use natural heritage of protected areas for a direct contact with nature. Another task is to bring nature closer to people as something esthetically pleasurable, which needs protection inevitably. This book is focused on environmental education, lecturing, publishing and work with media, giving of information, target groups, guiding and ways of use different environmental programs in protected areas of Slovakia and abroad.

The textbook you are holding in your hands represents an attempt of synthesis of available resources on the management of protected areas (PAs). It is a kind of primary work, making use of both scholar knowledge on territorial nature protection, but also of practical experience of the protected areas managers. We will be glad if it becomes a source of better understanding and perhaps inspiration to a different perspective and new ways to search common consensus of people involved, either directly or indirectly, in the protection of natural and cultural values of protected areas and sustainable use of their resources (land owners, land users and managers in protected areas, government officials, local and regional politicians, local communities, non-governmental organizations, representatives of the tourism business sector and others).
Today, a manager needs to understand deeply biodiversity and conservation issues (from species to ecosystems and from gap analysis to populations and habitat connectivity), as well as natural and original ecological processes running in protected areas. But this is not enough, we all should shift our attention also to diverse social, economic and even political processes that may have serious impacts on the protected areas and which may either support or underline efforts to save endangered species, habitats, ecosystem processes and landscape sceneries.
We have found, that the literature on biodiversity protection is relatively abundant in Slovakia, but there is a lack of literature devoted to protected areas management. We hope that the presented publication may contribute to fill the gap existing in the theory and also in the practice of effective management of protected areas in our country. We tried to arrange individual parts of the textbook in a way, which, as we hope, will help to answer the basic questions related to the context, principles, practices and tools for efficient integrated protected areas management.
Given the wide range of issues and diversity of protected areas, it focuses mainly on central European perspective. Problems of marine protected areas are not discussed. Of course, understanding management of protected areas assumes a prior mastering of subjects related to nature conservation and biological foundations focused on threats and conservation of biodiversity. For wider universality we have not relied on chapters on Slovak nature conservation legal framework. Moreover, its foundation, the Law on nature and landscape conservation is currently undergoing a revision. We also did not cover the management of endangered and protected species (esp. plants and animals), which has been included in two other textbooks. 
The textbook is devoted to all those who have any kind of endeavor, in such difficult times, as we face today, to care about protected areas for their marvelous and inherent values. These areas also serve as a kind of ecological backbone providing both pleasure and services to people, from current to future generations. We also believe that responsible institutions and authorities can implement real solutions to improve the functioning of protected areas in Slovakia. Examples from abroad show clearly that there is an enormous hidden potential in protected areas which, if the priorities of protection are set correctly, can be used to benefit local and regional development based on nature conservation and to mitigate or eliminate current conflicts between nature conservation and the economic interests. Otherwise, we will continue, over the next decades, to look at a more and more broken and dysfunctional system, efficient neither for humans nor for nature.