State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic, Banská Bystrica Poloniny National Park Administration, Stak čín

POLONINY NATIONAL PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN

1 July 2015

1. BASIC DETAILS ...... 2 1.1. Number according to the national catalogue if assigned ...... 2 1.2. Inclusion in a European network of protected areas and areas of international significance ...... 2 1.3. Category and name of the area ...... 2 1.4. Legal regulation declaring the protected area or an international certificate on the inclusion of the area into a network of areas of international significance ...... 2 1.5. Total area of the protected area and its buffer zone...... 3 1.6. Current state of the object of conservation ...... 3 1.6.1. Natural conditions (geographic location, geological, geomorphological, climatic, hydrological and soil conditions, biotopes, flora, significant abiotic phenomena, landscape elements)...... 7 1.6.1.1. Geographic location...... 7 1.6.1.2. Geology...... 7 1.6.1.3. Geomorphology ...... 8 1.6.1.4. Climatic conditions...... 8 1.6.1.5. Soil conditions ...... 8 1.6.1.6. Hydrography...... 8 1.6.1.7. Biotopes, flora, associations ...... 9 1.6.1.8. Fauna ...... 12 1.6.1.9. Significant abiotic phenomena...... 15 1.6.1.10. Landscape elements ...... 16 1.6.2. Brief description of the object of conservation ...... 16 1.6.3. Evaluating the status of the object of conservation, setting conservation priorities...... 20 1.6.4. Evaluation of other specific interests of nature and landscape conservation in the area...... 34 1.7. Results of the Comprehensive Forest Condition Survey ...... 38 2. Socio-economic conditions: use of the area and its surroundings, positive and negative factors)...... Chyba! Záložka nie je definovaná. 2.1. Historical overview ...... 41 2.2. Brief description of current situation...... 42 2.2.1. Conservation ...... 42 2.2.2 Agriculture ...... 42 2.2.3 Forestry ...... 44 2.2.4 Hunting...... 48 2.2.5 Fishery...... 49 2.2.6 Mining and quarrying...... 50 2.2.7 Use of water ...... 50 2.2.8. Recreation and sports ...... 51 2.2.8.1 Tourist activities ...... 51 2.2.8.2 Accommodation facilties ...... 52 2.2.9. Cultural heritage and religious activity...... 53 2.3 Proposed principles and measures for using the national park and the surrounding area in terms of conservation objectives ...... 57 3. Care objectives and achievement measures ...... 60 3.1. The establishment of long-term care objectives linked to functional ecological spaces and zones...... 60 3.2 The establishment of operational objectives related to ecological functional spaces...... 60 3.3. Framework planning and models of management for forest biotopes...... 62 3.4. The proposed measures, the setting of a timetable for their fulfilment, the determination of entities responsible for their fulfilment, and the setting of measurable fulfilment indicators...... 69 4. The means of evaluating the fulfilment of the forest care programme ...... 70 5. Bibliography ...... 71 6. Minimal Annexes...... 74

1 POLONINY NATIONAL PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN

1. BASIC DETAILS

1.1. Number according to the national catalogue if assigned

Not assigned.

1.2. Inclusion in a European network of protected areas and areas of international significance

Protected bird area: SKCHVÚ002 Bukovské vrchy declared by Decree of the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic No. 25/2008 of 24 January 2008 Areas of European significance: A part belongs to SKUEV0210 Stinská, according to Ordinance of the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic No. 3/2004-5.1 of 14 July 2004 issuing a national catalogue of areas of European significance A part belongs to SKUEV0229 Bukovské vrchy, according to Ordinance of the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic No. 3/2004-5.1 of 14 July 2004 issuing a national catalogue of areas of European significance A part belongs to SKUEV0234 Uli čka, according to Ordinance of the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic No. 3/2004-5.1 of 14 July 2004 issuing a national catalogue of areas of European significance Areas of international significance: 1. A part of the area belongs to the Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and the Ancient Beech Forests of Germany which, in accordance with Decision of the World Heritage Committee No. 31 COM 8B.16, became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007. 2. The area is part of the International Biosphere Reserve of the Eastern Carpathians included in the global network of biosphere reserves by the decision of the Coordinating Council of the UNESCO programme on Man and the Biosphere in 1992. 3. The area has held the European Diploma, awarded by the Council of Europe, since 1998.

1.3. Category and name of the area

Category: national park Name of the area: Poloniny

1.4. Legal regulation declaring the protected area or an international certificate on the inclusion of the area into a network of areas of international significance

The Poloniny National Park (hereinafter only “Poloniny NP”) was declared by Regulation of the Government of the Slovak Republic No. 258/1997 declaring the Poloniny NP.

The Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians as an area belonging to two states (Slovakia and Ukraine) was inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List under number 1133 based on Decision of the World Heritage Committee No. 31 COM 8B.16, adopted at its 31st meeting on 23

2 June–2 July 2007 in Christchurch, New Zealand (http://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1314 ). The area was later extended to include German areas and became the Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and the Ancient Beech Forests of Germany based on Decision of the World Heritage Committee No. 35 COM 8B.13, adopted at its 35th meeting on 19–29 June 2011 in Paris (http://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/4284 ).

The area became part of the originally Slovak-Polish International Biosphere Reserve of the Eastern Carpathians included in the global network of biosphere reserves by the decision of the Coordinating Council of the UNESCO programme on Man and the Biosphere of 10 November 1992, and on 11 December 1998 it was extended to include some Ukrainian territory too.

The area is the holder of the European Diploma, which was first awarded to the Poloniny NP for a period of five years by Resolution No. (98) 26 of the Council of Europe at its meeting on 18 September 1998 ( https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id=495629&Site=CM ). It was later extended for another five years by Resolution ResDip(2003)2 of the Council of Europe of 28 May 2003 (https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id=37675&Site=CM ). Resolution CM/ResDip(2008)3 of the Council of Europe of 2 July 2008 (https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id=1319767&Site=CM ) then awarded the diploma to the Poloniny NP for the period of 2008–2013 and Resolution CM/ResDip(2012)19 of the Council of Europe of 20 June 2012 ( https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id =1955933&Site=CM ) extended this period to ten years, i.e. from 2008 to 2018.

1.5. Total area of the protected area and its buffer zone

In accordance with Regulation of the Government of the Slovak Republic No. 258/1997, the area includes:

The area of the Poloniny NP: 29,805.0514 ha The buffer zone of the Poloniny NP: 10,973.2893 ha

1.6. Current state of the object of conservation

Regulation of the Government of the Slovak Republic No. 258/1997 declaring the Poloniny NP does not stipulate the object of conservation. In accordance with Decree of the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic No. 25/2008 and Ordinance of the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic No. 3/2004-5.1 of 14 July 2004, conservation applies to biotopes and species of national significance. Their list can be found in Table 1 and Table 2 in Chapter 1.6.3.

A list of researches conducted into the biotic elements of the area: - Malacozoological research into type localities of the Poloniny NP (Čejka et al. 2005) - Malacofauna research in BR Eastern Carpathians (Šteffek, Vavrová, 2003–2004) - Molluscs research in the localities of Kamenná lúka and Riaba skala (Šteffek, 1984) - Molluscs research in the surroundings of Ruské and the Havešová National Nature Reserve (Šteffek, 1995) - Butterfly research in the Poloniny NP (Panigaj, 1993–1995) - Beetle research in the Poloniny NP (Jaszay, 1993–1998) - Diptera research in the Bukovské vrchy [Bukovec Mountains] (Rohá ček et al. 1983–1993)

3 - Inventorying malacozoological research in the Bukovec Mountains (Vostal, 1993) - Malacofauna research in the Bahno pri Novej Sedlici Nature Reserve (Ložek, 1992) - Malacofauna research in the Pod Ruským Nature Reserve (Ložek, 1992) - Malacozoological research in the Slovak part of the Eastern Carpathian Mountains (Ložek, 1954) - Zoological research in the primeval forest reserve Stužica in the Slovak part of the Eastern Carpathian Mountains – molluscs, millipedes, centipedes (Ložek, Guli čka, 1954) - Research of the skin fluke Collyriclum faba in wild birds in the Central Carpathian Mountains (Literák et al. 1996–1998) - Inventorying arachnid research in the Poloniny NP (Svato ň et al.1998–2000) - Research of the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis in the fox population in the Poloniny NP (Literák et al. 1998–1999) - Macrozoobenthos research within a study of landscape diversity and its conservation in the eastern part of BR Eastern Carpathians (Midriak et al. 1994–1997) - Zooplankton research in a forest pond in Nová Sedlica (Terek, 2004) - Aquatic macroinvertebrate research in a forest pond in Nová Sedlica (Manko, 2004) - Inventorying limnological research of the Stužica National Nature Reserve in the Eastern Carpathians Protected Landscape Area (Brázda et al.1989) - Aquatic animal research in the territory of the Eastern Carpathians Protected Landscape Area (Kubí ček, 1980) - Fauna research in a forest pond in Nová Sedlica (Terek, Brázda, 1981) - Zoobenthos research of the Ub ľanka, Uli čka and Stužická rieka [Stužica River] basins (Obrdlík, 1979) - Research and characteristics of crayfish populations in in the Eastern Carpathians Protected Landscape Area (Hudec et al. 1993–1994) - Crustacean research in the Eastern Carpathians Protected Landscape Area (Hudec 1993–1994) - Oligochaeta research within an oligochaeta research in eastern Slovakia (Zajonc, 1962) - Orthoptera and mantis research in the Poloniny NP – the surroundings of the village of Ruský Potok (Gavlas, 2004) - Orthoptera and mantis research in the Poloniny NP (Krištín, Mihál, 1999) - Faunistic orthoptera research in the Poloniny NP (Holuša, 2003) - Heteroptera research in the Bukovec Mountains (the Poloniny NP), (Bryja, Kment, 2002) - Tartigrade research in the Stužica National Nature Reserve (Degma, Pe čalková, 1999–2000) - Odonata research in the eastern part of the Nízke Beskydy [Low Beskid Mountains]and Poloniny (Dávid, 1993–2004) - Trichoptera research in the Hlboký potok and Stužica River (Novikmec, 1999–2001) - Ephemeroptera research in the Eastern Carpathians (Deván, 1985) - Ichthyological research of streams in the Poloniny NP (Košuth, Koš čo, 2002)

4 - Ichthyofauna research in the Zbojský potok and Uli čka basins (Koš čo, 1994) - Ichthyofauna research in the Ublianka and Stužica River basins (Koš čo, Košuth, 1989, 1991) - Ichthyofauna research in the streams supplying the Starina Water Reservoir (Koš čo, Košuth, 1995) - Inventorying amphibian and reptile research in the Poloniny NP (Herpetological Society, 1992– 1994) - Chiropterological research in the Poloniny NP (Bambi – Environmental Education Centre, 1999) - Chiropterological detector research in the Poloniny NP (Zukal et al., 1997,1998) - Research of birds migrating across the Slovak part of the Eastern Carpathian Mountains (Literák et al. 1996–2003) - Research into the population density of woodpeckers (Gottingen University, 2001–2003) - Inventorying avifauna research in the upper reach of the Cirocha River (Tur ček, Spálek, 1993) - Research into the ethology of the wolf (Mrlík et al., 1985–1996) - Research into parasites in the otter’s excrements (Modrý et al., 1997) - Research into the otter’s diet in the Poloniny NP (Hájková, 2002) - Inventorying faunistic research in the western part of BR Eastern Carpathians (Pir čová et al., 1993)

Monitoring: - Monitoring of Eurasian otters in the the Poloniny NP territory (2001–2005, 2013–2014) - Monitoring of the nesting of white storks (2003–2013) - Monitoring of corncrakes in the the Poloniny NP territory (2001–2002, 2010–2012) - Monitoring of the wintering site of bats – the dam of the Starina Water Reservoir (1994–2012) - Monitoring of the European bison population (1997–2010) - Monitoring of the European bison population within the project “Realization of the European bison rescue programme” (2010–2015) - Monitoring of predatory bird populations in the Poloniny NP (2001–2013) - Monitoring of the hazel grouse, black stork, woodpecker, flycatcher, shrike and ground roller populations (2001) - Monitoring of the migratory routes of amphibians (2001–2005) - Monitoring of the Eurasian beaver population (2001–2015) - Monitoring of the great cormorant within the project “Monitoring and management of the great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo ” (2010–2015) - Mapping of birds in the Bukovec Mountains Protected Bird Area within the project “Processing data to ensure favourable conditions for selected bird species and their biotopes in the protected bird area – 1st phase” and the project “Drafting Management Plans for selected protected bird areas – 2nd phase” (2010–2015)

5 - Monitoring of the species Rosalia alpina, Bison bonasus, Castor fiber, Helix pomatia, Hyla arborea, Lutra lutra, Rana temporaria, Rana dalmatina, Bombina variegata, Bufo viridis, Triturus cristatus and Triturus montandoni in selected TML within the project “Preparation and introduction of monitoring of biotopes and species and improvement in the availability of information to the public” (2013–2015) - within the project “Improving the conservation of Maculinea butterflies” - within the project “Research and monitoring of great beasts of prey and wildcats in Slovakia”

6 A list of researches conducted into the abiotic elements - Oil and natural gas research and exploration – Deep exploratory well Zboj – 1 (1972–1980) - Endangering and conservation of the abiotic environment and biodiversity in the Zbojský potok [Zboj Brook] basin in the Eastern Carpathian Mountains – part of VEGA No. 1/1109/94 and GEF – BPP/CS/6/95 (1994–1996) - Survey of pseudokarst caves in the Stinská massif and in the area of Ruské (2003–2004) - Monitoring of environmental impact on individual aspects of freshwater ecosystems – pollutant load, impact on fish within the project “Monitoring and management of the great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo ” (2010–2014)

1.6.1. Natural conditions (geographic location, geological, geomorphological, climatic, hydrological and soil conditions, biotopes, flora, significant abiotic phenomena, landscape elements)

1.6.1.1. Geographic location

The Poloniny NP is located in the north-eastern corner of the Slovak Republic, in the Prešov region, in the district of Snina. The northern boundary of the area is formed by the state border with the Republic of Poland and the eastern boundary by the state border with Ukraine.

Basic coordinates of the area’s location in the WGS-84 reference system:

the Poloniny NP area the Poloniny NP buffer zone Basic points: Latitude Longitude Latitude Longitude Central point: 49°00’51,9” N 22°25’12,8” E 49°06’19,0” N 22°17’51,4” E Northernmost point: 49°11'08,1” N 22°12'42,1” E 49°05'21,6” N 22°23'43,1” E Southernmost point: 48°56'35,2” N 22°23'10,7” E 48°54'46,1” N 22°25'09,9” E Westernmost point: 49°09'06,4” N 22°09'45,7” E 49°02'43,4” N 22°12'37,7” E Easternmost point: 49°05'16,8” N 22°33'56,5” E 49°02'40,7” N 22°33'04,2” E

1.6.1.2. Geology

From a geological point of view, the area of the Poloniny NP is part of the Dukla Unit. The lithological and stratigraphic profile of the Dukla Unit is an uninterrupted succession of strata of sandstones rhythmically alternating with claystones from the Cenomanian to the lower Oligocene (70– 42 million years ago). The thickness of the strata exceeds 5,000 metres. The Dukla Unit is composed of several strata of different age, composition, granularity and colour depending on the changing conditions in the course of rock sedimentation (the movement of the continents, the retreat of the sea). The Lupkow strata are the oldest; they are overlain by Cisna beds. The upper part of the lithological profile is formed by submenilite strata, a 1,000 metre thick fine-grained flysch which gradually passes into menilite strata when approaching the overlying bed. The menilite strata are overlain by Cergowa strata. The Quaternary sediments cover small areas and are not very thick; they include Holocene and Pleistocene terraces, proluvial and deluvial sediments and slides. From a tectonic point of view, the Dukla Unit is an aggregate of NW–SE folds and anticlinal scales. A distinct structure is formed by the flexural bending of strata north of Stak čín, which divides the Unit into an eastern and a western part and is considered a surface manifestation of a deep-seated fault. The area of the Poloniny NP is located in the eastern part of the Unit which is characterized by brachyanticlinal and brachysynclinal structures. One can distinguish here brachyanticlines predominantly forming mountain ridges (Small and Big Bukovec, Nastaz, Skura) and brachysynclines

7 forming intermountain basins (Ruské, Uli čka, Sedlica and Runina Basins), valleys of different width and erosion and denudation depressions.

1.6.1.3. Geomorphology

The area of the Poloniny NP is covered by the eastern part of a vast orographic unit in north- eastern Slovakia – the Low Beskid Mountains. The north-western part of the national park is formed by the Laborecká vrchovina [Laborec Highlands], a part of the Low Beskids, and the south-eastern part by the Bukovec Mountains. The Low Beskids cross the Bukovec Mountains and gradually pass into another unit, Polonín, toward the east. The relief of the area has an upland or almost highland character. The highest altitude is measured at 1221 metres above sea level (Kremenec) and the lowest region is sitting at 198 metres above sea level.

1.6.1.4. Climatic conditions

In terms of climatic conditions, all climatic areas are represented in the Poloniny NP: warm, moderately warm and cold. These diverse climatic conditions are given by the diversity of the relief. Most of the national park’s territory is found in the cold climatic area; however, the basins have a moderately warm and humid climate. The average annual temperatures range between 8 and 4 °C and the average annual precipitation is 800–1,000 mm. Snow cover lasts from November to April, in the mountains for over 160 days. The direction of winds is not influenced by the orography of the region, but by NW, SW and NE flows.

1.6.1.5. Soil conditions

Soil formation in the Poloniny NP has been influenced by different factors, such as the shape of the relief, altitude, climate, biotic factors (vegetation and soil organisms) and anthropogenic factors. Their influence has resulted in the formation of different kinds of soil. Most soils are brown and unsaturated; they are accompanied by rankers. In the alluvial plains of bigger rivers there are raw to brown alluvial soils. Pararendzinas can be found in the more calcareous parts of the flysch. Specific features of the flysch substrate have given rise to soils that are susceptible to erosion. As a result, the region is affected by frequent landslides, caused by short but torrential rains, elevation differences and man’s ill-considered interventions in the landscape.

1.6.1.6. Hydrography

The Poloniny NP is part of the Black Sea catchment area and its whole area is part of the Laborec River drainage basin (Laborec River → Ondava River → Bodrog River → Tisza River → Danube River → Black Sea). The river system of the Poloniny NP belongs to the Bodrog River catchment basin and constitutes a typical fan-shaped system of rivers with a great number of small tributaries. The area of the national park includes a part of river source areas: the Uhu River source area with the right-side tributaries Uli čka and Ublianka and the River Laborec source area with the left-side tributaries Cirocha and Udava. The main river in the west is the Cirocha River, which drains territory west of the Bukovec Mountains. The biggest part of the area of the national park is drained by the Uli čka River and its main tributaries: the Zbojský potok, Príslopský potok and Ruský potok. The mountain ridge on the Slovak-Polish border, which runs across the national park, is a natural watershed line between the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea catchment areas. Worthy of mention is the left-side tributary of the Laborec River – the Udava, which rises in the north-western tip of the

8 Poloniny NP. Thanks to its still active erosion activity the Udava River creates at its source an interesting hydrographic-morphological phenomenon – a capture of three neighbouring Polish rivers: the Solinka, Oslawa and Balnica Rivers. This results in a slow gradual shift of the watershed line further northwards to the outer side of the Carpathian arc. The Cirocha River was dammed in 1987 by the Starina Water Reservoir with a 50 metre dam, which has a total storage capacity of 59.8 million m 3 and covers a total surface area of 240 ha. Starina supplies water to the towns of Snina, Humenné, Vranov nad Top ľou, Košice, Prešov and other settlements in their districts. The construction of the water reservoir required the displacement of inhabitants of seven villages.

1.6.1.7. Biotopes, flora, associations

The Poloniny NP constitutes a botanical boundary between the mountain systems of the Eastern and the Western Carpathian Mountains. As a result, the flora of the national park is characterized by a plenitude of species and a presence of some Eastern Carpathian elements which have the western boundary of their occurrence in the territory of the national park, such as the rambling bellflower (Campanula abietina ), Waldstein’s thistle (Cirsium waldsteinii ), sweetwilliam (Dianthus barbatus subsp. compactus ), Festuca saxatilis , Melampyrum herbichii , Ranunculus carpaticus , purple viper’s grass (Scorzonera rosea ), Silene nutans subsp.dubia and Dacian violet (Viola dacica ). Other species, for example, French flax (Linum trigynum ) and traveller’s joy (Clematis vitalba ), reach the northern boundary of their occurrence in the park. Also noteworthy is the presence of the nipplewort (Lapsana communis subsp. intermedia ) or Hacquetia epipactis penetrating into the area from the north-west. A detailed inventorying research of the flora in the territory of the national park has revealed a presence of over 1,000 species of vascular plants. Many of them are rare and endangered species. The floristic diversity of the area is also attested to by the presence of 300 known species of fungi, over 300 species of bryophytes and more than 100 species of lichens. Forests are the most widespread type of vegetation in the national park. They are dominated by the European beech (Fagus sylvatica ), a woody plant characteristic of this area. Due to the more than 1,000 metre elevation difference between the highest altitude and the lowest altitude point and the resulting different climatic conditions, the character of forests changes in the national park. The lowest altitude and warmest sites are covered by oak-hornbeam forests (Carici pilosae–Carpinetum ). Besides the main ground-cover woody plants – the English oak (Quercus robur ), sessile oak ( Quercus petraea ) and European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus ), there is also a confirmed presence of the Norway maple ( Acer platanoides ), hedge maple ( Acer campestre ), large-leaved lime ( Tilia platyphyllos ) and small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata ). Herbaceous plants are dominated by Carex pilosa and species of lowlands, such as the wood cow-wheat (Melampyrum nemorosum ), sweetscented bedstraw (Galium odoratum ), dead nettle (Galeobdolon luteum ), but also the rare alpine squill (Scilla kladnii ), Hacquetia epipactis , Ranunculus cassubicus and European scopolia (Scopolia carniolica ). The vastest areas of the national park are covered with beech forests with typical species, such as the coralroot (Dentaria bulbifera ), Dentaria glandulosa , purple lettuce (Prenanthes purpurea ), wood barley (Hordelymus europaeum ), Festuca drymeia and wood speedwell (Veronica montana ). In higher elevations and more humid environments the silver fir ( Abies alba ) appears as well. The beech forests in the national park are represented by two sub-alliances. The first sub-alliance of herb-rich beech forests (Eu-Fagenion ) includes associations with the predominant Carici pilosae-Fagetum and associations with Dentario glandulosae-Fagetum . Particularly noteworthy are the associations with Dentario glandulosae-Fagetum found in the area of the Stinská massif where Ranunculus carpaticus , the endemic of the Eastern Carpathians, grows. In higher elevations, near timberline, prevail the associations of the second sub-alliance maple forests (Acerion ), represented by beech-maple forests (Aceri-Fagetum ). The tree layer, which is often limited in growth, is dominated by beech and maple trees. The herbaceous layer is poorly represented; however, some distinct or differential species can be found here, such as the Milium effusum , Acetosa alpestris subs. carpatica , alpine lady-fern (Athyrium distentifolium ) and especially the broad buckler fern (Dryopteris dilatata ). At the highest altitudes,

9 more than 1,000 metres above sea level, below timberline, the forests are influenced by the peak location and characterized by a lower tree height. In more humic soils and in rock screes we can find rare deciduous trees: the wych elm ( Ulmus glabra ), common ash ( Fraxinus excelsior ), sycamore maple ( Acer pseudoplatanus ) and small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata ), belonging to the associations of lime-maple forests (Tilio-Acerion ). The herbaceous undergrowth here is also different in character. It is dominated by the perennial honesty (Lunaria rediviva ), dog’s mercury (Merculialis perennis ) and white butterbur (Petasites albus ). Very common are various species of ferns. The most valuable associations with the hart’s-tongue fern (Phyllitis scolopendrium ) can be found under the rock formation of Riaba skala. The banks of mountain streams are lined with willow associations (Agrosto-Saliceum purpurae ), such as purple willow ( Salix purpurea ) and crack willow ( Salix fragilis ) associations with the common butterbur (Petasites hybridus ), Petasites kablikianus , pendulous sedge (Carex pendula ), cow parsley (Anthriscus nitida ) in the herbaceous layer. Similar environmental conditions are also home to grey alder associations ( Alnetum incanae ) with the dominant grey alder (Alnus incana ), the most valuable of which have a presence of the ostrich fern (Matteucia struthiopteris ) and the yellow- flowered heartleaf oxeye (Telecia speciosa ). Of the associations that were created by anthropogenic activities, the most noteworthy is the association Helleboro-Coryletum , characterized by the Carpathian species of Helleborus purpurascens . Non-forest communities are also varied. According to the environmental conditions with which they are associated, we distinguish several communities, each characteristic of a specific environment – spring areas, wetlands, peat bogs, meadows and pasturelands and especially ‘polonina’ grasslands. ‘Poloninas,’ mountain grasslands above timberline, are at once unique and typical formations of the Eastern Carpathians. Most of them are secondary communities which resulted from cattle grazing on mountain ridges. They are characterized by the enlarging areas of the monk's-rhubarb (Rumex alpinus ), the presence of which indicates a higher amount of nutrients in the soil, and some grass species – the matgrass (Nardus stricta ), tufted hairgrass ( Deschappsia caespitosa ), white wood- rush ( Luzula luzuloides ), willow gentian ( Gentiana asclepiadea ), Carpathian sorrel (Acetosa alpestris subs . carpatica ) and betony (Betonica officinalis ). ‘Poloninas’ are known especially for the occurrence of some Eastern Carpathian plant species, such as the rambling bellflower ( Campanula abietina ), Waldstein’s thistle ( Cirsium waldsteinii ), sweetwilliam (Dianthus barbatus subsp. compactus ), Melampyrum herbichii , purple viper’s grass ( Scorzonera rosea ) and Dacian violet (Viola dacica ). More acid soils are covered with low bush growth dominated by the bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus ). At present, when ‘poloninas’ are no longer used for economic purposes, the species diversity in the area is threatened by the expansion of reed grass ( Calamagrostis arundinacea ). Meadows and pasturelands at the lower and middle elevations of the national park are characterized by the occurrence of the subdominant species of the sweet vernal grass ( Anthoxanthum odoratum ) and colonial bentgrass ( Agrostis tenuis ). In terms of flora, there are communities relatively rich in species, which, besides grasses, include the St. John’s-wort (Hypericum maculatum ), grass- leaved starwort ( Stellaria graminea ), spreading bellflower ( Campanula patula ), brown knapweed (Jacea pratensis ), oxeye daisy ( Leucanthemum ircutianum ), meadow buttercup ( Ranunculus acris ), bug orchid ( Orchis coriophora ), green-winged orchid ( Orchis morio ), burnt-tip orchid ( Orchis ustulata ) and fragrant orchid ( Gymnadenia conopsea ). Humid meso- to eutrophic meadows have a different species composition. They are characterized by the frequent occurrence of the marsh marigold ( Caltha palustris ), soft rush ( Juncus effusus ), compact rush ( Juncus conglomeratus ), meadowsweet ( Filipendula ulmaria ) and tufted hairgrass ( Deschampsia cespitosa ). Wetland communities are characterized by the growth of the cotton-grass ( Eriophorum latifolium ), yellow sedge (Carex flava ), carnation sedge ( Carex panicea ) and the rare species of the marsh helleborine (Epipactis palustris ), western marsh orchid ( Dactylorhiza majalis ), early marsh orchid ( Dactylorhiza incarnata ) and elegant orchid ( Orchis elegans ).

10 In the environmentally specific conditions of spring areas we can find the common bittercress (Cardamine amara ), alternate-leaved golden saxifrage (Chrysosplenium alternifolium ), arctic yellow violet (Viola biflora ), marsh marigold (Caltha palustris subsp. laetha ), hairy chervil ( Chaerophyllum hirsutum ) and wood stitchwort ( Stellaria nemorum ).

A list of biotopes in the Poloniny NP 1: Vo1 Natural eutrophic and mesotrophic lakes with Magnopotamion-type vegetation (Natura 2000: 3150) Br2 Alpine rivers and their herbaceous vegetation along their banks (Natura 2000: 3220) Br4 Alpine rivers and their ligneous vegetation with Salix eleagnos (Natura 2000: 3240) Br6 Riverbank butterbur communities (Natura 2000: 6430) Tr1 Species-rich Nardus grasslands on siliceous substrates in mountain and submountain areas (Natura 2000: 6230*) Lk1 Extensively managed hay meadows of the planar to submontane zones (Natura 2000: 6510) Lk2 Mountain hay meadows (Natura 2000: 6520) Lk3 Mesophilic pasturelands and grazing meadows (biotope of national significance) Lk4 Molinia meadows (Natura 2000: 6410) Ra6 Alkaline fens (Natura 2000: 7230) Pr1 Springs of the montane and subalpine zones on non-calcite rocks (biotope of national significance) Pr3 Petrifying springs with tufa formation (Natura 2000: 7220*) Sk2 Siliceous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation (Natura 2000: 8220) Ls1.3 Submontane alluvial ash-alder forests (Natura 2000: 91E0*) Ls1.4 Montane alluvial alder forests (Natura 2000: 91E0*) Ls2.1 Carpathian oak-hornbeam forests (biotope of national significance) Ls4 Tilio-acerion forests of slopes, screes and ravines (Natura 2000: 9180*) Ls5.1 Asperulo-Fagetum beech forests (Natura 2000: 9130) Ls5.2 Luzulo-Fagetum beech forests (Natura 2000: 9110) Ls5.3 Subalpine beech woods with Acer and Rumex arifolius (Natura 2000: 9140)

1 According to the Catalogue of Biotopes of Slovakia (Stanová, Valachovič 2002)?

11 A list of plant species of European significance in the Poloniny NP :

Mosses: green shield moss ( Buxbaumia viridis ), brittle broom moss ( Dicranum viride ) Vascular plants: Scheuchzer’s bellflower (Campanula serrata ), Eleocharis carniolica , Tozzia carpatica

1.6.1.8. Fauna From a zoogeographical point of view, the area of the Poloniny NP is located in a Peleartic region, in a zone of mixed and deciduous forests. It lies on the dividing line between the West and the Eastern Carpathian Mountains, which is also reflected in the representation of animal species and their communities in this area. The relatively good condition of the vegetation cover (beech forests, hay meadows, pasturelands and ‘poloninas’) also affects the natural diversity of animal communities. The territory is home to 6,359 animal species, 320 of which are vertebrates. What follows below is a brief overview of terrestrial and aquatic fauna communities found in the territory of the Poloniny NP. INVERTEBRATES Molluscs – Mollusca In 1954–2012 91 species of molluscs ( Mollusca ) were found in the area of the Poloniny NP. The malacocenoses of the area do not have a counterpart in Slovakia because they are purely Eastern Carpathian in character, which distinguishes them from the fauna of the West Carpathian Mountains. The purely Eastern Carpathian species include Carpathica calophana and Petasina leucozona bielzi . Quite a few of the species found in the national park are Carpathian endemics, such as Argna bielzi, Macrogastra latestriata, Macrogastra tumida, Pseudalinda stabilis, Vestia gulo, Vestia turgida, Schistophalus orientalis, Vitrea transsylvanica, Carpathica calophana,, Monachoides vicinus, Faustina faustina,, Perfolratella dibothryon, Petasina leucozona bielzi and Acicula parcelineata . The thick-shelled river mussel (Unio crassus) is a species of European significance. Earthworms – Oligochaeta – Lumbricidae – 6 species found on the mountain ridge above Ruské, where a remarkably rich occurrence of Dendrobaena alpina was recorded . Crustaceans – Acarina – 30 species, including the famous European crayfish (Astacus astacus ). Spiders – Araneae 403 species have been found in the area so far. In terms of the presence of individual zoogeographical elements, the fauna of spiders is relatively diverse. The most prevalent species are those found in vast areas: Pelearctic spiders (237 species), less common are Holarctic spiders (65 species), European spiders (53 species), Euro-Siberian spiders (32 species) and Euro-Asian spiders (14 species). Also two species that are globally widespread have been recorded. An Eastern Carpathian element is Lepthyphantes milleri . The spider Taranucnus bihari is endemic to the Carpathians; Kaestneria torrentum and Saloca kulczynskii can also be considered Carpathian elements. Pseudoscorpions – Pseudoscorpiones The area is home to 19 species of pseudoscorpions, which account for 38.6% of the pseudoscorpion species found in Slovakia. Neobisium polonicum is endemic to the Eastern Carpathians. Carpathian elements are represented by Chthonius heterodactylus, Ch. ksenemanni, Ch. pygmaeus, Ch. subterraneus, Neobisium brevidigitatum, N. carpaticum and N. crassifemoratum . Harvestmen – Opiliones The area is home to 25 recorded species of harvestmen, which constitute 75.7% of the species known in the territory of Slovakia. The most remarkable species is the only Eastern Carpathian element of our fauna, Siro carpaticus , found only in the Bukovec Mountains.

12 Mites – Acari (Parasitiformes, Uropodina, Ex Uropodina) 234 species have been observed in the Bukovec Mountains. The most valuable include the Eastern Carpathian Trachytes minimasimilis, T. splendida, Urodiaspis stammeri, Uroobovella bocovinesis and others. Millipedes – Diplopoda Of the 20 species found in the area, the Eastern Carpathian endemics include Polydesmus polonicus, Cylindroiulus luridus burzenlandicus, Polyzonium transsilvanicum and Leptoiulus baconyensis stuzicensis . Centipedes – Chilopoda Only four species were recorded in the past. Mayflies – Ephemeroptera In terms of hydrofauna, the territory has been little explored. 71 ephemerid species have been found. The Eastern Carpathian ones include Rhitrogenu gorganica . Dragonflies – Odonata There is a confirmed presence of 37 species in the area. The most common ones are stagnant water species. Nine species are endangered; the rarest species found in the area is Sympetrum fonscolombii . Of interest is the penetration of thermophilic species to the mountain ridge of Poloniny. Orthoptera 53 species have been confirmed. The endemics include Miramella ebneri carpathica and Isophya psothumoidalis. Stoneflies – Plecoptera This order has been marginally explored by Kubi ček, Brazda et al. 42 species have been found in the Poloniny NP. The rarest species found in the area include Arcynopteryx compacta and Perla pallida from the Cirocha River at Ruské. Caddisflies – Trichoptera 43 species have been found near the rivers and streams of the Bukovec Mountains. True bugs – Heteroptera 138 species of true bugs have been recorded in the area. The most significant finding is the presence of Panaorus adspersus (the only find of this species reported in Slovakia). Another significant finding is the confirmed presence of Odontoplatys bidentulus . Beetles – Coleoptera 1,472 species are known in the territory of the Bukovec Mountains. The most numerous is the family Staphylinidae with 417 confirmed species. The Bukovec Mountains constitute the western boundary of the occurrence of many Eastern Carpathian species, for example, Nebria fuscipes, Pseudanophthalmus pilosellus poloninensis, Duvalius subterraneus subterraneus, Deltomerus carpathicus, Stenus obscuripes Xantholinus azuganus trellai, Othius transsilvanicus, Leptusa coronensis and Bryaxis carpathicus . Butterflies – Lepidoptera 924 species of butterflies have been observed in the territory of the Bukovec Mountains. A new species in the Slovak context has been found here – the moth Archips betulanus . Other remarkable

13 finds include Dichomeris latipenella, Eupoecilia cebrana, Apotomis turbidana, Eucosma aemulana, Euchromius ocelleus, Anania funebris, Carcharodus flocciferus , etc. Two-winged insects – Diptera The occurrence of 2,428 species has been confirmed in the area, 9 of which were until then unknown species.

VERTEBRATES Lampreys – Petromyzontes One species of European significance has been found in the area – the Carpathian brook lamprey (Eudontomyzon danfordi ). Fish – Pisces The total number of fish species whose presence has been detected in the area is 24. Several of them are significant both in terms of gene pool (spined loach – Cobitis taenia, European bullhead – Cottus gobiol, grayling – Thymallus thymallus, golden spined loach – Sabanejewia balcanica ) and the occurrence of their stable populations in this area (barbel – Barbus peloponnesius, golden spined loach – Sabanejewia balcanica, greyling – Thymallus thymallus ) and the total low number of localities of their occurrence in the territory of Slovakia (Kessler’s gudgeon – Gobio kessleri, Danubian gudgeon – Gobio uranoscopus ). The highest concentration of species has been recorded in the locality of the confluence of the Zbojský potok and the Uli čka River and in the locality of the Uli čka River at the state border. Amphibians – Amphibia 13 species of amphibians have been found in the area. The markedly dominant species of the national park is the yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegate ). Another dominant species is the common frog (Rana temporaria ). Relatively abundant are the fire salamander ( Salamandra salamandra ) and common toad ( Bufo bufo ). Less abundant are the northern crested newt (Triturus cristatus ) and Carpathian newt (Triturus montandoni ). Very rare species include the smooth newt ( Triturus vulgaris ), European tree frog (Hyla arborea ), European green toad (Bufo viridis ), agile frog ( Rana dalmatina ) and edible frog ( Rana esculenta ). Three species are among the vulnerable and ten among the lower risk species. Reptiles – Reptilia 8 species have been found in the area. The dominant species is the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis ). Other abundant species include the viviparous lizard ( Lacerta vivipara ), slow worm ( Anguis fragilis ) and grass snake ( Natrix natrix ). Less abundant are the smooth snake ( Coronella austriaca ), Aesculapian snake (Elaphe longissima ) and common European adder ( Vipera berus ). Very rare is the dice snake (Natrix tessellate ). One species is vulnerable and seven are at a lower risk. Birds – Aves 211 bird species have been detected in the territory of the national park, which accounts for 62% of the bird species found in Slovakia. 139 of them are breeding birds (65.9% of the breeding bird species in Slovakia), 66 are migrant birds (31.3%), 6 are wintering birds (2.8%) and 12 species (5.7%) occur here only very rarely or accidentally. As for the reproduction trends among breeding birds, the populations of 86 species are stable, 20 are on the decrease, 10 on the increase and there are no data for the populations of 4 species. As a result, we can speak of a relatively high stability and good condition of the landscape and biotopes in the area. The avifauna of the Poloniny NP includes three critically endangered, ten endangered, fifteen vulnerable and thirty-eight lower-risk species. The

14 location of the Poloniny NP and the state of its biotopes offer good conditions for the breeding of several rare bird species. The construction of the Starina Water Reservoir created favourable conditions for aquatic birds. The reservoir is located on a significant migratory route of birds flying from Poland and Ukraine across the Eastern Carpathian Mountains to the south and back. The most common breeding birds (1 couple/100 ha– 1 couple/10 ha) in the Poloniny NP include the Eurasian treecreeper ( Certhia familiaris ), European robin ( Erithacus rubecula ), Eurasian blue tit ( Parus caeruleus ), great tit ( Parus major ), common chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita ), Eurasian blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla ), common blackbird (Turdus merula ) and song thrush (Turdus philomelos ). The rarest breeding birds include the golden eagle ( Aquila chrysaetos ), boreal owl (Aegolius funereus ), Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo ), short-toed snake eagle (Circaetus gallicus ) and Eurasian pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum ). Mammals – Mammalia The area is home to 63 species of mammals: 8 of them are insectivores, 20 bats, 16 rodents, 1 leporid, 13 carnivores and 5 artiodactyls. One mammal is considered an endangered species, five are vulnerable and six are at a lower risk. Noteworthy are the feral population of the European bison (Bison bonasus ) and the sporadic occurrence of the moose ( Alces alces ). The raccoon dog ( Nyctereutes procyonoides ) has been observed fifteen times. It is considered an invasive animal species according to Annex II of Decree No. 158/2014 amending Decree No. 24/2003. Since 2004 there has been a recorded presence of the Eurasian beaver ( Castor fiber ) at the Starina Water Reservoir and the Uli čka River. Great carnivores are represented by two packs of gray wolves ( Canis lupus ). The bear population in the national park is on the rise: there was an estimate of 18 individuals in 2000. The lynx population is estimated to include 12 individuals.

1.6.1.9. Significant abiotic phenomena

Significant abiotic phenomena in the Poloniny NP (geological phenomena, meso- and microrelief forms, the localities of the occurrence of protected and significant minerals and fossils) include:

1. 6 pseudokarst caves (5 in the Stinská massif, c. u. Zboj and 1 at spot height Rypy, c. u. Ruské) which were formed by the gravitational indentation of rock blocks and at the same time block slides and represent a result of rock weathering and ablation, gravity, suffusion and erosion. 2. 2 paleontological localities with a recorded presence of fossil flora (Roztoka Brook, c.u. Zboj, Kuzmovský potok, c.u. Ruské – Halimeda sp.) and 2 with a recorded presence of fossil fauna (Uli čka River, c.u. Runina – Zoophycos circinnatus , Hlboký potok, c.u. Nová Sedlica – Inoceramus balticus and Inoceramus mülleri ) and 1 type locality of a new kind of fossil (locus typicus) – Riaba Skala National Nature Reserve, c.u. Zboj with a presence of the fossil flora (Halimeidaites carpaticus ). 3. 3 waterfalls – Oreni čov vodopád [Oreni č’s Waterfall] (12m), c.u. Runina; Medová Baba Waterfall (10m), c.u. Nová Sedlica – genetically a rubble waterfall; Vodopád pod pílou [Waterfall below the Sawmill] (3m), c.u. Nová Sedlica – genetically a double waterfall. 4. 3 petrifying springs – tufa formations as an example of the initial phase of the travertinization process – the spring area below Doliny, c.u. Nová Sedlica, the spring above Topo ľanská križovatka, c.u. Topo ľa, the spring Krivianske oblazy, c.u. Uli čské Krivé. 5. 2 mineral springs of the genetic type of underground oil waters – in Zboj (the buffer zone of the national park) – calcium carbonate water with a content of hydrogen sulphide and methane, and in Starina – natrium carbonate water with a content of hydrogen suphide and methane.

15 6. Deep exploratory well Zboj-1 – c.u. Uli čské Krivé, oil and natural gas exploration in the area brought complex data about its bedrock and determined the Zboj strata of the Dukla Unit. 7. 5 stretches of natural flysch rivers with significant and interesting examples of fluvial relief and a natural hydrological mode (meanders, the rise of an oxbow, stream capture, cut banks and outcrops, a typical example of the geological composition of individual bedrock strata). 8. Localities with a significant representation of several geomorphological meso- and microrelief forms with a presence of boulders, crags, boulder trains, scree slopes, rubble cones and falling brash which are associated with a certain group of biotopes – rock and scree biotopes. 9. the Dara educative geological locality– it is located at the main road above the water reservoir at the end of the Brezovecká dolina [Brezovec Valley]. Outcropped rock faces are an excellent example of the Carpathian flysch zone. Alternating layers of sandstones and grey to black claystones reveal how these sediments were deposited in a deep-sea environment. Three information boards speak of the consequences of the orogenic process and explain why sedimentary groups are not deposited horizontally and how oil and natural gas arise from source rocks.

1.6.1.10. Landscape elements

In the area of the Poloniny NP and its buffer zone there are many significant landscape elements, i.e. such parts of the area which give the landscape its typical appearance or contribute to its ecological stability. Excluding the environmentally significant landscape elements and considering the current use of land, we can find: - relief mesoforms and microforms – terraces and balks - forests, bosks, bushes - wetlands, bank covers, water and shore ecosystems - meadow communities - parks (in the built-up areas of villages) The original form of cultural-historical landscapes and elements and structures that are results of careful landscaping has been preserved in the territory of the village of Príslop (terraces, fields).

1.6.2. Brief description of the object of conservation

Conservation in the Poloniny NP applies to: - biotopes of European significance largely unchanged by anthropogenic activity

Tr1 Species-rich Nardus grasslands on siliceous substrates in mountain and submountain areas (Natura 2000: 6230*) The non-forest grassland ecosystems are the result of Wallachian colonization. They were traditionally used as grazing lands and hay meadows. After the Second World War the local population changed the traditional way of life, which put an end to this traditional farming. Priorities: - preserving parts of ecosystems from the point of view of landscaping - conserving Eastern Carpathian plant species and the ecosystem itself in representative areas

Ls5.3 Subalpine beech woods with Acer and Rumex arifolius Very rare forest ecosystems dominated by Acer platanoides and Acer pseudoplatanus . They constitute the timberline in the Poloniny NP, especially on the main Carpathian mountain ridge. Most of these ecosystems are currently protected within small-sized protected areas. Priority: - facilitating the autoregulatory processes of the ecosystems

16

Fir-beech forests (Ls5.1 Asperulo-Fagetum beech forests) Rare forest ecosystems dominated by the silver fir. In the Poloniny NP they have been preserved especially at the ends of the valleys along the Udava, Zbojský potok and Stužica brooks. Most of these ecosystems are currently protected within small-sized protected areas. Priorities: - facilitating the autoregulatory processes of the ecosystems - regenerating and reinforcing the favourable structure of the original fir-beech forests

Flower-rich beech forests (Ls5.1 Asperulo-Fagetum beech forests) The most widespread forest ecosystems dominated by the beech tree. The best-preserved parts of these ecosystems are currently protected with small-sized protected areas. Priorities: - facilitating the autoregulatory processes of the ecosystems - preserving the current structure of herb-rich beech forests

- Biotopes of European significance largely changed by anthropogenic activity - permanent grasslands above the Starina Water Reservoir (biotopy Lk1, Lk2, Lk3 a Lk4) Lk1 Extensively managed hay meadows of the planar to submontane zones (Natura 2000: 6510) Lk2 Mountain hay meadows (Natura 2000: 6520) Lk3 Mesophilic pasturelands and grazing meadows (biotope of national significance) Lk4 Molinia meadows (Natura 2000: 6410)

Non-forest ecosystems in the displaced area of the Starina Water Reservoir, extensively used in the past. The best-preserved parts of these ecosystems are currently protected with small-sized protected areas. Priorities: - preserving the current ratio of meadow ecosystems from the point of view of landscaping - providing proper care for the most valuable meadow ecosystems protected within and outside small-sized protected areas - conserving the gene pool of rare and endangered woody plants - conserving endangered plant and animals species - eliminating the spread of invasive plant and animal species

d) species of European significance: - mosses: green shield moss ( Buxbaumia viridis ), brittle broom moss ( Dicranum viride ) - vascular plants: Scheuchzer’s bellflower ( Campanula serrata ), Eleocharis carniolica , Tozzia carpatica - invertebrates: thick-shelled river mussel (Unio crassus ), Transylvanan bush-cricket ( Pholidoptera transsylvanica ), Stys’s bush-cricket (Isophya stysi ), rugged ground beetle (Carabus variolosus ), Carabus zawadszkii , rosalia longicorn ( Rosalia alpina )*, large blue butterfly (Maculinea arion ), scarce large blue butterfly ( Maculinea teleius ), clouded Apollo (Parnassius mnemosyne ), - vertebrates: European fire-bellied toad ( Bombina bombina ), yellow-bellied toad ( Bombina variegata ), European green toad ( Bufo viridis ), European tree frog ( Hyla arborea ), moor frog ( Rana arvalis ), agile frog ( Rana dalmatina ), northern crested newt ( Triturus cristatus ), Carpathian newt (Triturus montandoni ), Aesculapian snake (Elaphe longissima ), sand lizard (Lacerta agilis ), dice snake (Natrix tessellata ), boreal owl ( Aegolius funereus ), common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis ), tawny pipit (Anthus campestris ), greater spotted eagle ( Aquila clanga ), eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca ), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos ), booted eagle (Hieraetus pennatus ), lesser spotted eagle

17 (Aquila pomarina ), great egret (Egretta alba ), Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo ), European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus ), white stork (Ciconia ciconia ), black stork (Ciconia nigra ), short-toed snake eagle ( Circaetus gallicus ), western marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus ), northern harrier (Circus cyaneus ), Montagu’s harrier (Circus pygargus ), corn crake (Crex crex ), white-backed woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos ), middle spotted woodpecker ( Dendrocopos medius ), Syrian woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus ), black woodpecker ( Dryocopus martius ), merlin ( Falco columbarius), saker falcon (Falco cherrug ), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus ), red-footed falcon ( Falco vespertinus ), collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis ), red-breasted flycatcher (Ficedula parva ), black-throated loon (Gavia arctica ), red-throated loon (Gavia stellata ), Eurasian pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum ), white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla ), whiskered tern (Chlidonias hybridus ), black tern (Chlidonias niger ), red-backed shrike ( Lanius collurio ), lesser grey shrike ( Lanius minor ), woodlark ( Lullula arborea ), black kite ( Milvus migrans ), red kite (Milvus milvus ), osprey (Pandion haliaetus ), European honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus ), Eurasian three-toed woodpecker ( Picoides tridactylus ), grey-headed woodpecker (Picus canus ), Ural owl ( Strix uralensis ), barred warbler (Sylvia nisoria ), wood grouse (Tetrao urogallus ), hazel grouse ( Bonasa bonasia ), barbastelle ( Barbastella barbastellus ), European bison ( Bison bonasus ), gray wolf ( Canis lupus )*, Eurasian beaver ( Castor fiber ), northern bat (Eptesicus nilssoni ), serotine bat (Eptesicus serotinus ), wild cat ( Felis sylvestris ), European otter (Lutra lutra ), Eurasian lynx ( Lynx lynx ), hazel dormouse ( Muscardinus avellanarius ), Bechstein’s bat (Myotis bechsteini ), lesser mouse-eared bat (Myotis blythi ), Brandt’s bat (Myotis brandti ), pond bat (Myotis dasycneme ), Daubenton’s bat (Myotis daubentoni ), Geoffroy’s bat (Myotis emarginatus ), greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis ), whiskered bat ( Myotis mystacinus ), Natterer’s bat (Myotis nattereri ), lesser noctule ( Nyctalus leisleri ), common noctule ( Nyctalus noctula ), common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus ), brown long-eared bat ( Plecotus auritus ), grey long-eared bat (Plecotus austriacus ), greater horseshoe bat ( Rhinolophus ferrumequinum ), lesser horseshoe bat ( Rhinolophus hipposideros ), northern birch mouse ( Sicista betulina ), brown bear ( Ursus arctos )* and parti-coloured bat ( Vespertilio murinus ). e) species of national significance: - invertebrates : door snail ( Clausilia dubia carpatica ), narrow-mouthed whorl snail ( Vertigo angustior ), wolf spider (Pardosa proxima ), Neobisium polonicum, Ischyropsalis manicata, Siro carpaticus, European crayfish (Astacus astacus ), Polyzonium transsilvanicum, Dicellophilus carniolensis, Ecdyonurus insignis, azure hawker (Aeshna caerulea ), emperor dragonfly (Anax imperator ), Coenagrion hastulatum, Cordulogaster bidentata, small pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus ), keeled skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens ), emerald dragonfly (genus Somatochlora ), common winter damselfly (Sympecma fusca ), banded darter (Sympetrum pedemontanum ), European mantis (Mantis religiosa ), golden ground beetle ( Carabus auronitens ), ground beetle ( Carabus irregularis ), Carabus obsoletus , darkling beetle ( Laena reitteri ), Leptura thoracica , longhorn beetle (Megopis scabricornis ), oil beetle ( Meloe brevicollis ), rugged oil beetle ( Meloe rugosus), Necydalis major , European rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes nasicornis ), Rhopalopus ungaricus , all species of bumblebee ( Bombus ), caddisfly ( Agrypnia obsoleta ), Arichanna melanaria , tufted skipper (Carcharodus flocciferus ), Atherix ibis - vertebrates : Carpathian brook lamprey (Eudontomyzon danfordi ), Kessler’s gudgeon (Gobio kessleri ), Danubian gudgeon (Gobio uranoscopus ), golden spined loach (Sabanejewia balcanica ), common toad (Bufo bufo ), edible frog (Rana Esculenta ), common frog ( Rana temporaria ), fire salamander ( Salamandra salamandra ), alpine newt ( Triturus alpestris ), slow worm (Anguis fragilis ), grass snake (Natrix natrix ), common European adder (Vipera berus ), 155 bird species, moose (Alces alces ), lesser white-toothed shrew (Crocidura suaveolens ), Southern white-chested hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor ), edible dormouse (Glis glis ), stoat ( Mustela erminea ), least weasel ( Mustela nivalis ), Mediterranean water shrew (Neomys anomalus ), Eurasian water shrew (Neomys fodiens ), red squirrel ( Sciurus vulgaris ), Alpine shrew (Sorex alpinus ), common shrew ( Sorex araneus ) and Eurasian pygmy screw (Sorex minutus ).

18 Biotopes and species of European and national significance are stipulated by Decree of the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic No. 24/2003 implementing Act No. 543/2002 on Nature and Landscape Protection as amended. Their lists are provided in Table 1 and Table 2 in the following section.

19 1.6.3. Evaluating the status of the object of conservation, setting conservation priorities

Knowledge about the status of the object of conservation, the biotic elements of the Poloniny NP, has been gathered from the research or monitoring conducted by research institutions and the State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic. Their overview is available in Chapter 2.2.1. The definitions of the status of conservation are set forth by Act No. 543/2002 and in more detail covered by the publication Priaznivý stav biotopov a druhov európskeho významu/Favourable status of biotopes and species of European significance (Polák, Saxa, 2005). Table 1: Biotopes of European significance in the Poloniny National Park (as of 1 January 2015)

‘Favourable Biotope name Biotope code status’ category

Natural eutrophic and mesotrophic lakes with Magnopotamion-type 3150 B vegetation

Alpine rivers and their herbaceous vegetation along their banks 3220 C

Alpine rivers and their ligneous vegetation with Salix eleagnos 3240 B

Riverbank butterbur communities 6430 A

Species-rich Nardus grasslands on siliceous substrates in mountain 6230* C and submountain areas

Extensively managed hay meadows of the planar to submontane 6510 B zones

Mountain hay meadows 6520 B

Molinia meadows 6410 B

Alkaline fens 7230 C

Petrifying springs with tufa formation 7220* A

Siliceous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation 8220 A

Submontane alluvial ash-alder forests 91E0* B

Montane alluvial alder forests 91E0* B

Tilio-acerion forests of slopes, screes and ravines 9180* B

Asperulo-Fagetum beech forests 9130 B

Luzulo-Fagetum beech forests 9110 A

Subalpine beech woods with Acer and Rumex arifolius 9140 A

20 21 Table 2: Plant and animal species of European significance in the Poloniny National Park (as of 1 January 2015)

The character of ‘Favourable Scientific occurrence common name Red list Quantity status’ name category and the category number of localities Protected species (§) (§) species Protected

Plants:

Buxbaumia green shield B § - unknown 2 localities viridis moss

Dicranum brittle broom B § - unknown 2 localities viride moss

Campanula Scheuchzer’s B § - unknown 8 localities serrata bellflower

Eleocharis B - § EN unknown 2 localities carniolica

Tozzia B - § LR:nt unknown 4 localities carpatica

Animals:

thick-shelled N Unio crassus § VU unknown 1 locality river mussel

Pholidoptera Transylvanian N § VU unknown 2 localities transsylvanica bush-cricket

Stys’s bush- N Isophya stysi § DD unknown occasionally cricket

Carabus rugged ground N § LR: cd unknown 10 localities variolosus beetle

Carabus N - § - unknown 13 localities zawadszkii

Rosalia alpina rosalia longicorn § VU unknown area-wide N

Maculinea large blue isolated N § VU unknown arion butterfly occurrence

Maculinea scarce large blue isolated N § EN unknown teleius butterfly occurrence

Parnassius clouded Apollo § VU unknown isolated N

22 mnemosyne butterfly occurrence

Bombina yellow-bellied relatively A § LR: cd insular variegata toad abundant

Bombina European fire- C § LR: cd unknown occasionally bombina bellied toad

European green isolated C Bufo viridis § LR: cd unknown toad occurrence

European tree LR isolated C Hyla arborea § unknown frog nt occurrence

isolated Rana arvalis moor frog § VU unknown N occurrence

Rana isolated C agile frog § LRlc unknown dalmatina occurrence

Triturus northern crested C § EN unknown insular cristatus newt

Triturus B Carpathian newt § VU unknown insular montandoni

Elaphe Aesculapian B § LR: cd unknown insular longissima snake

Lacerta agilis sand lizard § - unknown isolated B

Natrix N dice snake § VU unknown 1 figure tessellata

Aegolius breeding bird - N boreal owl § NE low funereus 5 localities

common B Alcedo atthis § LR: nt 5 couples breeding bird kingfisher

Anthus occasionall - tawny pipit § EN migrant campestris y

greater spotted occasionall - Aquila clanga § - migrant eagle y

eastern imperial occasionall - Aquila heliaca § EN migrant eagle y

Aquila C golden eagle § VU 1 couple breeding bird chrysaetos

Hieraetus occasionall - booted eagle § CR migrant pennatus y

23 Aquila lesser spotted B § LR: nt 8 couples breeding bird pomarina eagle

occasionall - Egretta alba great egret § EN migrant y

Eurasian eagle- N Bubo bubo § NE 1 couple breeding bird owl

Caprimulgus European B § NE 50–100 breeding bird europaeus nightjar

Ciconia C white stork § LR: Ic 3 couples breeding bird ciconia

Ciconia nigra black stork § LR: nt 9 couples breeding bird B

Circaetus short-toed snake probably a N § EN 2 couples gallicus eagle breeding bird

Circus western marsh occasionall - § LR migrant aeruginosus harrier y

Circus occasionall - northern harrier § - migrant cyaneus y

Circus Montagu’s occasionall - § - migrant pygargus harrier y

Crex crex corn crake § LR: cd 200 breeding bird B

Dendrocopos white-backed A § LR: nt 150 breeding bird leucotos woodpecker

Dendrocopos middle spotted N § - unknown breeding bird medius woodpecker

Dendrocopos Syrian N § - unknown breeding bird syriacus woodpecker

Dryocopus black A § - 100 couples breeding bird martius woodpecker

Falco occasionall - merlin § - wintering bird columbarius y

occasionall - Falco cherrug saker falcon § CR migrant y

Falco occasionall - peregrine falcon § EN migrant peregrinus y

Falco red-footed occasionall - § EN migrant vespertinus falcon y

24 Ficedula collared 2600 A § - breeding bird albicollis flycatcher couples

Ficedula red-breasted 1000 A § NE breeding bird parva flycatcher couples

black-throated occasionall - Gavia arctica § - wintering bird loon y

red-throated occasionall - Gavia stellata § - wintering bird loon y

Glaucidium Eurasian pygmy breeding bird - N § NE low passerinum owl 3 localities

Haliaeetus white-tailed occasionall - § CR migrant albicilla eagle y

Chlidonias occasionall - whiskered tern § EN migrant hybridus y

Chlidonias occasionall - black tern § VU migrant niger y

Lanius red-backed N § - unknown insular collurio shrike

lesser grey occasionall - Lanius minor § VU migrant shrike y

Lullula N woodlark § - unknown breeding bird arborea

Milvus occasionall migrant, N black kite § VU v minulosti migrans y breeding bird

occasionall migrant, in the N Milvus milvus red kite § EN past also a y breeding bird

Pandion occasionall - osprey § - migrant haliaetus y

Pernis European honey B § LR: lc 10 couples breeding bird apivorus buzzard

Eurasian three- N Picoides breeding bird - toed § - unknown tridactylus 6 localities woodpecker

grey-headed A Picus canus § - 80 couples breeding bird woodpecker

25 Strix uralensis Ural owl § LR: lc 50 couples breeding bird B

Sylvia nisoria barred warbler § - 200 couples breeding bird A

Tetrao occasionall N wood grouse § VU migrant urogallus y

Bonasa B hazel grouse § - 700 couples breeding bird bonasia

Barbastella occasionally, 4 N barbastelle § LR: cd unknown barbastellus localities

flood plain of A the water Bison bonasus European bison § NE 18 reservoir Starina

Canis lupus gray wolf § LR: nt 2 packs area-wide A

Castor fiber Eurasian beaver § LRnt unknown 8 families A

Eptesicus occasionally, 8 N northern bat § LR: lc unknown nilssoni localities

Eptesicus occasionally, N serotine bat § DD unknown serotinus 10 localities

Felis N wildcat § VU unknown area-wide sylvestris

area-wide- A rivers and the Lutra lutra European otter § VU 22 ex. water reservoir Starina

Lynx lynx Eurasian lynx § EN 12 ex. area-wide A

Muscardinus N hazel dormouse § LR: lc unknown insular avellanarius

Myotis occasionally, 1 N Bechstein’s bat § LR: lc unknown bechsteini locality

lesser mouse- occasionally, 1 N Myotis blythi § LR: cd unknown eared bat locality

occasionally, 6 Myotis brandti Brandt’s bat § VU unknown N localities

Myotis occasionally, 1 N pond bat § VU unknown dasycneme locality

Myotis Daubenton’s bat § LR: lc unknown occasionally, N

26 daubentoni 12 localities

Myotis occasionally, 4 N Geoffroy’s bat § VU unknown emarginatus localities

greater mouse- occasionally, 4 N Myotis myotis § LR: cd unknown eared bat localities

Myotis occasionally, N whiskered bat § VU unknown mystacinus 11 localities

Myotis occasionally, 1 N Natterer’s bat § LR: nt unknown nattereri locality

Nyctalus occasionally, 2 N lesser noctule § DD unknown leisleri localities

Nyctalus occasionally, 6 N common noctule § LR: lc unknown noctula localities

Pipistrellus common occasionally, N § LR: lc unknown pipistrellus pipistrelle 28 localities

Plecotus brown long- occasionally, 8 N § LR: nt unknown auritus eared bat localities

Plecotus grey long-eared occasionally, 2 N § LR: nt unknown austriacus bat localities

Rhinolophus N greater occasionally, 1 ferrumequinu § CR unknown horseshoe bat locality m

Rhinolophus lesser horseshoe occasionally, 4 N § LR: cd unknown hipposideros bat localities

Sicista northern birch insular N § VU unknown betulina mouse unknown

Ursus arctos brown bear § LR: cd 20 area-wide B

Vespertilio parti-coloured occasionally, 2 N § DD unknown murinus bat localities Legend: An overview of species according to the categories of the Red List Slovakia 2001: CR – Critically Endangered EN – Endangered VU – Vulnerable LR – Lower Risk cd – Conservation Dependent nt – Near Threatened lc – Least Concern DD – Data Deficient

27

‘Favourable status’ category: A – favourable, good; B – favourable, average; C – unfavourable; N – shortage of data; - - migrant or wintering bird

Species of European significance Flora Bryophytes There are two species of bryophytes of European significance that can be found in the area of the national park. Bug-on-a-stick moss (Buxbaumia viridis) - the size of the species cannot be sufficiently assessed. There is currently one habitat in Stužický primeval forest. However, the potential of occurrence of this species in the area is high, considering the nearby forest vegetation with enough “dead” wood that this species likes to grow on. Dicranum viride - the largest distribution of this species in Slovakia is in the area of the National park Poloniny, where it grows on the bark of trees in preserved forest vegetation. There are currently 6 known habitats with a favourable size of the population. For two species of thallophytes of European significance (mosses - buxbaumia viridis, dicranum viride ), the conservation status cannot be determined due to the insufficient knowledge and missing data. Priorities: Concerning these species the top priority is to determine the size of the population and a subsequent proposal of measures for their conservation. In the meantime, it is desirable to ensure their favourable conservation status with proper care of the forest habitats.

Vascular plants The basic attributes of the assessment of favourable conservation status were defined for two out of three species of vascular plants (See Table 2). Campanula serrata - the knowledge about this species is not insufficient for the assessment of the favourable state. Priorities: For these species the top priority is to determine the size of the population and a subsequent proposal of measures for their conservation. In the meantime, it is desirable to ensure attaining, i.e. maintaining their favourable conservation status with proper care of the non-forest habitats. Eleocharis carniolica - a species found in two localities in the Poloniny NP. Both localities are being monitored on a long-term basis as a part of the State Fund project Maculinea. Priorities: Ensure attaining, i.e. maintaining their favourable conservation status with proper care of the non-forest habitats. Tozzia carpatica - a species found in two localities in the Poloniny NP. Both localities are being monitored on a long-term basis as a part of the State Fund project Maculinea.

28 Priorities: Ensure attaining, i.e. maintaining their favourable conservation status with proper care of the non-forest habitats.

Fauna The basic attributes of the assessment of favourable conservation status were defined for 24 animal species in various projects (SF Birds, and ŠK Bird 2, code: 22090, SF Bison, code: 22220, SF Monitoring, code: 22210, SF Great Beasts of Prey, code: 2214). For the following 65 species of European significance, the conservation status cannot be determined due to the insufficient knowledge and missing data or rare migratory or wintering species: thick shelled river mussel (Unio crassus ), Transylvanian bush-cricket (Pholidoptera transsylvanica), Isophya stysi, common black ground beetle (Carabus variolosus), Carabus zawadszkii , rosalia longicorn (Rosalia alpina), large blue butterfly (Maculinea arion) , scarce large blue (Maculinea teleius) , Clouded Apollo (Parnassius mnemosyne , moor frog (Rana arvalis) , dice snake (Natrix tesselata) , boreal owl (Aegolius funereus) , tawny pipit (Anthus campestris) , greater spotted eagle (Aquila clanga) , eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca ), booted eagle (Hieraetus pennatus) , great white egret (Egretta alba), Eurasian eagle owl (Bubo bubo) , short toed eagle (Circaetus gallicus) , western marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) , hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) , Montagu’s harrier (Circus pygargus) , middle spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos medius) , Syrian woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus) , merlin (Falco columbarius), saker falcon (Falco cherrug), shaheen falcon (Falco peregrinus) , red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus), black-throated loon (Gavia arctica), red-throated loon (Gavia stellata), Eurasian pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum ), white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), whiskered tern (Chlidonias hybridus), black tern (Chlidonias niger), red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio) , lesser grey shrike (Lanius minor), wood lark (Lullula arborea) , black kite (Milvus migrans), red kite (Milvus milvus), osprey (Pandion haliaetus), western capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) , barbastelle (Barbastella barbastellus) , northern bat (Eptesicus nilssoni) , serotine bat (Eptesicus serotinus) , wildcat (Felis sylvestris) , hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) , Bechstein’s bat (Myotis bechsteini) , lesser mouse-eared myotis (Myotis blythi) , Brandt’s bat (Myotis brandti) , pond bat (Myotis dasycneme) , Daubenton’s bat (Myotis daubentoni) , Geoffroy’s bat (Myotis emarginatus) , greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis) , whiskered bat (Myotis mystacinus) , Natterer’s bat (Myotis nattereri) , Leisler’s bat (Nyctalus leisleri), common noctule (Nyctalus noctula) , common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus) , grey long-eared bat (Plecotus austriacus) , greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) , lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) , northern birch mouse (Sicista betulina) and parti-coloured bat (Vespertilio murinus). For these species the priority is to determine the size of the population and a subsequent proposal of measures for their conservation (See Table 2). Invertebrates: Thick shelled river mussel (Unio crassus) occurs only in mudflats in the lower part of the Chotinka stream. Other locations were not found. In recent years only dead shells have been found. Transylvanian bush-cricket (Pholidoptera transsylvanica) and Isophya stysi occur only rarely and only past records of distribution are available. Carabus variolosus lives in swamps and banks of mountain streams. There are 10 known locations of distribution. Carabus zawadszkii - a species of eastern- Carpathian origin, found in 13 locations in the area of the Poloniny NP. Rosalia longicorn (Rosalia alpina) - occurs in native birch forests . Large blue butterfly (Maculinea arion) , scarce large blue (Maculinea teleius ), Clouded Apollo (Parnassius mnemosyne) - records of distribution of these species are rare. Priorities: Initiate research of the invertebrates of European significance and continue with monitoring.

29 Amphibians and reptiles: European fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina) , yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata) , European green toad (Bufo viridis) , European tree frog (Hyla arborea), moor frog (Rana arvalis) , agile frog (Rana dalmatina), northern crested newt (Triturus cristatus) , Carpathian newt (Triturus montandoni) - distribution of these amphibians is limited by the locations of suitable habitats. In several locations the population is limited due to the landfilling of spring areas. The decrease in suitable locations due to vegetation overgrowth is potentially dangerous. Priorities: Initiate research of the insufficiently known species of amphibians of European significance and continue with monitoring. Birds: The Poloniny NP has a reported incidence of 47 kinds of birds of European significance, including 27 nesting and 20 migrating or wintering or non-breeding occurrences. Bukovské vrchy mountains are one of the five top areas in Slovakia for nesting of European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus), corn crake (Crex crex) and hazel grouse (Bonasa bonasia). Bukovské vrchy mountains are a regular nesting area for over 1% of the national population of black stork (Ciconia nigra), lesser spotted eagle (Aquila pomarina), European honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus), common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) , Ural owl (Strix uralensis), grey-headed woodpecker (Picus canus), black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), white-backed woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos), barred warbler (Sylvia nisoria), red-breasted flycatcher (Ficedula parva), collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis), great grey shrike (Lanius excubitor), common quail (Coturnix coturnix), Eurasian wryneck (Jynx torquilla) and common redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus). Priorities: Monitor the state of populations. Set up permanent monitoring areas. Bats: Barbastelle (Barbastella barbastellus) , northern bat (Eptesicus nilssoni) , serotine bat (Eptesicus serotinus) , Bechstein’s bat (Myotis bechsteini) , lesser mouse-eared myotis (Myotis blythi) , Brandt’s bat (Myotis brandti) , pond bat (Myotis dasycneme) , Daubenton’s bat (Myotis daubentoni) , Geoffroy’s bat (Myotis emarginatus) , greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis) , whiskered bat (Myotis mystacinus) , Natterer’s bat (Myotis nattereri) , Leisler’s bat (Nyctalus leisleri), common noctule (Nyctalus noctula) , common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus) , grey long-eared bat (Plecotus austriacus) , greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) , lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) , and parti-coloured bat (Vespertilio murinus). The range of bats is dependent on the location of underground space that they use as a shelter. A few pseudo-caves and the underground space of the Starina water reservoir presuppose that the population of individual species of bats could be maintained. The population could be raised by the improving the resource availability, e.g. increased livestock production. Priorities: In cooperation with Bat Protection Association conduct a more detailed research of the population of bats. Monitor winter habitats. European bison (Bison bonasus) - The release of the acclimated bisons into the wild in the Poloniny NP began in 2004. Since then 11 specimens have been released into the wild. So far,12 pups have been born in the wild. Five specimens died. Currently, there is a herd of 18 specimens and a separate herd of seven specimens migrating from Poland. Priority: The priority for the protection of bison is to maintain the favourable status of populations through management (monitoring, veterinary care and feeding during severe winters, preserving suitable habitats, etc.).

30 Grey wolf (Canis lupus) , wildcat (Felis sylvestris), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), brown bear (Ursus arctos) - the Poloniny NP has stable populations of large carnivores. With the exception of wolf hunting, the populations are not modified in any way. The illegal shooting is a minor problem. Priorities: Monitor the numerous populations, damages caused by wolves and compliance with the law. Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) - beavers have been monitored since 2004. For the past three years the beaver population has been monitored as a part of the SF Monitoring project, code: 22210. Monitorings along the Cirocha River (8 hours in total) have been noted. Priorities: Continue with the population monitoring. European otter (Lutra lutra) - The population of European otter ( lutra lutra ) is being closely monitored as a part of the SF Monitoring project, code: 22210. The size of the population is favourable to good. The numbers are estimated at 15 specimens. Priorities: Continue with the population monitoring. Hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) - islet occurrence, mainly on successively overgrown pastures. Priorities: Conduct a population research in suitable habitats and initiate a population monitoring.

Species of national significance For the majority of species of national significance the conservation status cannot be determined due to the insufficient knowledge and missing data. Concerning these species the top priority is to determine the size of the population and a subsequent proposal of measures for their conservation.

Flora Monk’s cap (Aconitum paniculatum) - Eastern Carpathian type, occurs in one isolated locality, its population is stable and no management is necessary. Priorities: Without priorities. Hartman’s sedge (Carex hartmanii) - occurs in two localities, its population is stable. Priorities: Ensure attaining, i.e. maintaining its favourable conservation status with proper care of non- forest habitats. Waldstein’s thistle (Cirsium waldsteinii) - Eastern Carpathian type, occurs in various localities on the main Carpathian ridge, its population is stable. Priorities: Ensure attaining, i.e. maintaining its favourable conservation status with proper care of non- forest habitats. Northern ground cedar (Diphasiastrum complantum) - occurs in various localities, its population is stable. Priorities: Ensure attaining, i.e. maintaining its favourable conservation status with proper care of forest habitats.

31 Hellebores (Helleborus purpurascens) - Eastern Carpathian type, occurs in various localities, its population is stable. Priorities: Ensure attaining, i.e. maintaining its favourable conservation status with proper care of its habitats. (Lathrus laevigatus) - Eastern Carpathian type, occurs in various localities, its population is stable. Priorities: Ensure attaining, i.e. maintaining its favourable conservation status with proper care of forest habitats. Ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) - occurs in various locations. Its population is stable. Priorities: Ensure attaining, i.e. maintaining its favourable conservation status with proper care of waterside habitats. Bug orchis (Orchis coriophora) - occurs in one locality. Its population is endangered. Priorities: Ensure attaining, i.e. maintaining its favourable conservation status with proper care of non- forest habitats. Orchis elegans - occurs in one locality. Its population is endangered. Priorities: Ensure attaining, i.e. maintaining its favourable conservation status with proper care of non- forest habitats. Orchis morio - occurs in several localities. Its population is stable. Priorities: Ensure attaining, i.e. maintaining its favourable conservation status with proper care of non- forest habitats. Orchis ustulata - occurs in three localities. Its population is endangered. Priorities: Ensure attaining, i.e. maintaining its favourable conservation status with proper care of non- forest habitats. Ranunculus carpaticus - Eastern Carpathian type, occurs in one locality, its population is stable. Priorities: Ensure attaining, i.e. maintaining its favourable conservation status with proper care of non- forest habitats. Scorzonera rosea - Eastern Carpathian type, occurs in two localities, its population is endangered. Priorities: Ensure attaining, i.e. maintaining its favourable conservation status with proper care of non- forest habitats. Swamp ragwort (Tephroseris papposa) - Eastern Carpathian type, occurs in various localities, its population is endangered. Priorities: Ensure attaining, i.e. maintaining its favourable conservation status with proper care of non- forest habitats. Tithymalus sojakii - Eastern Carpathian type, occurs in various localities, its population is endangered. Priorities: Ensure attaining, i.e. maintaining its favourable conservation status with proper care of non- forest habitats.

32 Typha shuttleworthii - occurs in one locality, its population is endangered. Priorities: Ensure attaining, i.e. maintaining its favourable conservation status with proper care of wetland habitats. Viola dacica - Eastern Carpathian type, occurs in various localities, its population is endangered. Priorities: Ensure attaining, i.e. maintaining its favourable conservation status with proper care of non- forest habitats.

Fauna Priorities for all animals of national significance: continue with the research of little known species of national significance (gastropods, arachnids, mayflies, butterflies, beetles, bumblebees, caddisflies, lampreys, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals) and initiate research of species of national significance that have not been explored yet (noble crayfish, millipedes, centipedes, dragonflies, European mantis and bumblebees). Ensure attaining, i.e. maintaining their favourable conservation status with proper care of their habitats.

Gastropods: door snail (Clausilia dubia carpatica) - past records show rare incidence on limestone rubble, narrow-mouthed whorl snail (Vertigo angustior) - dependent on mesophillic meadows on alluviums. Insufficient malacozoological research of the area. The researchers have focused on the area of Nová Sedlica and Ruské so far.

Arachnids: Pardosa proxima, Neobisium polonicum, Ischyropsalis manicata, and Siro carpaticus - the only eastern Carpathian species of arachnids, occurs only in Bukovské vrchy mountains Crustaceans: Noble crayfish (Astacus astacus), relatively numerous, nonetheless, the population seems to be receding, recorded occurrences in Uli čka stream, Zbojský stream, Ublianka stream, Stružnický stream, Dara stream, Príslopský stream, Smolnický stream, Chotinka steam, Ruský stream, Stužická river and Starina water reservoir. One of the ways how to maintain, i.e. to strengthen populations is the construction of low thresholds in the flow and reducing amounts of municipal liquid wastes. Millipedes: Polyzonium transsilvanicum - eastern Carpathian endemite, in past rare occurrences in Nature Reserve (NR) Stužica Centipedes: Dicellophilus carniolensis - eastern Carpathian endemite, in past rare occurrences in NR Stužica Mayflies: Ecdyonurus insignis - a rarely occurring species Dragonflies: azure hawker (Aeschna coerulea), blue emperor (Anax imperator), northern damselfly (Coenagrion hastulatum), sombre golden ring (Cordulogaster bidentata), small pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus), keeled skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens), Somatochlora, winter damselfly (Sympecma fusca), banded darter (Sympetrum pedemontanum). The research of dragonflies has begun only recently. The variety of species and the occurrence of a number of Mediterranean species make the area attractive. European mantis (Mantis religiosa): A fast spreading species, occurring in the whole territory, including the ridge above Ruské municipality.

33 Beetles: Carabus auronitens - found in seven localities, Carabus irregularis - two localities, Carabus obsoletus - twelve localities, Laena reitteri , Leptura thoracica - four localities, grain support beetle (Megopis scabricornis) - one locality, short-necked oil beetle (Meloe brevicollis) - two localities, oil beetle (Meloe rugosus) - one locality, Necydalis major - one locality, rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes nasicornis ) - one locality and Rhopalopus ungaricus - one locality . Bumblebee (Bombus) - buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terestris), white-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum), early bumblebee (Pyrobombus pratorum), red-tailed bumblebee (Pyrobombus lapidarius), common carder bee (Megabombus pascuorum), garden bumblebee (Megabombus hortorum), red-shanked bumblebee (Megabombus ruderarius) and Alpigenobombus wurfleini. Bumblebees living in Slovakia are little konwn, the only field research has been conducted in Nová Sedlica and Ruské municipality. Caddisflies: caddisfly (Agrypnia obsoleta) - a species found only in few localities Butterflies: spotted beauty (Arichanna melanaria) , tufted marbled skipper (Carcharodus flocciferus) - little studied species of butterflies Lamprey: Carpathian brook lamprey (Eudontomyzon danfordi) - a species found in the streams Zbojský, Uli čka, Cirocha and Ublianka and their tributaries. The regulation of riverbeds, which leads to disappearance of the organic-rich sediments, poses a potential danger. Fish: Kessler’s gudgeon (Gobio kessleri), Danubian longbarbel (Gobio uranoscopus), golden-spined loach (Sabanejewia balcanica). The highest concentration of species was found in the following localities: the confluence of stream Zbojský and Uli čka, Uli čka stream prior to the state border and Ublianka stream prior to the state border. The negative factors seem to be the flow reduction, increased pollution and eutrophication, gravel extraction and poaching. Amphibians: common toad (Bufo bufo), common water frog (Rana kl . esculenta), European common brown frog (Rana temporaria), fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) , alpine newt (Triturus alpestris). Reptiles: slow worm (Anguis fragilis) , grass snake (Natrix natrix) , common European adder (Vipera berus) . Birds: The National Park Poloniny has a recorded incidence of 155 kinds of birds, of which 95 are nesting and 60 are migrating or wintering or non-breeding species. Mammals: moose/elk (Alces alces ) - a species with a temporary distribution, 50 recorded occurences of both individual specimens and smaller groups, lesser white-toothed shrew (Crocidura suaveolens) - one occurrence, southern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor) - common distribution, edible dormouse (Glis glis) - 30 occurrences, stoat (Mustela erminea) - rare occurrence, least weasel (Mustela nivalis) - more rare than the stoat, mediterranean water shrew (Neomys anomalus) - two occurrences, Eurasian water shrew (Neomys fodiens) - four occurrences, red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) - common occurrence , alpine shrew (Sorex alpinus) - five occurences, common shrew (Sorex araneus) - 15 occurrences and Eurasian pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus) – three occurrences.

1.6.4. Evaluation of other specific interests of nature and landscape conservation in the area Within the territory of the Poloniny NP we may find several localities with a strong representation of various geomorphological forms of meso and macrorelief, boulders, cliffs, boulder flows, debris flows, scree cones, stone sea and landslides, which are a precondition to an existence of a group of habitats - rock and scree habitats. Of particular interest are the following:

34 - 6 pseudo-karstic caves (5 in the Stinská massif in Zboj and 1 at the spot height Rypy v Ruskom) incurred by gravity indentation of rock blocks in conjunction with block landslides. In their current state they are the final result of weathering and erosion of rocks, gravitation, suffosion and erosion. - Educational geological site Dara - located on the main road above Starina water reservoir at the end of Brezovecká valley. The exposed rock walls are an excellent example of the Carpathian flysch zone. Alternating layers of sandstone and grey to black claystone reveal the conditions of these sediments in the deep sea environment. Three information boards also inform about the consequences of the orogenic process, why the sedimentary strata are not layered horizontally as well as where oil and natural gas from the source (parent) rocks come from. Localities of several important protected minerals and fossils: - paleontological sites hosting the fossil flora (Roztoka stream in Zboj and Kuzmovský stream in Ruské - Halimede sp.) - type locality (locus typicus) of a new species of fossil flora - Halimeidaites carpaticus (National Nature Reservation Riaba skala) - paleontological sites hosting fossil fauna (Uli čka stream with the occurrence of Zoophycos circinnatus in Runina municipality, Hlboký potok stream with the occurence of Inoceramus balticus and Inoceramus Mulleri in Nová Sedlica municipality) From hydrological forms the most noteworthy are the following: - 3 natural waterfalls (Oreni čov waterfall in Runina /12 m/, Medová baba waterfall in Nová Sedlica /10 m/ - of scree genetic type, Vodopád pod pílou waterfall in Nová Sedlica /3 m/ - genetic type - double) - 3 tufa springs i.e. tufa bodies in the form of springs, an illustration of the initial phase of the travertinization process (spring below Doliny in Nová Sedlica, spring above the crossroads before Topo ľa municipality and springs Krivianske oblazy in Uličské Krivé municipality) - 2 mineral springs of genetic type (deep oil waters in Zboj - calcium carbonate water containing hydrogen sulphide and methane, natrium carbonate water containing hydrogen sulfide and methane in Starina municipality above Cirocha river) - 5 sections of typical natural flysch water flows with important and interesting examples of fluvial relief forms and natural hydrological regime (meanders, the emergence of a dead arm, river piracy, notches revealing a typical example of geological structure of the individual layers of subsoil) A well-preserved deep structural borehole Zboj 1 in Uli čské Krivé municipality remains as a part of the geological field-based research aimed at oil and gas deposits in the area. The evaluation has brought a comprehensive knowledge of the subsoil and determination of layers in Zboj belonging to the Dukla unit. Biota Generally speaking, when considering measures it is necessary to bear in mind the improvement of the conservation status of species and habitats falling within the protected zone. Likewise, it is necessary to address potential conflicts between the interests of different habitats, flora and fauna. There are some cases in which requirements for the protection of selected habitats or species need to be prioritized at the expense of others. The national park is home to several animal species that have been included in a special rescue program (hereinafter RP): butterflies of the genus Maculinea , corncrake (Crex crex) , golden eagle

35 (Aquila chrysaetos) , lesser spotted eagle (Aquila pomarina) , Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) , European otter (Lutra Lutra) and European bison (Bison bonasus) . RP European bison - the following activities have been conducted: - tracking the movement of bison, ensuring the preservation of suitable habitats and elimination of non-natural threats to European bison, studying the resource availability ("Management of bison") - increasing the resource availability for European bison - veterinary care - damage prevention caused by the bison - purchasing equipment and tracking of selected specimens by means of telemetry - provision of material and technical equipment - ensuring cooperation at the international level - preparing information leaflets about the European bison for the general public with the intention of raising the awareness about the species and the need for its conservation

RP lesser spotted eagle and golden eagle - the following activities have been conducted: - tracing couples and their nesting territories - locating active nests - monitoring of the nesting process - identification of endangered nests with the aim of elimination of the potential threat - installation of barriers on existing 22 kV line poles (in cooperation with VSE - power distribution company in the East of Slovakia)

RP European otter and Eurasian beaver - the following activities have been conducted: - monitoring of species on water flows in the Poloniny NP RP corncrake - monitoring of species RP butterflies of Maculinea genus - monitoring of species - removing seeding and invasive plant species Landscaping

36 Important landscape features, i.e. those parts of the territory that give the landscape its characteristic shape or contribute to its ecological stability. Separating the ecologically important landscape elements / ecologically important segments within the territory of the Poloniny NP, based on the current use of land, we may find:

- mesoforms and microforms of relief - terraces, balks

- forests, hedgerows, shrubbery

- wetlands, riparian vegetation, aquatic and waterside ecosystems

- meadow ecosystems

- parks (within the area of municipalities)

Important cultural-historical and landscape features as well as the structure of the country in its original form have been preserved in the cadastral territory of Príslop municipality (terraces, fields).

37 1.7. Results of the Comprehensive Forest Condition Survey

Comprehensive Forest Condition Survey (CFCS)

The main task of CFCS is to examine the forest categorization and the accuracy of categorization of forest division units into forest management types. A comprehensive forest condition survey is carried out in advance, i.e. before the renewal of forest management plans. The survey includes a study of natural conditions, a study of forest conservation, a melioration study, and a study of natural environment conservation and development. Results of the typological mapping are closely related to the categorization of protective forests, while the typological mapping is a result of the field measurements. The biggest problem seems to be that in some cases one forest type can be classified as both a protective forest and a commercial forest. This means that a forest type is not always the finest typological unit. Air pollution threat: in the past forests were classified in the category of special-purpose forests with a subcategory of forests exposed to air pollutants. There were 4 distinctive zones of threat: A, B, C, D. Later, after legislative changes there were only three zones: A, B, C. Forest damage due to air pollution in the area of interest can be considered exaggerated because there are only a few local sources of pollution and the immissions coming from some of the more remote sources are captured mainly by the north ridge of the Polish side of Poloniny. The problem seems to be the remaining high concentration of the old stock of heavy metals in soil. It should be noted that the current regulation on forest management no. 453/2006 Coll. has no subcategory of forests exposed to immissions. Stages of forest damage: there are five distinct stages 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, where 0 describes undamaged trees and vegetation. In the territory of the Poloniny NP stage 4 is not represented. Usually classified as stage 3 are mature stands damaged by intensive logging, which inhibits the process of natural regeneration, leads to scarlet fever on tree bark and soil erosion. Soil: The entire territory of the Poloniny NP is formed by flysch, which means that the soil is not very firm. Therefore, it is necessary to utilize a suitable technology and consider the best mining period. Also, it is desirable to increase the use of the assortment method, avoid using the choker cable winching method, use equipment with low ground pressure and mine preferably during frosts in winter months or during droughts in summer. Forest tending principles: the main aim of tending should be the species selection, as recently hornbeam has been more strongly represented than beech and oak. It is also necessary to support fir and valuable hardwood species. Another goal is to increase the layers of different stands and attempt to approximate the selection structure. It is also necessary to choose the right timing for removing preparatory trees because they create suitable climatic conditions for agricultural tree species. There is a high density of coppice, whose tending should support the seed specimens at the expense of coppiced stands. Principles of forest renewal: the main objective of forest renewal should be to ensure sufficient natural regeneration while taking advantage of the seed-bearing years. If stands cannot be restored using the natural regeneration method, artificial regeneration from indigenous sources of forest reproductive material should be utilized. Due to the varied natural conditions in the area it is necessary to respect the natural environment and avoid unnatural introduction of conifers into beech and oak stands. There is a remarkably high number of deer in the territory, which requires due protection of stands against damage. Another objective of forest renewal is to maintain the standardized tree density. Functional use of forests: Despite the fact that the primary function of commercial forests is the production of quality timber, it is necessary that the forest performs other productive and non- productive functions too. Of particular interest are the special-purpose forests in the protected zone of

38 Starina water reservoir, where spruce has been planted to meet the need for quality water in the 3rd and 4th forest vegetation layer. Due to barkstripping by animals, neglected tending and inadequate choice of habitat it will be necessary to reconstruct these stands. Forests cover more than 90% of the territory of the Poloniny NP, with forestry being one of the activities that have the most significant impact on its shape. We may say that forests create a continuous forest complex (especially above Starina water reservoir), which is in various places interrupted by islet urban agglomerations and agricultural land. Forest ownership in the Poloniny NP is varied. State owns 58% of forests in the Poloniny NP and administers further 8% of forests of unknown owners (Forest Agricultural Estate (FAE) Uli č, s.e. - dominant forest manager, Forests of the Slovak Republic, Civic Association Vranov nad Top ľou and Slovak Water Management Enterprise, s.e. are the largest public owners. A significant proportion of forests is owned by landowner associations - associations of land owners with legal status - 27%. Furthermore, there is one large area in private property (Kredba Ltd. falling within the cadaster area of Runina municipality). Along with the small forest owners scattered around the the Poloniny NP the landowner associations own less than 6% of forests in the national park. Less than 1% of forests is owned by the church. In terms of organizational structure of forests there are 16 forest units (FU). Two are only in the protection zone (PZ) of NP and five forest units are situated only in the territory of the Poloniny NP. 9 FU occupy the territory of NP and its protection zone. Table 3

NP PZ NP Total KPL Name of FU Area in hectares

LA019 FAE-STAK ČÍN 4642,0000 11,5600 4653,5600

LA020 FAE-KLENOVÁ 2405,5800 2405,5800

LA046 Forests Nižná Jablonka 1250,0970 1285,7595 2535,8565

Non-state forests on Forest Management Unit (FMU) LA047 Nižná Jablonka 41,7718 1724,5047 1766,2765

LA071 FAE-ULI Č 4085,6294 2592,5237 6678,1531

Non-state forests on FMU LA072 TOPO ĽA 1552,4847 414,4016 1966,8863

LA073 FAE-ZBOJ 5016,4281 673,5196 5689,9477

LA074 Non-state forests on FMU Zboj 556,5327 830,4992 1387,0319

SL026 Ve ľká Po ľana 852,8400 852,8400

39 SL027 Ruské 1711,2800 1711,2800

SL028 Starina 1122,5300 11,6700 1134,2000

SL029 Smolník 1155,5100 1155,5100

SL030 Zvala 1398,4800 1398,4800

Non-state forests on FMU SL031 Starina 1456,5300 0,7800 1457,3100

SL032 Forest Association Ub ľa 406,4900 406,4900

Non-state forests on FMU SL033 Sobrance 181,0900 181,0900

Total 27247,6937 8132,7983 35380,4920

Overview of forest categorization In terms of function forests of NP are classified into three categories, with commercial forests (C) occupying 72%, protective forests (P) 6% and special purpose forests (S) occupying 22% of the forest area of NP. Table 4: Forest categorization in the Poloniny NP Forest Area in category hectares C 25474,04 P 2266,84 S 7639,61 Total 35380,49

Pie chart: Forest categorization in the Poloniny NP

Various types of forests take up different areas in the territory of NP without a protection zone: commercial forests occupy a smaller territory (65%), and protective forests (7%) along with special purpose forests (22%) take up larger territories.

40 2. Socio-economic conditions: use of the area and its surroundings, positive and negative factors)

2.1. Historical overview Until the 13th century the territory of the Poloniny NP was underpopulated and formed the external border of the early Hungarian state, which was annexed to Hungary after the Tartars left the territory in 1242. Primeval forests covered almost the whole territory until the end of 14th century. Permanent settlements in the area date back to the late 14th and the early 15th century, when new settlements were formed after the arrival of geldings, who developed sheepfarming and shepherding in the area. The population that was settling in lived on farming and livestock grazing. Shortage of arable land was compensated by clearing of forest land for arable crops (barley, oats, millet and foxtail). The area was characteristic for private farming and livestock breeding. After the demise of feudalism and the abolition of serfdom, the common land passed into the ownership of former serfs, part of the feudal land was divided among the people, and parish lands were owned by the parish priest. The area was heavily affected by the Great Depression and both World Wars. The residential areas started to grow in the period of socialist industrialization of eastern Slovakia after 1950. New industrial centres of national significance were established in Snina, along with the industrial centre of regional importance in Uli č and Ub ľa municipalities. New industrial centres offered new jobs, which had a decisive influence on the social and economic development of the region as well as the structure of the settlement. These changes brought about a massive migration of people into the new industrial centres from other regions, but also from municipalities in Snina district. During this period the quality of life increased mainly due to increased demands for complex public facilities and standard of living. Migration from rural areas to city centres preserved the foothill settlements in their original structure and left the shape of the landscape intact, which was not destroyed by the new architecture. Collectivization of agricultural production and the transition to industrial forms of agricultural production had a substantial impact on the shape of the landscape. The industrial form of agricultural production could be seen in the construction of farmyards, which were placed in the country rather forcibly, as well as in the inappropriate tillage (recultivation), which resulted in the loss of aesthetic values of the country. Loose network of small settlements, minimal use of land for industrial development and tourism and the yield of the source of Cirocha river and its tributaries led to the construction of a reservoir of drinking water. The construction of the water reservoir Starina (1981-1987) resulted in a further significant change in the pattern of settlement in Snina district. Due to its location in the territory of Starina municipality, all municipalities in the basin of Cirocha river above the reservoir had to be displaced. The construction of Starina water reservoir destroyed arable land, which turned into permanent grassland. In the 1990s intensive farming in the territory decreased (which meant a reduction of fertilizers and chemicals and a reduced number livestock units). A significant portion of agricultural land remained unused, remote areas started to overgrow successively and the landscape gradually lost its typical character. The first protected oak forest with a logging ban was mentioned in the land register of Stak čín municipality in 1660. In 1728 Zboj municipality demarcated protected fir and beech forests under Riaba skala with a logging ban. The first strict nature reserve was Stužica - Jasan created in 1908 with an area of 331.4 hectares. In 1967-68 studies towards the declaration of a protected triple-area Kremenec were carried out.

41 2.2. Brief description of current situation

2.2.1. Conservation

The protected landscape area East Carpathians was declared on September 7, 1977 by Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Socialist Republic, Order No. 70/1977 Coll. (according to Act No. 287/1994). A part of the former protected landscape area of the Eastern Carpathians was declared the National Park Poloniny based on Governmental Decree of the Slovak Republic No. 258/1997 dated September 23, 1997 coming into force on October 1, 1997. The most valuable parts of the national park are protected in small protected areas - seven national nature reserves (Stužica, Havešová, Riaba skala, Rožok, P ľaša, Stinská, Pod Ruským), 12 nature reserves (Bahno, Borsu činy, Bzaná, Gazdora ň, Hlboké, Hrúnok, Ruské, Stinská Slatina, Stružnická dolina, Šípková, Udava, Uli čská Ostrá) and one natural monument (Uli čka). In 1992 a part of the former protected landscape area of East Carpathians, which was virtually identical to the area of the current the Poloniny NP, was declared the International East Carpathian Biosphere Reserve together with the adjacent Polish territory (Bieszczady National Park, Cisniansko- Wetlinský park krajobrazovy, Park krajobrazovy Doliny Sanu) by UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme. In 1998, the Biosphere Reserve affiliated protected areas in Ukraine (Užanský national natural park, Nadsjanskyj regional landscape parks), which made it the first trilateral biosphere reserve in the world. The Poloniny National Park was awarded the prestigious European Council Diploma in 1998, which the Council of Europe grants through resolutions of the Committee of Ministers for a period of 5 to 10 years. On June 28, 2007 the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Committee on its 31 st meeting in Christchurch (New Zealand) adopted a decision to include the Ukrainian-Slovak nomination “Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians” to the UNESCO World Natural Heritage. Three out of ten separate sites of native beech forests are located in the Poloniny NP (Havešová, Rožok, Stužica). In 2011, the territory was extended to include further five localities in Germany, and thus it became trilateral. On December 3, 2011 the Poloniny NP was declared Poloniny Dark-Sky Park and was registered in the International Dark-Sky Association. Its aim is to protect nighttime ecosystems and inform the public about the light pollution, the existence of this exceptionally well-preserved nighttime environment, the need for its protection, and to promote and protect the dark night sky. In terms of protection of the natural nighttime environment, Poloniny Dark-Sky Park is the first protected area in Slovakia. In terms of astronomical observations it is one of the best locations in Europe.

2.2.2 Agriculture

The total area of agricultural land in the national park is about 1,895 hectares, which comprises 6.4% of the territory of the Poloniny NP. The whole agricultural land is made of grasslands. Small enclaves of land near settlements registered as arable land in the land register are in fact covered with grass on a long-term basis. The fields thus lie in the protected zone of the national park. Traditional methods of management of agricultural land have practically disappeared due to the downward trend in the development of population. Many grasslands and pastures are no longer cultivated, but lie unused and gradually overgrow. With the ongoing succession, the competitively less capable species are being pushed out, which makes the area poor in certain species. The majority of permanent grasslands are managed by the Forest Agricultural Estate Uli č, s.e., which grows mainly cereals, corn, or perennial forage or oilseed rape. Agricultural production used to be higher than it is today. At present, there are three

42 farmyards within the protection zone of NP (Uli č, Zboj and Runina) under the management of the Forest Agricultural Estate Uli č, s.e., focusing on grazing animals. Apart from that, there are several other estates farming in the area of the Poloniny NP, i.e. in its protection zone. See Table 5 for overview.

Table 5 Overview of the most important users of agricultural land: Area of Livestock units in Estate managed land 2015 Forest agricultural estate Uli č, s.e., ? 620 livestock units 067 67 Uli č AGRIFOP, a.s. Stak čín, ? 400 – 450 Duchnovi čova 573/18 livestock units 067 61 Stak čín AGROTEL Nová Sedlica, s.r.o. 66,63 ha zero Zátoky 596 067 82 Dlhé nad Cirochou ITAL-SLOVAK, s.r.o. ? 300 livestock units Michalovská 1 Hostovice 073 01 Sobrance 300 livestock units Osadné ROTAX-ARCH spol. s r.o. ? 453 livestock units Fidlikova 3 Čukalovce 066 01 Humenné

Grasslands and pastures originated mainly in wider parts of valleys, along water flows (Cirocha river, Uli čka river) or the main ridge of Bukovské vrchy mountains. It is these mountain meadows (the so called “poloniny”), alternating with forests that are so typical for the Poloniny NP. Due to adverse soil and relief conditions, there used to be more grasslands and pastures in this area in past than arable land. One year permanent meadows were mowed, and the following one they were grazed. They were fertilized with grass. After mowing, the mown land and sometimes even fields were used for grazing. Fields were turned to aftermath pastures after 10 or 12 years as a part of the crop rotation (Bura ľ, M. et al., 1994). Since the Wallachian colonization meadows at higher altitudes of Bukovské vrchy mountains had been grazed alternately. They were no longer used in the traditional way before the end of World War 2. Until then the land had been grazed by oxen and later by horses, however, after the war the pastures were only mown. The sheep breeding and sheep cotting on pastures ceased before the World War 2. At present, grazing has disappeared altogether (RUŽI ČKOVÁ, H., HALADA, Ľ., 2002). The condition, size and usage of grasslands was strongly influenced by the collectivization of agricultural production in the 1960s and later by displacement of villages and reduction of agricultural production in the basin of Starina water reservoir. Radical recultivation created large fields of intensively fertilized cultivated meadows. Original, extensively and semi-intensively farmed meadows gradually lost their economic importance (less livestock is bred). Remote and poorly accessible meadows are mostly unused and are overgrowing with tree stands (HALADA, L. et al., 2004). Currently, permanent grasslands are extensively used as pastures and hay meadows with scattered non-forest tree and shrubbery vegetation. Under the Act no. 543/2005 Coll. on nature and landscape protection, agricultural activities such as grazing are allowed only with the prior consent of the competent authority. State Nature Conservancy: The administration of the Poloniny NP is committed to maintaining grassland habitats by informing the stakeholders (owners, managers, users) about ways, in which they can contribute to the protection of the area, such as finding the most optimal way of using various habitats, or getting involved in various agro-environmental projects of the Rural Development

43 Programme of Slovak Republic (hereinafter “RDP”) 2014-2020. Farmers are inclined towards nature conservation proposals. It should be stressed that the proposed way of farming under the Agri- environment climate measure , Habitat protection of semi-natural and natural grasslands submeasure (within Natura 2000 programme) and Ecological agriculture measure is fully in accordance with the requirements of environmental protection. Most agricultural entities farming in the national park have been previously involved in the agri-environmental activities. The administration of the Poloniny NP does not have an access to the exact data on the disbursement of these funds.

2.2.3 Forestry

The whole territory of the Poloniny NP has been used mainly for forestry activities, since forests account for nearly 90% of the area. In the 18th and 19th centuries the forests belonged to the aristocratic Druget family and in the 19th century the estates formerly owned by the Drugets passed into the possession of the Andrássy family. Later, the ownership of individual estates changed frequently. According to the preserved historical sources, after the abolition of serfdom there were several dominant families living in the territory of the Poloniny NP: the Szirmajs, the Andrássys and the Wincklers. At this time land previously owned by a large landowner turned into common land (land in shared use), especially in the basin of Cirocha river. In the interwar period, the interest in the use of wood from the most accessible areas gradually increased. The first narrow-gauge railways were built and the interest in charcoal also rose. The forests partly passed into the possession of industrial companies, i.e. banks. During the Hungarian occupation the agricultural use of forests intensified. Large scale deforestation took place (e.g. in Stužica primeval forest, 110 hectares). After World War 2 in 1946 the so-called administration of confiscated forests in Uli č and Starina valley was created with a seat in Stak čín municipality, subordinate to the Directorate of State Forests Solivar near Prešov. The largest confiscated properties: - property of count of Tiele-Winckler - Berlin - property of count Rudolf Sherenyy - property of Kredba and Mudroch - Prague - property of State Forests in Žornava - property of Alois Lowenstein - Yugoslavia - property of Greek-Catholic church In 1950 the school forests in Kolbasov and Uli čské Krivé municipalities were confiscated, followed by all forests of the former land owners in 1952 and military forests in Topo ľa municipality in 1955 (2,100 hectares). On January 1, 1956 a forest plant was established in Uli č and a distribution warehouse was built in Stak čín. In 1967, the wood-processing plant TVARONA launched its operation in Uli č, primarily focusing on processing wood from the Uli č valley. In 1972 the Forest Agricultural Estate in Uli č was established. Demarcated land of low forests and pastures in the area of 1,058 hectares as well as agricultural land of 29 municipalities passed into the local administration. After East Carpathians were declared a Protected Landscape Area in 1977, commercial activities in the region were restricted. The commercial activity was gradually excluded from all small protected areas and logging was limited also in protective forests. The economic activity in commercial forests was controlled under the forest management plan. From the viewpoint of the current differentiation of owners and forest managers, the year 1991 has played a crucial role as it was this year that the process of restitution of property to its former owners and the church has started. New landowner associations have been established in the territory of the Poloniny NP, private properties in Runina municipality as well as the property of Greek- Catholic archeparchy of Prešov have been restituted, and to a lesser extent also some properties of small owners. The process of settlement of land ownership in the territory of the Poloniny NP is ongoing. More than 60% of land remains in hands of the state. The current organizational structure of forestry in the Poloniny NP is based on the current ownership situation and the organizational structure of forestry set up in past. In terms of management of the territory of the Poloniny NP there are several distinct forest management units (FMU): FMU Zboj, FMU Topo ľa, FMU Uli č, FMU Starina and FMU Nižná Jablonka. Individual FMU have their

44 own Forest management programmes (FMP), which entered into force in 2010, 2012 and 2014 and will expire in 2019, 2021 and 2023.

Table 6 Overview of forest management units (hereinafter “FMU”) and approved forest management programmes (hereinafter FMP) in the Poloniny NP Code of FMU Validity Name of forest unit Manager programme SL026 Landowner Common Land and Association (LA) Grazing Association Ve ľká Po ľana (CLGA), LA Ve ľká Po ľana SL027 Ruské Forest Agricultural Common Land Association (FACLA), LA Ruské SL028 Starina FACLA Starina SL029 Smolník Forest Common Land Association (FCLA) LA Smolník SL030 Zvala FCLA Zvala LA019 Stak čín FAE s.e. Uli č LA020 Klenová FAE s.e. Uli č SL031 Non-state forests on LA Nastas - St. FMU Starina Roztoka Starina 2010-2019 LA Dara Common Land Association (CLA) LA P čoliné Slovak Water Management Enterprise, s.e., Water Management of Laborec Uh- region CLA LA Parihuzovce CLA and Forest Land Association (FLA) Kalná Roztoka Greek-Catholic archeparchy of Prešov LA046 Nižná Jablonka Forests of the Slovak Nižná Forests Republic, s.e., Civic 2012-2021 Jablonka Association Vranov nad Top ľou LA047 Non-state forests on FMU Nižná Jablonka Common Land Association of Common Forest Landowners and Pasture Owners 45 Hostovice Common Forest Landowners and Pasture Owners Association Osadné č LA071 Forests of FAE Uli FAE s.e. Uli č LA072 Non-state forests on Greek-Catholic FMU Topo ľa archeparchy of Prešov Topo ľa 2014-2023 LA Príslop FACLA LA Runina Private Forests Kredba and Mudroch č LA071 Forests of FAE Uli FAE s.e. Uli č LA074 Non-state forests on Greek-Catholic FMU Uli č, Zboj archeparchy of Prešov LA Rožok Uli čské Uli č 2014-2023 Krivé Common Forest Land Association (CFLA) LA Kolbasov LA CLA Uli č LA073 Forests of FAE Zboj FAE s.e. Uli č Zboj 2014-2023 LA074 Non-state forests on LA Geborová Nová FMU Uli č, Zboj Sedlica

A substantial part of the forest area of 24,247 hectares is made up by forests in the territory of NP, forests within the protection zone take up an area of 8,133 hectares. Table 7 Categorization of forests in the Poloniny NP according to levels of conservation

Level of Area in Pie chart: Distribution of forests in the Poloniny NP according to conservation hectares levels of conservation 2 8 132,80 3 25 047,21 Forests in the third level of territorial protection (71%) take up the largest area, forests in the fourth level of territorial protection 4 21,85 have the smallest representation. 6% of forests in the Poloniny NP 5 2 178,63 fall in the top fifth level of territorial protection. Total 35 380,49 The following table and graph show the age structure of forests in the Poloniny NP. Two age groups are present in excess - forests at the age of 21-40 years and forests at the age of 61-80 years - in the territory of the Poloniny NP. Forests at the age of 21-60 years have the largest distribution in the protection zone. Table 8: Age structure of forests in the Poloniny NP

age of the NP PZ NP Total

46 class 0 3,23 1,5009 4,7309 1 3042,4042 1133,9833 4176,3875 2 6915,7324 3802,3481 10718,0805 3 4312,1147 1746,8803 6058,995 4 6230,3355 525,4522 6755,7877 5 3368,0254 546,5836 3914,609 6 1066,2618 215,876 1282,1378 7+ 2309,5897 160,1739 2469,7636 Total 27 247,6937 8 132,7983 35 380,492

47 Graph: Age structure of forests in the Poloniny NP

Pie chart: Overview of the proportional representation of age groups in the territory of the Poloniny NP

The proportional representation of age groups shows that younger age groups have a dominant distribution in the territory of the Poloniny NP and its protection zone.

2.2.4 Hunting

In terms of hunting, the whole territory of the Poloniny NP is classified as a hunting area. It is located in the deer hunting area Poloniny Carpathians (J XXVIII), and the sub-areas Ku čalata and Čierniny. After 1993, under the amendment to Act no. 23/1962 on Hunting (in 2009 replaced by a new law on hunting - Act no. 274/2009) the hunting grounds were re-arranged. Currently, there are 19 hunting grounds located fully or partly in the Poloniny NP. The average area of hunting grounds is 3,184.96

48 hectares. The organization of hunting is managed separately from the nature protection. The Hunting Act is based on the ownership of hunting lands, which has led to foundation of hunting districts on relatively small areas. The mission of the Poloniny NP and East Carpathian Biosphere Reserve is a permanent preservation of viable populations of native Carpathian animal species and the protection of genetic resources of the International Biosphere Reserve. Hunting has a significant impact of the animal population, which, however, is administered separately from the intentions of nature protection.

In terms of biodiversity conservation and game hunting, there are five species of ungulates (deer, roe deer, wild boar, elk and bison) living in the National Park Poloniny, large carnivores (bear, wolf and lynx) and small carnivores (badger, wild cat, otter, marten, polecat, weasel and raccoon dog). Although some of them are surviving in small numbers (there is a tendency to create micropopulations of elk and bison), this does not lessen the importance of the area for their conservation in future.

Evaluation of hunting

The positives of hunting management include: - supplementary feeding of game, especially in winter - watchkeeping for harmful interference of humans and poaching - building shelters - building feeding racks, feeding hoppers and suitable hiding places for wildlife

The negatives of hunting management include: - disturbing nesting places and breeding grounds - uncontrolled and unregistered game hunting - hunting of some wildlife species specified by law

Proposal of hunting management principles: - increase the involvement of hunters in the supplementary feeding of game - eliminate the illegal hunting by watchkeeping in the hunting zones o eliminate the disturbance of nesting places and breeding grounds o eliminate the negatives (noise disturbance, building campfires, entering forests on motor vehicles, motorcycles, or scooters) o take measures necessary for game protection, especially during nesting and breeding - eliminate the population of invasive unnatural species - raccoon dog

2.2.5 Fishery

Fishing activity in the Poloniny NP is governed by the new Fisheries Law No.139/2002 effective of April 1, 2002 and the implementing Decree of the Ministry of the Environment No. 238/2002 of April 17, 2002, effective from May 15, 2002, currently replaced by Decree of the Ministry of the Environment No. 185/2006 implementing the Act. 139/2002 on fisheries as amended. In the Poloniny NP the basin of the Cirocha River running up to Starina water reservoir (fishing ground no. 4-0260-1- 1) belongs to carp waters , and is administered by Slovak Angling Association, Local Organization (SAA LO) Snina. The trout waters include: Ublianka stream running from the border with Ukraine up to the springs (fishing ground no. 4-3010-4-1), Uli čka stream running from the border with Ukraine up to the springs, Zbojský stream running to the bottom edge of Nová Sedlica municipality, administered by SAA LO Snina, Zbojský stream running from Nová Sedlica up to the springs, administered by FAE Uli č. The water reservoir Starina along with all tributaries is administered by the Slovak Water Management Enterprise, s.e., the branch of Bodrog and Hornád. Up to this date, 25 species of cyclostomes in total have been identified in the fishing grounds of the Poloniny NP. There are several species important in terms of genetic resources (spined loach - Cobitis taenia, European bullhead - Cottus gobiol, grayling - Thymallus thymallus , golden spined loach - Sabanejewia balcanica ), occurence of stable populations in this area (Carpathian lamprey - Eudontomyzon danfordi, Barbus peloponnesius, golden spined loach - Sabanejewia balcanica,

49 grayling - Thymallus thymallus) and the overall low range in Slovakia (Kessler’s gudgeon - Gobio kessleri, Danubian longbarbel gudgeon - Gobio uranoscopus). The negative factors in the field of fisheries include poaching, sewage and faeces from residential areas and illegal gravel mining. The positives include occasional restocking with artificially bred fish, which contributes to the preservation and improvement of resource availability for otter and black stork.

Evaluation of fishing

Currently, the main goal is to ensure a coordinated comprehensive hydrobiological research on all water flows and Starina water reservoir, which would bring proposals for the creation of optimal conditions for this group of animals.

The positives of fishery management include: - restocking of fishing grounds with native species of fish - protection and monitoring of restocking and water purity (fishing guard) - improvement of resource availability for otter and black stork

The negatives of fishery management include: - noise disturbance, building campfires, introduction of non-native species of fish during restocking - poaching

Proposal of fishery management principles: - regulate restocking of fishing grounds with native species of fish - eliminate restocking with non-native species of fish - eliminate further negatives (noise disturbance, building campfires, environmental pollution) and prevent poaching

2.2.6 Mining and quarrying

In the past, stone and brick clay for construction were mined with seasonal and local relevance. Small brick factories of local importance used to be in Stak čín, Snina, Uli č and Zvala municipalities. Due to undeveloped economic situation with moderate construction, the rarely and seasonally used quarries of local significance (municipalities of Príslop, Zboj, Kalná Roztoka) along with gravels of the quaternary sediments of rivers were sufficient to satisfy the local needs. The oil search started in the flysch area of Eastern Slovakia in the second half of the 19th century (e.g. at P čolinné, Pichné). Of the several boreholes in the area of the Poloniny NP the borehole in Uli čské Krivé municipality has been preserved. The potential sources of oil could be found in the anticline of Nová Sedlica (indicated by the presence of calcium bicarbonate water near Zboj with a high content of methane and fissures in the core of the anticline filled with calcite and strongly smelling of oil). The mining activities in the territory of the national park are no longer conducted, with the exception of occasional mining of gravel sediments along rivers (Uli čka, Zbojská stream, Cirocha) for minor construction purposes.

2.2.7 Use of water The waters in the National Park Poloniny are mainly used as - sources of drinking water (surface source of drinking water - Starina water reservoir, underground source of drinking water in Uli č municipality, surface source of drinking water on Čiš čovatý stream for Runina municipality) - recipients of wastewater (sewage from wastewater treatment plants, seepage from septic tanks) - fishing grounds

50 Starina water reservoir was built between 1981-1987 with a total volume of 59.8 million m³ of water. It supplies drinking water to a large part of Eastern Slovakia (majority of municipalities in districts of Snina, Humenné, Vranov nad Top ľou, Prešov, Trebišov and Košice).

2.2.8. Recreation & sports

In terms of tourism the territory of the Poloniny NP is one of the most attractive areas in Slovakia. Traditionally, the most acceptable form of tourism in this area has been hiking. Besides that, biking and skiing are also favourite activities of many visitors. There is an active cooperation with the Polish side, which involves nature conservation, tourism, and ecological education. The border zone with Ukraine is closely guarded and many activities including free movement are restricted. Tourist activities have a direct impact on habitats and wildlife and in case of new activities it is desirable to evaluate the expected impact on the environment.

2.2.8.1 Tourist activities

Walking

The most widespread and most acceptable form of recreation in the Poloniny NP is hiking. There is a 121 km long network of marked walking routes. The most visited locations include Kremenec, National Nature Reserve (NNR) Stužica and National Nature Reserve Jarabá Skala. The majority of tourists come in July and August, in winter some locations are without visitors. Approximately 90% of visitors come from Slovakia, Czech Republic and Poland.

In the Poloniny NP tourists are dispersed in a relatively large area, which means that the negative impact of tourism on the environment is not concentrated in one place. On most walking routes there is no substantial damage to the natural environment, except for periods with increased rainfall. On the wet parts of the walking routes the ground vegetation gets trampled down, and is consequently damaged and eventually destroyed, the habitats are ruderalized and places with shallow soil undergo erosion. The wildlife gets disturbed by free movement of visitors mainly early in the morning and in the evening. Garbage pollution is proportional to the number of visitors.

Biking

There are six marked cycling routes in the territory of the Poloniny NP and its protected area. Cycling is not possible on most of the territory because of the rugged relief. Cycling outside of marked routes leads to deterioration of valuable habitats and disturbance of animals which are unable to respond promptly to the rapid and relatively low-noise movement of cyclists. Braking on steep slopes destroys the protective plant cover of the soil, which speeds up the erosion.

Tenting, camping and bivouacking

Tenting and bivouacking in the territory of NP is allowed only in designated areas listed in the Visitors’ rules of the Poloniny NP. Such places are e.g. Sedlo pod Čier ťažou (Nová Sedlica) and Ruské Sedlo (Ruské). Tenting, camping and bivouacking in the wild lead to significant disturbance of fauna, trampling and destruction of habitats. Other forbidden

51 activities related to camping and bivouacking are e.g. movement outside of marked walking routes, building of campfires, and noise disturbance. Although unauthorized tenting, camping, and bivouacking do not have a mass character, these activities have been detected in many locations in the national park, which are often extremely valuable (e.g. NNR Stužica).

Downhill skiing and cross-country skiing

Cross-country skiing is allowed on all walking routes marked with winter rods. Downhill skiing and snowboarding are permitted only in the designated area as specified in the Visitors’ rules of the Poloniny NP - the ski resort Ruské. There is a ski lift located in the protected area of NP in Uli č municipality. Ski touring is allowed also outside of marked tourist trails. Skiing does not have an overly negative or stressful effect on fauna of the national park.

Horseback riding

Horseback riding is one of the activities of agrotourism. Horseback riding in the national park is allowed in two designated areas as specified in the Visitors’ rules of the Poloniny NP: the functional route between the Nová Sedlica municipality and Medová baba (a wooden statue above the village), and the route between municipalities Nová Sedlica and Lipová. Due to a low interest in this activity the potential of threat is insignificant. Horseback riding outside of authorized trails is potentially dangerous and can lead to disturbance of animals as well as trampling of fauna and habitat destruction. Riding on steeper slopes with shallow soil can lead to erosion.

Flights on a low-flying aircraft or with sports flying equipment

Paragliding and hang gliding in the national park are allowed only in the designated area as specified in the Visitors’s rules of the Poloniny NP: Malý Bukovec (Topo ľa). Low flights by plane, helicopter, glider or balloon represent an important stress factor for many species of mammals, and especially for birds.

Transport

Transport on motor vehicles is possible on public roads of the second and thrid category:

II/558 Stak čín – Uli č III/558023 kr. II/558 – Jalová III/558025 kr. Topo ľa – Runina III/558026 kr. II/558 – Ruský Potok III/558027 Uli č – Nová Sedlica

2.2.8.2 Accommodation facilities

In the area of the Poloniny NP accommodation is provided by FAE Uli č, s.e. - Grófske chyžky. In the protection zone of the Poloniny NP accommodation is provided by several guest houses in the following municipalities: - Nová Sedlica - guest houses Penzión Kremenec and Penzión Beskýd - Uli č - tourist hostel Turistická ubytov ňa Javorník, guest house Poloniny - Kolbasov - guest house Ubytovanie u Ľubky - Runina - Chata Krivec Cottage, Chata Runina Cottage, Chata u Mariana Cottage Some tourist services are provided by State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic -

52 Administration of the Poloniny NP, which operates the Information Centre in Nová Sedlica municipality (15 beds and 8 spare beds). In the past ten years, several dozens of unauthorized buildings and portable devices (caravans) have been constructed in the zones of hygienic protection of Starina water reservoir, which poses a serious problem to the Poloniny NP. The Administration of the Poloniny NP has recorded 90 unauthorized constructions. All competent authorities (construction office of Stak čín municipality, government bodies, Slovak Environmental Inspection in Košice) have long known about it, but neither of them has attempted to solve the situation. Tourism development requires awareness of the values of the Poloniny NP, which needs to be continuously raised, e.g. by tourist information spots, educational pathways, etc.

2.2.9. Cultural heritage and religious activity

Every year in the Poloniny NP there are gatherings of people who were born in the removed settlements. The places where these events take place as well as public religious, cultural and sporting events are exclusively mentioned in the National Park Visiting Rules: in the former built-up areas of the settlements of Dara, Ruské, Smolník, Ve ľká Po ľana and Zvala as well as below the Starina Reservoir. In the historical centre of the settlement of Uli č in the Poloniny NP buffer zone there is the Park by the Manor, which is an example of a preserved park complex. It is formed by interesting taxa and forms of woody plants. Outside of the built-up area of Uli č, also in the national park’s buffer zone, there is a solitary example of a wetland oak. The NP and its buffer zone contain a number of immovable cultural monuments ( Central List of Immovable Cultural Monuments, 2015).

Table 9: An overview of immovable cultural monuments in the Poloniny NP (Source: the databases of the Monuments Board of the Slovak Republic. Available at: http://www.pamiatky.sk/sk/page/register-nkp-tabulkove-zoznamy )

Cadastral No. in Type of monument Common name community GLM Established Jalová 125 WOODEN CHURCH St George’s Greek Catholic Church 1792 11316 JEWISH CEMETARY Approx. 10 gravestones Kolbasov 10423 CHURCH/BELLTOWER The All Saints’ Greek Catholic Church 1880 10423 CHURCH/BELLTOWER Wooden bell tower Nová 10432 BARRACKS Former barracks of the financial guard 1920s Sedlica 10433 FOLK HOUSE Log house PLACE OF REMEMBRANCE Battles and those who fell in the First World War 2319 1st half 20th c. Runina WITH MEMORIAL (1914–1915) 11317 JEWISH CEMETARY Approx. 10 gravestones 144 CHURCH AND COMPLEX Wooden chapel – St Michael’s Orthodox Church 1740 144 CHURCH AND COMPLEX Wooden bell tower 18th c. Ruský Potok 144 CHURCH AND COMPLEX Church fortifications 18th c. 144 CHURCH AND COMPLEX The gate of the church fortifications 18th c. 144 CHURCH AND COMPLEX The gate of the church fortifications 18th c. Ruské 11388 ROAD Stone road – Porta Rusica 1861–1865 1315 MEMORIAL A. Duchnovi č (1803–1865)

Topo ľa 11319 JEWISH CEMETARY Approx. 40 gravestones Very early 20th 151 CHURCH/BELLTOWER St Michael’s Greek Catholic Wooden Chapel 2nd halfc. 17th c. 151 CHURCH/BELLTOWER Wooden bell tower 2nd half 17th c. Uli č 10411 CHURCH St Nicholas’s Greek Catholic Church 1867

53 2335 MEMORIAL Václav Linha (1925–1946), pyrotechnician 2nd half 20th c. Uli čské Krivé 152 CHURCH AND FENCE St Michael’s Greek Catholic Wooden Chapel 1718 152 CHURCH AND FENCE The wooden enclosure on the stone foundations 1980s

54 In addition to these cultural monuments, the NP and its buffer zone contain war graves (Ministry of the Interior SR, 2015):

MUNICIPALITY Location Event Type Dara municipal cemetery of the First World renovated in 2007 (20 single and two mass graves) former settlement of Dara War In 2007, 22 wooden crosses for graves and a central wooden cross war cemetery by the First World Ruské were set in the ground. Two mass graves (14 single graves and 20 former Orthodox church War mass graves)

the old cemetery of the First World (17 mass graves) former settlement War Smolník Smolník Stream near First World another remembrance symbol – a stone Smolník village War A memorial to fallen soldiers in the First World War from the period itself has been preserved in the flooded village of Starina. Currently First World The Starina Reservoir the stone memorial is about seven metres underwater. Only once War since the flooding of the area has the water level dropped to such an extent (in 1997 during an extremely dry period) that the memorial Starina was exposed. Close to the reservoir embankment there is a memorial to Starina – under the Second World Czechoslovak pyrotechnicians which reads: “Here on 1 August 1945 embankment War the Moravian-Silesian engineers Senior Lieutenant Ján Pluhá ř and Sergeant Josef Kone čný were killed while removing mines.”

war cemetery by the ruins A stone rotunda with a central wooden cross. This monument was First World of the Greek Catholic repaired in 2008, and the central wooden cross was affixed (308 War church individual graves)

A war cemetery, known as the “Russian cemetery”, is situated at an altitude of 851 m above sea level, and is the most highly located war Ve ľká Po ľana war cemetery on Predný First World cemetery commemorating the First World War in Slovakia. There Hodošík peak War are 395 individual graves arranged in a circular fashion in five rows and four sections. In the middle there is a central cross.

municipal cemetery First World There is a stone memorial which was repaired and had a central War wooden cross affixed on it in 2008.

war cemetery in the former First World The cemetery is located to the north of the chapel built on the site of Zvala settlement of Zvala War the Greek Catholic church. It contains 37 grave crosses (48 mass graves)

on the municipal council Second World a memorial plaque commemorating the liberation of the village building War on the municipal council Second World a memorial plaque commemorating a fallen soldier building War Kolbasov on the municipal council Second World a memorial plaque commemorating the victims of the Holocaust building War war cemetery First World 33 individual graves War Nová Sedlica Nová Sedlica – No. 24 Second World a memorial plaque War war cemetery First World (81 individual graves, a central wooden cross) War Príslop on the municipal council Second World a memorial plaque dedicated to the liberation of the village and a building War local soldier who died in battle Runina Čičovaty war cemetery First World (60 individual and seven mass graves) War near the village First World memorial War

55 on the municipal council Second World memorial plaque building War

Ruský Potok war cemetery in the village First World (27 individual and three mass graves) War war cemetery in the village First World (119 individual and 34 mass graves) cemetery War Topo ľa on the municipal council Second World a memorial plaque dedicated to the liberation of the village building War

Uli č war cemetery First World 71 soldiers who fell in the First World War are buried there (62 War individual and three mass graves) Uli čské Krivé war cemetery, Jewish First World (two individual graves) cemetery War war cemetery – part of the First World 203 soldiers are buried there: 187 are Russians, with the others being village cemetery War of unknown origin (115 individual and 27 mass graves) Zboj on the municipal council First World a memorial plaque dedicated to the liberation of the village building War

The NP buffer zone also contains the Beskydský Panteon symbolic cemetery, which commemorates those people who were born in the area, lived there, stayed there or travelled through, leaving their mark, and contains important testimonies.

56 2.3 Proposed principles and measures for using the national park and the surrounding area in terms of conservation objectives

The following principles are based on specified conservation objects and analyses of economic activities in the Poloniny NP.

Agriculture • manage the soil fund in a differentiated manner depending on which method is most suitable for the given natural conditions and which will also ensure active environmental protection

• ensure the regular assessment of permanent grass stands to the appropriate degree and intervals so as to prevent self-afforestation, which could otherwise lead to the demise of whole communities

• use a light managing mechanism for permanent grass stands in order to prevent an excessive disruption to plant cover

• undertake measures to remove and prevent synantropization and the emergence of ruderal species, and to effectively renew already modified communities

• conserve the scattered green spaces in the agricultural landscape and create conditions for their renewal, particularly near roads and agricultural production complexes

• preclude the use of chemical substances on meadows and pastureland as well as the fertilization of industrial fertilizers and the application of silage juices and other liquid waste

• the grazing period, size of herds and grazing methods must be governed by the sustainability of the forest stands, which is to be calculated in advance and which cannot be exceeded

• use technology in animal production which does not have a negative impact on the landscape, particularly in terms of water pollution

Forestry • manage the forestry soil fund in a differential manner so as to grow healthy and stable forest stands with an original woody composition and multi-layered structure in the interests of fulfilling all required functions

• conserve to the utmost measure the integral parts of original (natural) forest stands

• give significant preference to selection and small-scale shelterwood resource management methods with the use of natural regeneration

• it is essential to gradually change extraction and transport technology so that there is a reduction in the threat of erosion in the area

• given the significant extent of young forest stands, have the weight of forestry economic activities focus on silviculture. Forestry tending measures will be undertaken in a timely manner and in accordance with the functional focus and needs of the stands

• tending measures must be focused on achieving stable and durable forest stands and supporting biodiversity

57 • not remove the preparatory (pioneer) woody plants all at once. The share of such plants is to be reduced in those places where there is a significant occurrence of basic woody plants of the original tree-species composition

• artificial afforestation will be implemented in exceptional situations and will only make use of original and genetically appropriate seedlings of high quality

• ensure the monitoring of the state of forest ecosystems and research into natural processes

Use of water • halt all activity which changes the state of watercourse basins (modifications, filling, draining and extraction) • preclude any activity interfering with plant life in streamside stands

• preclude any activity interfering with the geological substrate, landforms and terrain

• maintain the management methods in the sanitary protection zone

• gradually resolve issues relating to water resource management in the area, ensure adequate drinking water for the local population and the processing of wastewater

• not build any storage sites that would cause any pollution to the water, or any dumping sites or animal production complexes • not introduce any non-native species of fish into the fishing grounds

Hunting

• make the management interests of hunting subordinate to conservation interests and the improvement of natural assets, and ensure provisions are made for the specific function of Poloniny NP in the practising of hunting rights

Spatial planning and tourism • make further developments in the park fully respect the local conditions of conservation

• re-evaluate the possibilities and potential of municipalities in terms of the natural conditions and conservation, and on the basis of this build a framework for their further development

• re-evaluate the current applicability of tourism and recreation interests and prepare a conceptual framework of developing the park for appropriate recreational purposes and linking this activity to surrounding areas

58 On the basis of the presented information, ten ecological functional spaces (EFSs) have been identified:

Table 10: Overview of ecological functional spaces in the Poloniny NP and its buffer zone EFS Name of EFS group Biotopes in the EFS Socio-economic use code Forest ecosystems with a non-interference EFS 1 Category V level of Ls 4, Ls 5.1, Ls 5.2 and Ls 5.3 mode protection active management Forest ecosystems aimed at achieving Ls 2.1, Ls 4, Ls 5.1, Ls 5.2 EFS 2 requiring temporary active the auto-regulation and Ls 5.3 management of affected forest ecosystems managed according Permanently managed Ls 2.1, Ls 4, Ls 5.1, Ls 5.2 EFS 3 to forest care forest ecosystems and Ls 5.3 programmes Bushes and groups of trees EFS 4 without specific use outside the forest The high elevation meadows above the upper regulatory EFS 5 Tr 1 boundary of the Poloniny interventions forest Meadows, pastureland and EFS 6 fields Lk 1, Lk 2, Lk 3 and Lk 4 mowing

regulatory Wetlands and standing Vo 1, Ra 6, Lk 4 EFS 7 interventions on the water moorland Flowing water with bank EFS 8 Br 2, Br 4, Br 6 without specific use vegetation Built-up areas in municipalities Urban and suburban usage according to EFS 9 and other settlements, gardens, biotopes land type orchards and parks Caves and underground EFS 10 without specific use biotopes

59 3. Care objectives and achievement measures

3.1. The establishment of long-term care objectives linked to functional ecological spaces and zones

The long-term (strategic) objectives in the Poloniny NP are as follows: - improve knowledge of biotopes and species of European and national significance (those species mentioned in sections 1.6.2 and 1.6.3), particularly those which are the subject of conservation measures in the Poloniny NP, and ascertain their state through monitoring - preserve and/or improve the current state of biotopes and species of European and national significance (those species mentioned in sections 1.6.2 and 1.6.3) which are the subject of conservation in the Poloniny NP - prevent urbanization and other forms of destruction to locations where there are biotopes of European significance and species of European and national significance - preserve the functions which the national park performs, primarily the potential for permanently sustainable use of forest biotopes, grass stands, wetlands and standing water, flowing water and bank vegetation, caves and underground biotopes, and appropriate forms of recreation and tourism through the thorough maintenance of objectives and measures in individual functional ecological spaces - involve land owners and land users, local populations and local authorities in the conservation of the national park and activities protecting natural assets while also bringing prosperity to the local population, including long-term sustainable tourism and the revival of traditional forms of economic activity.

The above-mentioned objectives apply to all classified EFSs and are further elaborated over a ten-year period with operational objectives.

3.2 The establishment of operational objectives related to ecological functional spaces

EFS 1 Forest ecosystems with a Category V level of protection Objective 1: undertake research and monitoring of biotopes and species of European and national significance which are the subject of conservation measures Objective 2: preserve and/or improve the current state of biotopes and species of European and national significance which are the subject of conservation measures EFS 2 Forest ecosystems requiring temporary active management Objective 1: make affected forest ecosystems ecologically stable and capable of self-regulation through temporary active management Objective 2: undertake research and monitoring of biotopes and species of European and national significance which are the subject of conservation measures Objective 3: preserve and/or improve the current state of biotopes and species of European and national significance which are the subject of conservation measures EFS 3 Permanently managed forest ecosystems Objective 1: undertake research and monitoring of biotopes and species of European and national significance which are the subject of conservation measures Objective 2: preserve and/or improve the current state of biotopes and species of European and national significance which are the subject of conservation measures

60 EFS 4 Bushes and groups of trees outside the forest Objective 1: undertake research and monitoring of species of European and national significance which are the subject of conservation measures and which are linked to a specific EFS EFS 5 The high elevation meadows above the upper boundary of the Poloniny forest Objective 1: undertake research and monitoring of biotopes and species of European and national significance which are the subject of conservation measures Objective 2: preserve and/or improve the current state of biotopes and species of European and national significance which are the subject of conservation measures EFS 6 Meadows, pastureland and fields Objective 1: undertake research and monitoring of biotopes and species of European and national significance which are the subject of conservation measures Objective 2: preserve and/or improve the current state of biotopes and species of European and national significance which are the subject of conservation measures EFS 7 Wetlands and standing water Objective 1: undertake research and monitoring of biotopes and species of European and national significance which are the subject of conservation measures Objective 2: preserve and/or improve the current state of biotopes and species of European and national significance which are the subject of conservation measures EFS 8 – Flowing water with bank vegetation Objective 1: undertake research and monitoring of biotopes and species of European and national significance which are the subject of conservation measures Objective 2: preserve and/or improve the current state of biotopes and species of European and national significance which are the subject of conservation measures EFS 9 – Urban and suburban biotopes Objective 1: undertake research and monitoring of biotopes and species of European and national significance which are the subject of conservation measures Objective 2: preserve and/or improve the current state of biotopes and species of European and national significance which are the subject of conservation measures EFS 10 – Caves and underground biotopes Objective 1: undertake research and monitoring of biotopes and species of European and national significance which are the subject of conservation measures Objective 2: preserve and/or improve the current state of biotopes and species of European and national significance which are the subject of conservation measures EFSs 1 to 10 – the common objective Increase the ecological awareness of the local population and visitors to the national park, improve co- operation with land owners in terms of preserving those items which are the subject of conservation measures

61 3.3. Framework planning and models of management for forest biotopes

Framework planning addresses methods of forest management to ensure that the objectives and roles of forests in a forested area are met. When elaborating the programme of caring for the national park, the area in question is the national park itself and its buffer zone. During the existence of the Poloniny NP, a general picture has formed of the role of forest ecosystems and, while not perfect, a conception has also been developed on how to care for these ecosystems. Forest biotopes are a significant part of the Poloniny NP’s natural environment, making up to 90% of the total area. Care programmes dealing with forests and their components and the Poloniny NP Care Programme are starting points for caring for the forest ecosystems. The fundamental philosophy behind these documents is the effort to ensure the natural development of forest biotopes, preserve biodiversity and the stability of forest ecosystems through conservation and remedial measures, and improve the overall state of the natural environment by caring for the forest. This basic strategy is an essential condition for the role and conservation of forest ecosystems in the Poloniny NP. From a functional perspective, it appears that the forests in the Poloniny NP are operating adequately in terms of fulfilling their production, ecological and environmental functions. In addition to mentioning positive developments, one cannot omit the alarming undesirable effects of unsuitable economic activity and cultivation methods when assessing the current state and structure of forest ecosystems in the Poloniny NP in relation to care programmes to date, including the development and state of forest management. One of the significant negative impacts which has had an adverse effect on forest ecosystems has been the intensity and general application of clear-cutting methods of forest management and the subsequent artificial establishment of forest stands. In addition to this, traditionally negative environmental factors (e.g. dry periods, sudden episodes of frost, and damaging abiotic and biotic factors) have accumulated alongside more modern phenomena such as acidic precipitation and the acidification of the environment. These negative factors directly or indirectly affect the development and condition of forest ecosystems, lead to the damaging of woody species and have a negative impact on soil processes. Red and roe deer in the forests in the foothills and mountains selectively graze on precious broad-leaved trees and fir trees, creating a forest composition of woody species in the initial stages of forest establishment where beech trees dominate. As a result of this phenomenon, attempts to establish mixed forests with an appropriate number of fir trees and precious broad-leaves trees have thus far been unsuccessful. Upon the basis of the concise evaluation of the state of the forest stands, we are introducing both a framework and detailed principles of care for the forest ecosystems with an emphasis on the role and significance of forest biotopes in the Poloniny NP and the specific conservation of significant plant and/or animal species.

62 General management principles

Principles of establishing and tending to forests When regenerating and establishing forest stands, the method of mixing the different woody plants is also determined – this all the more so when regeneration is undertaken artificially instead of natural regeneration. The particular method of mixing is listed in every management model according to the woody plant. To a significant degree, mixing over a wide area can only be recommended for beech trees. Other main tree species ought to be distributed in small islands, groups and clusters and occasionally even as individual plants. The highest quality specimens from natural regeneration and planting need to be intensely protected from animals. Brushcutting in regenerated areas should be done with caution. It is important to do this activity around planted areas in such a way so that the plants will not become overheated and so that the top soil does not become too dry. Other brushcutting activity focusing on grass and herbaceous plants can be undertaken where the planted area terminates or around individual tree specimens which have emerged as a result of natural regeneration. In winter the cover offered by grass and herbaceous plants offer a strong form of protection against freezing temperatures caused by the flow of the slope winds, particularly on long strips of land. If the regenerated area contains birch trees, willows, alders and aspens, their desirable effect against freezing temperatures and the drying up of the habitat is to be exploited, and they should only gradually and appropriately be removed by pruning so as to allow the other target woody plants to get enough light, with the best specimens being left until they reach maturity according to set objectives. Pruning should be done in principle in spring and at the start of summer at the latest, given the damage done to annual shoots by frost in the winter; aggressive pruning in the autumn only exposes young stems and annual shoots to frost and subsequently rot, and then spheroids form which require reconstruction. When undertaking this activity, it is advisable to use one’s own expert opinion to ensure there is enough open space created to ensure that other woody plants get adequate light and that the trees can still serve as a protective climatic environment for young plants. The intensity of pruning should be determined by the abundance of plants in each forest habitat. Through effective intervention and the conservation of young forest stands, the optional composition of woody plants and forest structure should be achieved with healthy specimens of the highest quality depending on habitat conditions. The main aim of tending to forest stands is to make them stable and durable, which also ought to involve tending operations and the conservation of planted areas of natural regeneration and young forest stands from animals. Forest tending operations have to support original and stabilizing woody plants, and particularly deep-rooted precious board-leaved trees and fir trees, which in the flysch areas of the Carpathian Mountains are most the capable of stopping erosion, landslides and the climatic phenomenon of very cold air gathering in the basins. Only trees which are undesirable for the development of quality target woody plants should be selected for clearing. The intensity of these clearing operations should be moderate, with such operations taking place more often in spring so that younger stands can go dormant for winter. Excessively thinned-out thickets can become affected by decay and become prone to deer antler rubbing, which significantly damages the boles of young trees. Due to the significant extent of forest stands in the first to third age classes, the main focus of cultivation activities in the upcoming decades will be on silviculture. Using applied methods, intensity and routines it is possible to more quickly and safely achieve the set objectives: i.e. improving production and achieving an effectively functioning structure. The results and practical experiences to date from tending to beech stands and mixed beech and fir stands has confirmed the harmonization between the principles and requirements (parameters) of tending methods for saplings and thinning methods, which can be harmonized with production and functional requirements without difficulty. The other listed principles and recommendations are primarily aimed at premature stands which are either entirely or mostly composed of beech, which is the most dominant tree species. Even though the regenerative felling of trees mostly took place in “old beech forests” on a one-off basis (through the principle of clear-cutting), a certain part of the regeneration phase of the natural forest

63 emerged in advance under shelterwood conditions. Thus in the clear-cut areas there are clusters and more coherent groups of beech trees (with a partial admixture of maple, ash and occasionally fir trees) from natural regeneration in the developmental phases of advance growth (0.5 to 1.5 metres tall) and thickets (over 1.5 metres tall). Due to damage caused by animals and the rapid growth of high and thick weeds, most clear-cut areas are laboriously regenerated or supplemented artificially. Preparatory tree species then spontaneously and on a large scale encroach upon uninvolved cultures. In this situation, preparatory tree species are a natural component as an expression of natural succession. Therefore, in the context of the Poloniny NP it is not possible to view these plants as being noxious or unwelcome. While a focused reduction in their number would be desirable so as to benefit the original climax tree species, their outright removal is not advised. In the national park the preparatory tree species typical for this habitat are a more suitable component among thickets and pole-stage stands than totally foreign tree species. Due to the notable growth and competitive potential of beech trees, there is an urgent need (while the trees are still in infancy) to apply tending operations which will lead towards a species composition and species mix through the diffuse division of tree species which are weaker in terms of growth potential (firs, maples, elms and similar). Principles must become an essential aspect of forest tending operations in a timely manner and more intensively. The emphasis on tending to trees even at the advance growth phase is an embodiment of the principle of acting in a timely manner. The necessary financial, operational and organizational conditions for this sort of work need to be created. Only through timely forest tending starting at the stage of advance growth can forest stands properly establish the highest possible degree of biodiversity in terms of the habitat and ecosystem. The fundamental method of tending operations to thickets should be that of cleansing, even though the state of thickets differ greatly in terms of woody plant composition, their area and spatial distribution, thickness and quality. A major factor which complicates forest regeneration and forest tending is the significant damage done to mixed (incidental) concomitant broad-leaved tree species (maples, ash trees and elms) and firs by animal bites. Another, albeit less complicating, factor is the heightened and sometimes concentrated presence of preparatory (pioneer) tree species such as willows, birches, aspens and hazel trees. In principle, this will mean intervening at the upper layer where a positive or negative selection will be made depending on the species composition. Positive selection should take preference. It is essential to dismiss any interventions to the lower layer where the aim is on merely reducing the number of plants without focusing these efforts on helping the individual remaining specimens of the minority desirable tree species (e.g. firs, elms, maples and similar). The most common cases will concern homogenous groups and “islands” of beech trees. As a rule, there is a negative selection at the upper layer with a partial reduction in the number of unstable individual plants which are growing between the crowns of distinctive co-dominant trees and which weaken the crowns’ stability and deform them. All individual specimens of incidental broad-leaved trees (maples, ash trees and elms) need to receive focused help through positive selection in the face of the pressure brought by beech trees and preparatory tree species in terms of competition for growing space. Fir trees often need help in this regard through the reduction of individual plants at the upper layer as well as the middle layer (i.e. already the lower layer). Height differentiation aids the development of biodiversity. Therefore, a dominant position within a thicket is not seen as such a negative sign as it is with stands which are specifically focused on production; from the upper layer of the beech thicket it is only necessary to remove those spreading growths which pose a threat to their surroundings who will have a suitable substitute among the shaded individual specimens of the upper or middle layer. It is recommended to leave dominant growths of beech trees with a suitable crown (a crown index of 1.5–2) in the thicket and avoid removing dominant specimens of incidental (minority) broad-leaved trees and firs (also larch trees). It is preferable to get rid of dominant and co-dominant specimens of woody plants which are foreign to the given habitat. Of the thinning methods available, it is recommended to thoroughly apply variants of thinning co-dominant trees upon the basis of positive selection, ideally so as to benefit the stable specimens of mixed (incidental) co-dominant and subdominant original tree species present in the community. When helping the emergence of quality co-dominant beeches (through the candidate and target trees method) it is essential to start in the small pole phase of growth (when the co-dominant trees have a

64 diameter of 7 cm) when applying intervention operations of such force that the natural stocking level after the intervention is between critical and optimal (i.e. 0.65–0.8). After using such a method on thickets which are entirely or mostly composed of beech trees, a significantly differentiated structure in terms of diameter and height will be achieved, as can be seen from the attached stand profile and photographs. Additionally, the beech pole-stage stands and mature stands, which in terms of age are relatively similar, also experience their own strongly differentiated secondary growth, which influences the whole growing area to an advanced age. One should avoid a highly noticeable reduction in the number of subdominant trees. However, through a negative selection method some very weak and unstable specimens can be removed. This systematic application of forest tending operations already at the small-pole phase of growth will ensure the emergence of stable forest stands with an optimal production in terms of value, a highly functioning ecological structure, a timely and rich fructification and a very good and rapid disposition for natural regeneration after shelterwood cutting. The application of less than 10% of available resources even at five-year intervals in beech stands in the second age class brings about a rapid and significant levelling of structure in terms of height, which at the end of the fourth age class leads to a single-layer structural development with a strong horizontal canopy and a significant decline in mixed woody plants. Every individually mixed (incidental) stable specimen of an original woody plant species of at least average quality must become the subject of focused assistance by being given more growing space; such a plant should have the status of being a candidate tree or a target tree. Even from the small-pole phase of growth, having a dominant position is welcome and such specimens should benefit from thinning operations. A change in status (conversion) to a selection forest (group form) will be considered for the more compact premature beech and fir stands which have better accessibility within the national park. In these areas, “selective thinning” ought to be applied as a tool of conversion which will be focused on a thorough increase in height differentiation of the stand structure and rapid local regeneration. The situation and method of tending to stands to date will be complicated in the near future by the exploited (regenerated) stands which have the character of a natural forest, where a number of parts (trees) of the lower and middle layer were left for the purposes of biodiversity. These stands (stand groups) will significantly differ by area. Groups will undergo the growth phases of advance growth, thickets and pole-stage stands at irregular intervals; they will significantly differ in terms of height and will have various degrees of disconnected (mostly two-layer) remnants of natural forest which have been left as a result of incomplete shelterwood cutting. Depending on growth maturity and structural characteristics, and within narrow area frameworks, there will be an alternation of forest tending measures dealing with advance growth and thickets (selective clearing). There will be no application of thinning at the sub-dominant level in premature stands of original tree species because this would lead to height levelling, which is against the very role of the national park. With a greater intensity and to a greater extent than has been the case to date, and, unfortunately than is common practice in Slovakia regarding beech trees, it is essential to undertake thinning operations to let light into narrow and moderately thick mature stands. In this way the differentiation in structure in terms of height and diameter will be preserved, and the accumulated capacity from exposure to light will be exploited for a long period by the most quality trees; a more regular and richer fructification will be achieved, and desirable conditions for germination and sprouting will be permanently maintained, which will make small-area shelterwood regeneration both flexible and effective in terms of time and space.

Forms of management and methods of regeneration

Given the mission, significance and roles of the Poloniny NP, it is absolutely essential to preserve the integral parts of the original (natural) beech forests while deliberately exploiting the diffuse remnants of natural groupings of beech trees which have been broken up by strip clearcutting. A key part of this important objective is selecting forest stands for selective management, the outlining of suitable and more ecological regeneration methods, their integration into the forest care programme regulations, and their appropriate rational and more thorough application in forest operations. For this to occur, it is assumed the required technical and economic conditions will be provided. Given the

65 difficult economic situation, it will be hard to apply the forms of management, regeneration methods and their variants which would be the most optimal for the given natural conditions and objectives of the Poloniny NP to entirely satisfy the desired level of biodiversity, functional requirements and highest conservation principles. This is why our proposed regeneration methods will vary depending on the degree of conservation and particularly on those areas which are difficult to get to by ordinary transport. There will be certain allowances and compromises made in terms of transport and extraction, and in terms of growing and production. Given the stated objectives, it would be effective and beneficial to delay the regenerative felling of some compact natural beech stands for further decades until better technical and economic conditions are created. In terms of capacity, this activity can be substituted by tending and intensively caring for stands which have been changed and which are unsuitable as tree species. Beech is the most typical woody plant in terms of shelterwood management and regeneration. This is why shelterwood cutting forms the basis of appropriate regeneration methods for beech trees, be that on its own and in various areas and times, or in combination with an “edge” clearing procedure which is also bound to an inner and usually prepared (two-phase) edge. The fundamental deviation from strip forms of regeneration in these cases does not stem merely from conservation demands and the better fulfilment of functions outside of production; it also stems from production requirements and the needs to rationalize the whole system of cultivation measures through biological rationalization. Therefore, small-area shelterwood management and individual or group selection needs to be preferably applied. In terms of conservation, out of all the national park’s focuses and concepts the methods most worth considering are those which are based on shelterwood regeneration because they preserve the required level of biodiversity. The properties (signs) of such methods are spatial differentiation in terms of area and height, variations in duration over entire longer periods of regeneration (more than 40 years), and confinement and irregularity in terms of differentiated periods of partial regeneration without an abruptly forming schematics in regeneration areas. Given the above facts and the considerably inconsistent presence of age classes, there is a need to preserve the original and natural beech and mixed-beech stands as well as the genetic value of the mixed population of woody plants by means of natural regeneration. There is an urgent need to rectify the need of quickly getting rid of natural forests as if they were old or “unproductive” – forests which have the utmost urgency to be extracted. There needs to be a fundamental change in criteria in the order of extraction. In our forestry operations, natural forests with the character of virgin forests have been seen from a one-sided economic and production point of view as ballast and even as an obstacle. This approach needs to be totally changed because under the new objectives these very forests are among the most valuable assets that currently exist in the Poloniny NP. The unquestionable value of the natural forests and the benefits they provide have even been internationally recognized. The fulfilment of the above mentioned objectives and the optimal use (transformation) of natural forests would allow for the application of the principles of selective management methods. For the selective form of management on a group level, it is possible to use some intact and more accessible natural forest stands through the diffuse extraction of very thick, weak and non-descript trees, which would gradually reduce the tree stock to around 350 m 3 per hectare; the extent of diameter variance would be narrowed, the share of trees in the middle and upper layers would increase, and there would be a more regular distribution of regeneration areas and a regular duration of regeneration. The need to speedily improve the presence of age classes requires the beginning of regeneration in beech and mixed beech stands which have been formed by focused management activity with the aid of small-area shelterwood procedures with a long overall regeneration period (more than 40 years). More accessible stands with a gradient below 30% will be subject to various forms of group shelterwood regeneration operations. Steeper terrain may require the alternating application of regeneration methods based on a combination of shelterwood and edge cutting methods for extended regeneration areas in the shape of a strip or a wedge and in the elimination of long straight edges. It is already necessary to create the conditions for successful shelterwood regeneration in the stands in the fourth age class through more intensive release thinning operations.

66

Regeneration methods for natural beech stands and their remnants

In order to achieve one of the objectives and seriously focus on the principle of achieving the most significant vertical differentiation in stand structures, it is advisable to subsequently preserve the bulk of trees remaining in the natural forest at the middle and lower layers. The often cited instruction of extracting at the lower level as well as at the upper one should not be applied that often in forest care programmes. Integral clusters and groups of trees and vital, relatively distinctive and stable individual specimens at the middle and lower levels should not be extracted along with trees at the upper level. In order to maintain them in the next stand generation in the best possible fashion, it is important to adjust the internal spatial workings so that there is adequate space between trees without there being too much felling. Integrated groups can be effectively modified so that they have a staged differentiated structure. Trees at the middle and lower levels which are standing alone will impede group shelterwood regeneration operations, but in the transition to selective thinning the whole cultivation system in these particular cases can be managed. This operation could be described as an incomplete shelterwood cut given the fact that in the regeneration area or working field there will remain premature trees from the parent stand capable of growth even after the completion of cutting operations. Some natural stands have a simplified structure due to their exceptional development. The upper layer is made up of a small number of enormous beech trees with significant spacing and the lower (or middle) layer is formed by pole-stage or weak mature stands of beech trees. Here it is only necessary to extract some processable thick beech trees and leave the pole-stage stand (or mature stand) for inclusion in a subsequent stand generation. The modification of methods in terms of area, time and capacity depends of the size and completeness of the renewed stand and the extent and shape of remaining trees from clear-cutting or shelterwood cutting (various wide strips and stand groups). As can be seen from understanding the structure and developmental dynamics of natural beech forests, the stocking and canopy in small determined areas varies depending on developmental stages and phases. The extent of variation in terms of capacity (stock) and canopy is on the whole less than 40% and in relative terms is the smallest of all natural ecosystems in habitats of average and above- average production. In these parts of the natural beech forest, which are at an advanced stage of growth and at the optimum stage, there is usually a full and overly thick canopy. As a result, in forests of the Fagetum pauper , Fagetum typicum and Abieto-Fagetum varieties there is an accumulation of raw litter which is an impediment to the emergence and survival of beech seedlings. A reduction in canopy cover by 15 to 20% allows for effective humification and creates optimal conditions for the first phases of regeneration, which will allow for the survival of beech self-seedings for a period of five to ten years. In situations where group shelterwood methods will be applied, or where one of the methods based on a combination of shelterwood and edge cutting with a wedge- shaped regeneration area (for instance, the Kautzov and Philipp-Kurzov regeneration methods) will be applied, this operation can take place either on parts of the working fields or concurrently in the area of the whole stand. This operation also fulfils the function of letting in light through delayed release thinning, meaning that for a certain period this exceptionally pliant tree species is stimulated by the increment of light on the thin quality co-dominant and sub-dominant trees. Surviving self-seedings do not reach full growth and they form a large and uniform reserve which can be flexibly grown in regeneration areas in accordance with the localization of cutting operations to improve light conditions and finalizing cutting operations. When this preparatory cut, which also fulfils the role of a seeding cut, takes place in the seeding year or one to three years in advance of an average or bountiful seeding year, it is usually not so difficult to achieve adequately dense and arbitrarily dispersed and situated advance growth. If this selective operation is not done on a diffuse scale over a wider area the chances of regeneration become weak and uncertain. The other phases of cutting (cuts to improve light and finalizing cuts) can be more flexible in terms of time with

67 regard to extraction capacity, the ecological requirements of mixed concomitant woody plants, the introduction of missing target tree species and technological constraints.

Proposed extraction and transport technologies

Ascertaining a single method of extraction and transport technology for an area as heterogeneous as the Poloniny NP is a very complex matter. In fact, it is really quite impossible because the variability of production roles and production technology factors (e.g. terrain, type of extraction and regeneration method) is vast. The harvesting of trunks at the stump is the dominant form of production and essentially will remain the main production method. In those places where natural regeneration is negatively affected by trunk harvesting, or where erosion caused by extraction and transport threatens the stability of the terrain, it is necessary to use the method of making a product mix at the stump itself. Here it is necessary to use medium-level extraction technology. The necessary concentration of work will be achieved through the alternation of regeneration areas in the manner of a chessboard on the left and right path of the cableway, making use of its entire track right down to the fall line. It is necessary to use methods of work which will allow for the easing of erosion impacts on the land caused by extraction and transport. Heavy technology can be used in a more delicate manner if the appropriate instruments (pulleys and various treads) are used. The national park is a precious place which requires the use of combined technologies focusing on wood. Under no circumstances should tractors enter stands outside of the set trails. The removal of wood is the most sensitive phase. Here stationary or self-propelled winches could be used. However, most of all raw power needs to be employed. Managing the forests in the national park is also determined by the social situation of the local population. The region has strongly embedded and developed forestry traditions and methods of work as well as a strong relationship between local people and the forest, and these facts need to be taken into account. Increasing the level of care for the Poloniny NP forests through the tending of young forest stands will bring an increase in employment opportunities over a longer period of time, which in itself can improve the relationship between the local population and the Poloniny NP.

68 3.4. The proposed measures, the setting of a timetable for their fulfilment, the determination of entities responsible for their fulfilment, and the setting of measurable fulfilment indicators

The measures are elaborated in a table which forms a separate attachment (file: Measures.xlsx).

69 4. The means of evaluating the fulfilment of the forest care programme The evaluation of the Poloniny NP forest care programme and the effectiveness of the performed measures will be undertaken by the State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic – Poloniny National Park Administration. The measures will be organized into individual years and will be evaluated in accordance with the State Nature Conservancy’s main task plan. Additionally, an overview of planned and real financial expenditure will be maintained. The indicators of effectiveness in programme fulfilment can be followed in Section 3.4 on objectives and measures.

70 5. Bibliography

Bitušík, P., Novikmec, M., Terek, J., 1998: Notes to the macrozoobenthos of the Zbojský potok brook and to the zooplankton of the reservoir situated on its course (Slovakia, Eastern Carpathians). In. Midriak, R., (ed.): Protection of the biodiversity in the catchment area of the Zbojský potok (Eastern Carpathians). research papers 11/1997/a, University of Technology in Zvolen.

Bryja, J.; Kment, P.; 2004: Ploštice (Heteroptera) Bukovských vrch ů (NP Poloniny). True bugs (Heteroptera) of the Bukovské Vrchy Hills (National Park Poloniny). Folia faunistica Slovaca , 9 (4): 31–36.

Danko, Š., 1995: Drobné cicavce chránenej krajinnej oblasti Východné Karpaty. [Petty Mammals of the Eastern Carpathians Protected Landscape Area.] Zbor. Východoslov. Múz. Prír. vedy, 35 (1994): 62–75. David, S., 1995: Inventariza ční výskum vážek ( Insecta: Odonata ) horního povodí Cirochy. [Inventorying Dragonfly ( Odonata ) Research of the Upper Basin of the Cirocha River] Natura Carpatica , 36: 85–92. Deván, P., 1992: K poznaniu podeniek ( Ephemeroptera ) Východných Karpát. [On Mayflies (Ephemeroptera ) of the Eastern Carpathians.] Ochrana prírody , 1: 235–243. Gregor, J., Divok, F., 1994: Obojživelníky a plazy (Amphibia a Reptilia) CHKO Východné Karpaty. Predbežné stru čné zhodnotenie – správa z výskumu. [Amphibians and Reptiles of the Eastern Carpathians Protected Landscape Area. A Preliminary Brief Assessment – Research Report.] Manuscript – Poloniny NP Administration, 4 p. Holuša, J., 2003 : Dosavadní výsledky faunistického pruskumu saran čí (Orthoptera: Caelifera) a kobylek (Orthoptera: Ensifera) na území Národního parku Poloniny. [Preliminary Results of the Faunistic Research of Caelifera and Ensifera in the Poloniny National Park.] Research report. 5 pp. Hondong, H., 2004: Walsstruktur und Spechtfauna in Urwäldern und Wirtschaftswäldern des Nationalsparks Poloniny, Ostkarpaten, Slowakische Republik. Universität Gottingen. 31 pp. (1 map and 23 tables) Hudec, I., Koš čo, J., Platko, J., 1994 : Badanie i charakteristyka populacji rakow w CHKO BR Východné Karpaty. Roczniki Bieszczadzkie, 3: 151–158. Jaszay, T., 1999: Chrobáky (Coleoptera) Národného parku Poloniny. [Beetles (Coleoptera) of the Poloniny National Park.] State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic in Banská Bystrica, Poloniny NP Administration in Snina. 234 pp. Koš čo, J., Balász, P., Lusk, S., 2004: Chránené druhy rýb NP Poloniny z hľadiska významu pre sústavu Natura 2000. [Protected Fish Species of the Poloniny NP in Terms of Their Significance for the Natura 2000 System.] In. Midriak, R. (ed.): Biosférické rezervácie na Slovensku V. Zborník referátov z 5. národnej konferencie konanej v Novej Sedlici. [Biosphere Reserve in Slovakia. 5th Proceedings from the 5th National Conference Held in Nová Sedlica.] 29.-30.9.2004. Faculty of Ecology and Environmental Science, Banská Štiavnica. 143–147. Koš čo, J., Košúth, P., 1996: Uwagi o stane ichtiofauny zbiornika wodnego Starina. Roczniki Bieszczadzkie : 147–153. Krištín, A., Mihál, I., 2000: Rovnokrídlovce (Orthoptera) a modlivky (Mantodea) vybraných localities v Národnom parku Poloniny. (Orthoptera and Mantodea of Selected Localities in the Poloniny National Park). Entomofauna carpathica , 12: 37-40.

71 Literák, I., P čola, Š., 1997: Spolo čenstva ptáku v pohnízdni dob ě v obcích vysídlených p ři budovaní vodárenske nádrže Starina (okr. Snina). [Bird Communities in the Post-Breeding Perion in Municipalities Displaced at the Time of the Construction of the Starina Water Reservoir in the Snina district.] Natura Carpatica XXXVIII: 157–164. Ložek, V., 1961/62: Malakozoologický výskum slovenských Východných Karpát. [Malacozoological Research of the Slovak Eastern Carpathians.] Sborník Východoslovenského múzea (Košice), II-III A: 167–190. Ložek, V., Guli čka, J., 1962 : Gastropoda, Diplopoda, Chilopoda slovenskej časti Východných Karpát. [Gastropoda, Diplopoda and Chilopoda of the Slovak part of the Eastern Carpathians.] Acta Fac. Rer. natur. Comenius University in Bratislava, 7 (1-2): 61–93. Mašan, P., Svato ň, J. (eds.): Pavúkovce Národného parku Poloniny . [Arachnids of the Poloniny National Park.] State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic in Banská Bystrica, Poloniny NP Administration, Snina, 241 pp. Novikmec, M., 1998: Spolo čenstvá podeniek ( Ephemeroptera ) a pošvatiek ( Plecoptera ) Zbojského potoka, NP Poloniny. [Mayfly and Stonefly Communities of the Zboj Brook in the Poloniny NP.] Acta facultatis ecologiae , 5: 119–125. Panigaj, Ľ., 2000: Motýle Národného parku Poloniny. [Butterflies of the Poloniny National Park. State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic in Banská Bystrica, Poloniny NP Administration in Snina, 111 pp. Pčola, Š., 200 2: Zoznam a ekologický status stavovcov Národného parku Poloniny. [The List and Ecological Status of Vertebrates in the Poloniny National Park.] Natura carpatica XLIII: 173–194. Pčola, Š., 2002: Sú časný stav populácie medve ďa v slovenských Východných Karpatoch. [The Current State of the Bear Population in the Slovak Eastern Carpathians.] In: Rigg, R., Baleková, K., (eds.): Zborník referátov z odbornej konferencie “Komplexné riešenie problému synantropných medve ďov (Ursus arctos).” [Proceedings from the Conference “Complex Solution to the Problem of Brown Bears (Ursus arctos).” Nová Sedlica, Slovakia, 11–12.4.2002: 127–130. Pčola, Š., 2005 : Ve ľké šelmy v severovýchodnej časti Slovenska (Príspevok k sú časnému stavu poznania populácie). [Great Beasts of Prey in the North-East of Slovakia: Current State of the Population.] Telekia, Spravodaj CHKO Vihorlat, Michalovce, 3: 44–49. Pčola, Š., 2012: Vtáctvo okresu Snina. [Birds of the Snina District.] SOS/BirdLife Slovensko, Bratislava, 216 str. Pčola, Š., Vlasáková, M. 2010: Výskyt bobra vodného (Castor fiber) v okrese Snina. [The Presence of the Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber) in the Snina District.] Natura carpatica , LI 11-22, 2 s. Pčola, Š., P čola Š. jun. Adamec M., 2006: Reštitúcia zubra hrivnatého (B ison bonasus ) v Národnom parku Poloniny [Restoration of the European Bison ( Bison bonasus ) in the Poloniny National Park.]: 45–53. In: Midriak, R., Zaušková, Ľ. Biosférické rezervácie na Slovensku VI. Zborník referátov. Zborník referátov zo 6. národnej konferencie o biosférických rezerváciach Slovenska [Biosphere Reserves in Slovakia, 6th Proccedings from the 6th National Conference on Biosphere Reserves in Slovakia.] (Nová Sedlica 5.–6.9. 2006), 130 pp. Rohá ček, J., Starý, J., Martinovský, J., Vála, M., (eds.), 1995: Diptera Bukovských vrchov (Diptera of the Bukovské hills). SA ŹP-Správa CHKO a BR V. karpaty, Humenné, 231 pp. Šteffek, J., Vavrová, Ľ., 2004: Porovnanie malakocenóz vybraných mokradí CHKO a BR Východné Karpaty. [Comparison of Malacocenoses in the Selected Wetlands of the Eastern Carpathians Protected Landscape Area and Biosphere Reserve.] In. Midriak, R. (ed.): Biosférické rezervácie na

72 Slovensku V. Zborník referátov z 5. národnej konferencie konanej v Novej Sedlici. 29.-30.9.2004. Faculty of Ecology and Environmental Science at UT Zvolen, Banská Štiavnica. 107–114. Zukal, J., Řehák, Z., Pokorný, M., Danko, Š., P čola, Š., 1998: Detekce netopýru na území NP Poloniny a v blízkem okolí v letech 1997 a 1998. [Detection of Bats in the Poloniny NP and the Surroundings in 1997 and 1998.] Research report. Manuscript of the Poloniny NP Administration, 4 s.

BURA Ľ, M., TERRAY, J., PLATKO, J., 1994: Biologická diverzita travinných porastov Východných Karpát. [Biological Diversity of Grasslands in the Eastern Carpathians.] SAŽP, Správa CHKO a BR Východné Karpaty. Mscr. HALADA, Ľ., RUŽI ČKOVÁ, H., DAVID, S., 2004: Lúky Národného parku Poloniny – sú časnos ť a budúcnos ť. [Meadows of the Poloniny National Park – Present and Future.] In Midriak, R. (ed.): Biosférické rezervácie na Slovensku V. Zborník referátov z 5. národnej konferencie o BR Slovenska, konanej v Novej Sedlici 29.-30.9.2004. Zvolen, 2004, 41– 47. Databases of the Monuments Board of the Slovak Republic. Available at: http://www.pamiatky.sk/sk/page/register-nkp-tabulkove-zoznamy Central Register of War Graves. Available at: http://www.vs.sk/uevh/hrob_browse.aspx

73 6. Minimal Annexes 6.1. Map: Object of conservation of the Poloniny NP 6.2. Map: Form of ownership (tenure) of forests in the Poloniny NP 6.3. Map: Using the Land in the Poloniny NP 6.4. Map: Ecological–functional spaces in the Poloniny NP 6.5. Map of zones – since there are no zones in the NP, the map is not included 6.6.1 Map: Growth phases of forests in the Poloniny NP 6.6.2 Map: Types of forests in the Poloniny NP 6.6.3 Map: Central management in forests in the Poloniny NP 6.6.4 Map: Areas in the Poloniny NP eligible for support from the Rural Development Programme 2014–2020 6.7.1 Map: Poloniny NP – Hiking trails 6.7.2 Map: Poloniny NP – Cycling trails 6.8. Other documentation related to the state and necessary measures (for example, situational drawings, photodocumentation, charts, tables) proposed according to a particular situation, size of territory and complexity of the issue 6.8.1. Principles of the conservation of the Poloniny NP forests – individual management options

74 Number of Expected Output/measureable Task carried out Expected source of operational Description of operational goal/measure implementation EFS * fulfilment indicator by/responsibility funding goal/measure deadline Plant life – P P.1. Operational objective: maintenance or improvement in the condition of protected and endangered plant species Measureable fulfilment indicator: the state of the plant population and the presence of characteristic types of meadow biotopes EFS 1 owner, administrator, EFS 2 number of sites with user own sources - budget of the Managed care of sites containing East Carpathian plant EFS 3 P.1.1. managed care and the once every two years State Nature Conservancy species EFS 5 condition of biotopes Poloniny NP of the Slovak Republic EFS 6 administration EFS 7 EFS 1 EFS 2 number of sites with own sources - budget of the Managed care of sites containing rare and endangered plant owner, administrator, EFS 3 P.1.2. managed care and the once or twice a year State Nature Conservancy species user EFS 5 condition of biotopes of the Slovak Republic EFS 6 EFS 7 own sources - budget of the Elimination of the expansion of non-native species, removal owner, administrator, P.1.3. condition of biotopes once or twice a year State Nature Conservancy EFS 6 and prevention of the spread of invasive plant species user of the Slovak Republic area of managed care own sources - budget of the owner, administrator, P.1.4. Managed care of Poloniny meadows once every two years State Nature Conservancy EFS 5 user condition of biotopes of the Slovak Republic

area of managed care own sources - budget of the Managed care of moor and upland moor communities (sites: owner, administrator, P.1.5. every year State Nature Conservancy EFS 7 Stinská slatina and Bahno Nature Reserves) user condition of biotopes of the Slovak Republic

agri-environmental area of managed care payments in the Rural Managed care of non-forest communities rich in biodiversity Development Programme (sites: Pod Ruským National Nature Reserve, Ruské Nature owner, administrator, EFS 6 P.1.6. every year Reserve, Gazdorá ň Nature Reserve and Bzaná Nature user EFS 7 own sources - budget of the Reserve) condition of biotopes State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic

Institute of own sources - budget of the EFS 5 Monitoring of the condition of meadow communities in once every three P.1.7. number of PMAs Landscape Ecology, State Nature Conservancy EFS 6 established permanent monitoring areas in the Poloniny NP years Nitra of the Slovak Republic EFS 7 Number of Expected Output/measureable Task carried out Expected source of operational Description of operational goal/measure implementation EFS * fulfilment indicator by/responsibility funding goal/measure deadline Animal life – A Operational objective: ensure the research and monitoring of species of invertebrates, birds and mammals of European and national significance which are the A.1. subject of conservation measures in forest ecosystems Measureable indicator of fulfilment: the presence of species and their good condition State Nature Conservancy of the material for assessing own sources - budget of the Research and monitoring of the Transylvanian bush-cricket Slovak Republic; EFS 1 a favourable condition State Nature Conservancy A.1.1. (Pholidoptera transsylvanica) and Stys's bush-cricket 2015 to 2025 scientific institutions EFS 2 – good, favourable or of the Slovak Republic; (Isophya stysi) and universities EFS 3 unfavourable other sources focusing on the natural sciences State Nature material for assessing own sources - budget of the Research and monitoring of the Carabus variolosus beetle, scientific institutions EFS 1 a favourable condition - State Nature Conservancy A.1.2. Carabus zawadszkii beetle and Rosalia longicorn (Rosalia 2015 to 2025 and universities EFS 2 good, favourable or of the Slovak Republic; alpina) focusing on the EFS 3 unfavourable other sources natural sciences State Nature material for assessing Conservancy of the own sources - budget of the EFS 1 Quantitative research of birds in the Stužica, Havešová and a favourable condition - A.1.3. 2015 to 2025 Slovak Republic - State Nature Conservancy EFS 2 Grúnik National Nature Reserves good, favourable or Poloniny NP of the Slovak Republic EFS 3 unfavourable administration

a reduction in bird EFS 1 The supplementary installation of critical sections of A.1.4. mortality on power 2015 to 2025 VSE, a.s. VSE budget to 6 overhead power-line barriers lines Monitoring and ensuring adherence to Ministry of improve the current State Nature own sources - budget of the EFS 1 A.1.5. Environment regulation No.25/2008, which declares the wellbeing of bird 2015 to 2025 Conservancy of the State Nature Conservancy to 6 Bukovec Mountains (Bukovské vrchy) a protected bird species Slovak Republic - of the Slovak Republic; State Nature own sources - budget of the Conservancy of the EFS 1 Monitoring the population development of birds of prey and ascertaining numerous State Nature Conservancy A.1.6. 2015 to 2025 Slovak Republic - EFS 2 recording the presence of specific nesting sites stocks of the Slovak Republic; Poloniny NP EFS 3 other sources administration State Nature own sources - budget of the Conservancy of the EFS 1 number of fledged State Nature Conservancy A.1.7. Ensuring the guarding of golden eagles' nests 2015 to 2025 Slovak Republic- EFS 2 juveniles of the Slovak Republic; Poloniny NP EFS 3 other sources administration Number of Expected Output/measureable Task carried out Expected source of operational Description of operational goal/measure implementation EFS * fulfilment indicator by/responsibility funding goal/measure deadline State Nature EFS 1 own sources - budget of the Preserving and/or improving the current state of the grey Conservancy of the EFS 2 ascertaining numerous State Nature Conservancy A.1.8. wolf (Canis lupus) , wildcat (Felis sylvestris), Eurasian lynx 2015 to 2025 Slovak Republic - EFS 3 stocks of the Slovak Republic; (Lynx lynx) and brown bear (Ursus arctos) Poloniny NP EFS 5 other sources administration EFS 6 State Nature EFS 1 own sources - budget of the Conservancy of the EFS 2 ascertaining numerous State Nature Conservancy A.1.9. Undertaking area-wide monitoring of large beasts of prey 2015 to 2025 Slovak Republic - EFS 3 stocks of the Slovak Republic; Poloniny NP EFS 5 other sources administration EFS 6 State Nature EFS 1 own sources - budget of the increasing numbers of Conservancy of the EFS 2 Preserving and/or improving the current state of the State Nature Conservancy A.1.10. individual animals in 2015 to 2025 Slovak Republic - EFS 3 European bison (Bison bonasus) of the Slovak Republic; herds Poloniny NP EFS 5 other sources administration EFS 6 State Nature EFS 1 own sources - budget of the Conservancy of the EFS 2 State Nature Conservancy A.1.11. Veterinary care for bison a good state of health 2015 to 2025 Slovak Republic - EFS 3 of the Slovak Republic; Poloniny NP EFS 5 other sources administration EFS 6 State Nature EFS 1 own sources - budget of the Conservancy of the EFS 2 State Nature Conservancy A.1.12. Supplementary feeding of bison in winter a good state of health 2015 to 2025 Slovak Republic - EFS 3 of the Slovak Republic; Poloniny NP EFS 5 other sources administration EFS 6 State Nature EFS 1 own sources - budget of the Conservancy of the EFS 2 knowledge of spatial State Nature Conservancy A.1.13. Telemetric monitoring of bison 2015 to 2025 Slovak Republic - EFS 3 distribution of the Slovak Republic; Poloniny NP EFS 5 other sources administration EFS 6 State Nature own sources - budget of the Establishing permanent bird-monitoring areas in the Conservancy of the EFS 1 established and marked State Nature Conservancy A.1.14. Havešová, Jarabá skala and Stužica National Nature 2015 to 2025 Slovak Republic - EFS 2 PMAs of the Slovak Republic; Reserves Poloniny NP EFS 3 other sources administration Operational objective: ensure research and monitoring of reptile and bird species of European and national significance which are the subject of conservation A.2. measures in shrubs and groups of trees outside forests Measureable indicator of fulfilment: the presence of species and their favourable condition Number of Expected Output/measureable Task carried out Expected source of operational Description of operational goal/measure implementation EFS * fulfilment indicator by/responsibility funding goal/measure deadline State Nature Conservancy of the material for assessing own sources - budget of the Slovak Republic EFS 4 Research and monitoring of the Aesculapian snake (Elaphe a favourable condition - State Nature Conservancy A.2.1. 2015 to 2025 scientific institutions EFS 5 longissima) and sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) good, favourable or of the Slovak Republic; and universities EFS 6 unfavourable other sources focusing on the natural sciences

State Nature material for assessing own sources - budget of the Conservancy of the Quantitative research into birds at two sites (Nová Sedlica a favourable condition - State Nature Conservancy A.2.2. 2015 to 2025 Slovak Republic - EFS 4 and Ruské) good, favourable or of the Slovak Republic; Poloniny NP unfavourable other sources administration

State Nature Conservancy of the own sources - budget of the favourable condition of A.2.3. Monitoring mulching in the nesting period 2015 to 2025 Slovak Republic - State Nature Conservancy EFS 4 biotopes Poloniny NP of the Slovak Republic administration State Nature own sources - budget of the Conservancy of the an established and State Nature Conservancy A.2.4. Establishing a permanent bird monitoring area in Zboj 2015 to 2025 Slovak Republic - EFS 4 marked PMA of the Slovak Republic; Poloniny NP other sources administration Operational objective: ensure research and monitoring of invertebrates, reptiles, birds and mammals of European and national significance which are the subject of A.3. conservation measures in meadows, pastureland and fields Measureable indicator of fulfilment: the presence of species and their favourable condition State Nature Conservancy of the Research and monitoring of the Large Blue butterfly material for assessing own sources - budget of the Slovak Republic (Maculinea arion), Scarce Large Blue butterfly (Maculinea a favourable condition - State Nature Conservancy EFS 5 A.3.1. 2015 to 2025 scientific institutions teleius) and Clouded Apollo butterfly (Parnassius good, favourable or of the Slovak Republic; EFS 6 and universities mnemosyne) unfavourable other sources focusing on the natural sciences State Nature Conservancy of the material for assessing own sources - budget of the Slovak Republic a favourable condition - State Nature Conservancy EFS 5 Number of Expected Output/measureable Task carried out Expected source of operational Description of operational goal/measure implementation EFS * fulfilment indicator by/responsibility funding goal/measure deadline a favourable condition - State Nature Conservancy EFS 5 A.3.2. Research and monitoring of bumblebees (Bombus) 2015 to 2025 scientific institutions good, favourable or of the Slovak Republic; EFS 6 and universities unfavourable other sources focusing on the natural sciences State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic - material for assessing own sources - budget of the Poloniny NP Quantitative research into birds at Nová Sedlica, Zvala and a favourable condition - State Nature Conservancy EFS 5 A.3.3. 2015 to 2025 administration; Ruské good, favourable or of the Slovak Republic; EFS 6 scientific institutions unfavourable other sources and universities focusing on the natural sciences State Nature own sources - budget of the Conservancy of the Preserve the original meadow biotopes with a limitation of State Nature Conservancy EFS 5 A.3.4. a favourable condition 2015 to 2025 Slovak Republic - chemicals of the Slovak Republic; EFS 6 Poloniny NP other sources administration Number of Expected Output/measureable Task carried out Expected source of operational Description of operational goal/measure implementation EFS * fulfilment indicator by/responsibility funding goal/measure deadline Operational objective: ensure research and monitoring of invertebrates, amphibians and birds of European and national significance which are the subject of A.4. conservation measures in wetlands and stagnant waters Measureable indicator of fulfilment: the presence of species and their favourable condition State Nature Research and monitoring of the European fire-bellied toad Conservancy of the (Bombina bombina), yellow-bellied toad (Bombina material for assessing own sources - budget of the Slovak Republic variegata), European green toad (Bufo viridis), European a favourable condition - State Nature Conservancy EFS 7 A.4.1. 2015 to 2025 scientific institutions tree frog (Hyla arborea), moor frog (Rana arvalis), agile good, favourable or of the Slovak Republic; EFS 8 and universities frog (Rana dalmatina), northern crested newt (Triturus unfavourable other sources focusing on the cristatus) and Carpathian newt (Triturus montandoni) natural sciences Research and monitoring of the Aeschna coerulea dragonfly, State Nature emperor dragonfly (Anax imperator), spearhead bluet material for assessing Conservancy of the own sources - budget of the (Coenagrion hastulatum), sombre goldenring (Cordulegaster a favourable condition - scientific institutions State Nature Conservancy EFS 7 A.4.2. 2015 to 2025 bidentata), small pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus), good, favourable or and universities of the Slovak Republic; EFS 8 keeled skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens), dragonflies of the unfavourable focusing on the other sources Somatochlora genus, the common winter damselfly natural sciences

State Nature material for assessing own sources - budget of the Conservancy of the Research and monitoring of bird species at the Starina a favourable condition - State Nature Conservancy A.4.3. 2015 to 2025 Slovak Republic - EFS 7 Reservoir good, favourable or of the Slovak Republic; Poloniny NP unfavourable other sources administration

State Nature own sources - budget of the Conservancy of the Monitoring and preservation of the size and quality of sites in a good and State Nature Conservancy A.4.4. 2015 to 2025 Slovak Republic - EFS 7 reproduction sites functional condition of the Slovak Republic; Poloniny NP other sources administration State Nature own sources - budget of the Conservancy of the Creating three new reproduction sites for amphibians and better living State Nature Conservancy A.4.5. 2015 to 2025 Slovak Republic - water-dependent invertebrates opportunities of the Slovak Republic; Poloniny NP other sources administration Operational objective: ensure research and monitoring of invertebrates, reptiles, birds and mammals of European and national significance which are the subject of A.5. conservation measures in flowing waters with bank vegetation Measureable indicator of fulfilment: the presence of species and their favourable condition Number of Expected Output/measureable Task carried out Expected source of operational Description of operational goal/measure implementation EFS * fulfilment indicator by/responsibility funding goal/measure deadline

State Nature material for assessing own sources - budget of the Conservancy of the a favourable condition - State Nature Conservancy EFS 7 A.5.1. Monitoring of the European otter (Lutra lutra) 2015 to 2025 Slovak Republic - good, favourable or of the Slovak Republic; EFS 8 Poloniny NP unfavourable other sources administration

State Nature material for assessing own sources - budget of the Conservancy of the a favourable condition - State Nature Conservancy EFS 7 A.5.2. Monitoring of the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) 2015 to 2025 Slovak Republic - good, favourable or of the Slovak Republic; EFS 8 Poloniny NP unfavourable other sources administration

State Nature Conservancy of the material for assessing own sources - budget of the Slovak Republic Research and monitoring of the Carpathian brook lamprey a favourable condition - State Nature Conservancy A.5.3. 2015 to 2025 scientific institutions EFS 8 (Eudontomyzon danfordi) good, favourable or of the Slovak Republic; and universities unfavourable other sources focusing on the natural sciences Number of Expected Output/measureable Task carried out Expected source of operational Description of operational goal/measure implementation EFS * fulfilment indicator by/responsibility funding goal/measure deadline State Nature Conservancy of the budget of the State Nature Establishing a permanent bird monitoring area in Uli čka pri an established and A.5.4. 2015 to 2025 Slovak Republic - Conservancy of the Slovak EFS 8 Kolbasove marked PMA Poloniny NP Republic administration State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic - own sources - budget of the Poloniny NP Establishing a permanent fish monitoring area on the Uli čka an established and State Nature Conservancy A.5.5. 2015 to 2025 administration; EFS 8 River by the state border marked PMA of the Slovak Republic; scientific institutions other sources and universities focusing on the natural sciences State Nature Conservancy of the budget of the State Nature Eliminating constructions which would have a detrimental a desirable state of A.5.6. permanent Slovak Republic - Conservancy of the Slovak EFS 8 regulation on water flows water flows Poloniny NP Republic administration Operational objective: ensure research and monitoring of mammals of European and national significance which are the subject of conservation measures in urban A.6. and suburban biotopes Measureable indicator of fulfilment: the presence of species and their favourable condition Research and monitoring of the barbastelle (Barbastella barbastellus), northern bat (Eptesicus nilssoni), serotine bat (Eptesicus serotinus), Bechstein's bat (Myotis bechsteini), State Nature lesser mouse-eared bat (Myotis blythii), Brandt's bat (Myotis Conservancy of the brandti), pond bat (Myotis dasycneme), Daubenton's bat Slovak Republic (Myotis daubentoni), Geoffroy's bat (Myotis emarginatus), material for assessing own sources - budget of the greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis), whiskered bat a favourable condition - State Nature Conservancy A.6.1. 2015 to 2025 EFS 9 (Myotis mystacinus), Natterer's bat (Myotis nattereri), lesser good, favourable or bat experts, Slovak of the Slovak Republic; noctule (Nyctalus leisleri), common noctule (Nyctalus unfavourable Bat Protection Society other sources noctula), common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), (SON); scientific brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus), grey long-eared bat institutions and (Plecotus austriacus), greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus universities focusing ferrumequinum), lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus on the natural hipposideros) and parti-coloured bat (Vespertilio murinus) sciences Operational objective: ensure research and monitoring of mammals of European and national significance which are the subject of conservation measures in caves A.7. and underground biotopes Number of Expected Output/measureable Task carried out Expected source of operational Description of operational goal/measure implementation EFS * fulfilment indicator by/responsibility funding goal/measure deadline Measureable indicator of fulfilment: the presence of species and their favourable condition Research and monitoring of the barbastelle (Barbastella barbastellus), northern bat (Eptesicus nilssoni), serotine bat (Eptesicus serotinus), Bechstein's bat (Myotis bechsteini), State Nature lesser mouse-eared bat (Myotis blythii), Brandt's bat (Myotis Conservancy of the brandti), pond bat (Myotis dasycneme), Daubenton's bat Slovak Republic (Myotis daubentoni), Geoffroy's bat (Myotis emarginatus), material for assessing budget of the State Nature EFS 1 greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis), whiskered bat a favourable condition - A.7.1. 2015 to 2025 Conservancy of the Slovak to 8, (Myotis mystacinus), Natterer's bat (Myotis nattereri), lesser good, favourable or bat experts, Slovak Republic EFS 10 noctule (Nyctalus leisleri), common noctule (Nyctalus unfavourable Bat Protection Society noctula), common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), (SON); scientific brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus), grey long-eared bat institutions and (Plecotus austriacus), greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus universities focusing ferrumequinum), lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus on the natural hipposideros) and parti-coloured bat (Vespertilio murinus) sciences Operational objective: increase the ecological awareness of the local population and visitors to the national park, improve co-operation with landowners regarding A.8. animal conservation Measureable indicator of fulfilment: ecological awareness and co-operation State Nature own sources - budget of the Conservancy of the Undertaking lectures and discussions; publish promotional State Nature Conservancy A.8.1. improved awareness 2015 to 2025 Slovak Republic - material on animal conservation of the Slovak Republic; Poloniny NP other sources administration State Nature own sources - budget of the Conservancy of the Developing the Poloniny National Park's Red List of State Nature Conservancy A.8.2. improved awareness 2016 Slovak Republic - Animals of the Slovak Republic; Poloniny NP other sources administration Forest management – F F.1. Operational objective: the maintenance or improvement of the state of forest ecosystems Measureable indicator of fulfilment: condition of biotopes; the presence of native, non-native and successional woody plants

in accordance with §61 of Increasing the core World Natural Heritage area by 405 an intervention-free local environmental the Slovak Law on the F.1.1. continuous EFS 1 hectares area of 2391 hectares office Protection of Nature and the Landscape Number of Expected Output/measureable Task carried out Expected source of operational Description of operational goal/measure implementation EFS * fulfilment indicator by/responsibility funding goal/measure deadline

Temporary active management of affected forest ecosystems Operational Programme - F.1.2. in order to bring them to a state where they are ecologically area: 2183 hectares continuous manager EFS 2 Quality of Environment stable and capable of self-regulation

an unregulated area of Operational Programme - EFS 3 F.1.3. A higher intensity of care for young forest ecosystems continuous manager 3810 hectares Quality of Environment EFS 4

Management over an area of 3087 hectares which is close an area of amended Operational Programme - F.1.4. continuous manager EFS 3 to the principles of nature management Quality of Environment

improvement of Improvement of the condition of beech forests in their native Operational Programme - F.1.5. conditions over an area continuous manager EFS 3 area Quality of Environment of 21,296 hectares

a reduction in the presence of Operational Programme - F.1.6. A reduction in the presence of pioneer woody plants successional woody continuous manager EFS 3 Quality of Environment plants over an area of 1838 hectares

the percentage of non- A reduction in the presence of non-native woody plants over Operational Programme - F.1.7. native woody plants in continuous manager EFS 3 an area of 1270 hectares Quality of Environment stand structures

an increase in the Operational Programme - F.1.8. A change in management framework guidelines regeneration and continuous manager EFS3 Quality of Environment cutting period the percentage of Supporting the presence of precious broad-leaved trees, firs Operational Programme - F.1.9. native woody plants in continuous manager EFS3 and oaks over an area of 164 hectares Quality of Environment stand structures Agriculture – Ag Ag.1. Operational objective: maintain or improve the condition of permanent grass stands Measureable indicator of fulfilment: the condition of biotopes and the presence of characteristic types of meadow biotopes Performing regular care operations in the Poloniny agri-environmental meadows (grass cutting and the subsequent removal of owner, administrator, Ag.1.1. condition of biotopes once a year payments in the Rural EFS 5 biomass, the removal of self-seeding vegetation through user Development Programme intermittent clearing) agri-environmental Regular cutting of grass in meadows and pasturelands and owner, administrator, Ag.1.2. condition of biotopes once or twice a year payments in the Rural EFS 6 the subsequent removal of biomass user Development Programme Number of Expected Output/measureable Task carried out Expected source of operational Description of operational goal/measure implementation EFS * fulfilment indicator by/responsibility funding goal/measure deadline agri-environmental Performing intermittent clearing in order to preserve the owner, administrator, Ag.1.3. condition of biotopes once or twice a year payments in the Rural EFS 6 structure of agriculturally used areas user Development Programme Giving preference to the cultivation of multi-year fodder on owner, administrator, Ag.1.4. condition of biotopes every year own sources EFS 6 arable land user

Dividing up larger blocks with biocorridor belts of trees and owner, administrator, Ag.1.5. shrubs in suitable places which are within the Local condition of biotopes every year own sources EFS 6 user Territorial System of Ecological Stability

agri-environmental owner, administrator, Ag.1.6. Maintaining extensive grazing condition of biotopes every year payments in the Rural EFS 6 user Development Programme owner, administrator, agri-environmental Ag.1.7. Removing self-seeding vegetation condition of biotopes every year EFS 6 user payments in the Rural Precluding the use of chemical substances and fertilizers owner, administrator, Ag.1.8. (pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, industrial fertilizers) condition of biotopes every year - EFS 6 user and silage juices Poloniny NP budget of the State Nature Ag.1.9. The liquidation of invasive plants condition of biotopes every year EFS 6 administration budgetConservancy of the Stateof the Nature Slovak Analysing the ownership status of land and developing a land ownership Poloniny NP Ag.1.10. every five years Conservancy of the Slovak EFS 6 plan to buy land documentation administration Republic Water management – W W.1. Operational objective: preserve the natural accumulation of water Measureable indicator of fulfilment: the condition of biotopes and the presence of characteristic types of biotopes No regulation of the banks by flowing water; they are to be W.1.1 condition of biotopes constant owner, administrator EFS 8 left in their natural state water flow W.1.2. The liquidation of invasive plants condition of biotopes every year own sources EFS 8 administrator W.1.3. Removal of waste condition of biotopes constant municipalities EFS 8 Territorial development – TD TD.1. Operational objective: create conditions for ecotourism development Measureable indicator of fulfilment: The elimination of negative impacts on species and biotopes

according to need budget of the State Nature Preparing and including nature and landscape protection when land use plans Poloniny NP TD.1.1. the number of positions Conservancy of the Slovak requirements into land-use plan documentation are formulated and administration Republic amended Number of Expected Output/measureable Task carried out Expected source of operational Description of operational goal/measure implementation EFS * fulfilment indicator by/responsibility funding goal/measure deadline Poloniny NP budget of the State Nature Updating the territorial system of ecological stability territorial system of TD.1.2. 2021 administration and Conservancy of the Slovak (current gene-fund areas, biocorridors and biocentres) ecological stability Slovak Environment Republic; other sources the local building number of removed TD.1.3. Removing objects illegally left in the territory 2021 authority and state other sources EFS 6 illegal objects authorities budget of the State Nature Mapping the significant landscape features (identification, Poloniny NP TD.1.4. number of sites continuous Conservancy of the Slovak mapping, monitoring and conservation) administration Republic; other sources budget of the State Nature Monitoring of the impact of urbanization on the natural Poloniny NP TD.1.5. condition of biotopes constant Conservancy of the Slovak environment administration Republic Hiking and tourism – HK Operational objective: develop focused tourism and improving the state of infrastructure in those parts of the national park accessible to tourists with the aim of HK.1. increasing the income of the local population Measureable indicator of fulfilment: the accessibility of selected parts of the Poloniny NP to visitors with the engagement of local authorities and land owners/users EFS 1 No expansion of the current network of hiking and cycling state of tourism HK.1.1. constant EFS 2 paths infrastructure EFS 3 No organizing of public events and no performance of EFS 1 HK.1.2. sporting activity with the exception of hiking tourism on constant EFS 2 marked paths EFS 3 Moderate development of the network of hiking and cycling budget of the State Nature EFS 1 state of tourism Poloniny NP HK.1.3. paths, making cultural monuments and historical places continuous Conservancy of the Slovak EFS 2 infrastructure administration publicly available Republic EFS 3 budget of the State Nature The reconstruction and repair of hiking and educational Club of Slovak state of tourism Conservancy of the Slovak HK.1.4. paths as well as educational sites, and the maintenance of every year Tourists, Poloniny infrastructure Republic, Club of Slovak information facilities (information panels) NP administration budgetTourists, of otherthe State sources Nature The reconstruction, maintenance and cleaning of camping state of tourism Poloniny NP HK.1.5. continuous Conservancy of the Slovak areas infrastructure administration Republic, other sources local municipalities, Creating and improving tourism services (accommodation, state of tourism the tourism business HK.1.6. food and beverage outlets, horse riding, rentals of skis, constant other sources infrastructure community, interest bicycles and so on) groups, Poloniny NP budget of the State Nature Enforcement activity to ascertain the extent of adherence to number of fines and Poloniny NP HK.1.7. constant Conservancy of the Slovak the Poloniny NP's visitor code infringements administration Republic Number of Expected Output/measureable Task carried out Expected source of operational Description of operational goal/measure implementation EFS * fulfilment indicator by/responsibility funding goal/measure deadline Monitoring of the impact of hiking and sport on the natural state of tourism Poloniny NP budget of the State Nature HK.1.8. constant environment infrastructure administration Conservancy of the Slovak Environmental education – EE EE.1. Operational objective: increase environmental awareness while conserving significant plant and animal species in the Poloniny NP Measureable indicator of fulfilment: promotional publication activity Increasing the level of knowledge of the significance of the lecturing, publishing budget of the State Nature national park and the subject of its conservation activities to activity, exhibitions, co- Poloniny NP EE.1.1. constant Conservancy of the Slovak target groups (pupils at primary and secondary schools, operation with the administration Republic, other sources land owners and land administrators, visitors and others) media Poloniny NP workshops, budget of the State Nature International co-operation, particularly within international administration, EE.1.2. symposiums and constant Conservancy of the Slovak biosphere reserve network international exhibitions Republic, other sources biosphere network providing information budget of the State Nature Operating the information centre in Nov á Sedlica to visitors, every year from 1 Poloniny NP EE.1.3. Conservancy of the Slovak (renovation work is needed) competitions for April to 31 October administration Republic, other sources children