LIFE programme - Country Factsheet

SLOVAKIA
Overview
Since the launch of the LIFE programme by the European Commission in 1992, a total of 24 projects have been financed in Slovenia. Of these, seven focus on environmental innovation, 16 on nature conservation and one on information and communication. These projects represent a total investment of 42 million, of which 21 million has been contributed by the European Union. Every year a call for project proposals is launched covering its three components: Nature and Biodiversity, Environment Policy and Governance, and Information and Communication.

This document provides an overview of LIFE in Slovakia. It showcases success stories and ongoing initiatives, indicates how to find further information on the projects and provides a list of current projects in Annex.

You will find more details on the LIFE projects in Slovakia in the annexed lists.

Last update: 31/05/13

European Commission, DG Environment LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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Environment Policy and Governance

To date, the LIFE Environment component (now called Environment Policy and Governance) has co-financed seven projects in Slovakia. These projects represent a total investment of 13 million, of which 3.5 million has been contributed by the European Union. Completed projects addressed air quality management and noise abatement, hazardous waste, and urban design. They were implemented by small and medium-sized enterprises and NGOs, and had a duration of 21 to 36 months. There are four ongoing projects under the LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance component. The objectives of these projects include: reducing greenhouse gas emissions through innovation in biomass processing and heat production; reducing the negative impact of geological conditions on the health of the population of the Slovak Republic; the establishment of environmentally sustainable hydrological conditions in Eastern Slovakia; and reducing the risk of contamination of a key drinking water source in the ecosystem of the Krsnohorsk Cave. The projects will be implemented by two NGOs and two research institutes and have a duration of between 36 and 64 months. The project presented in the box below is an example of a successful LIFE Environment project in Slovakia.

Sustainable Development of Cities and Mitigation of Impacts of Climate Change on Quality of Life and on Environment in Urban Areas (UrbEco Footprint) LIFE04/ENV/SK/000797
This project achieved all its goals and led to the adaptation of the European Common Indicators (ECI) methodology to conditions in Slovakia, as well as its verification in selected Slovakian cities. Other achievements included: the design and implementation of new and innovative ecological footprint calculations; the establishment of a network of sustainable cities; and awareness-raising on environmental and sustainable development (SD) issues, including the EU Sustainable Development Strategy, the Directive on Strategic Environmental Assessment and practical planning techniques for monitoring environmental impacts such as micro-climate function coefficients. The innovative set of urban SD indicators produced by the project integrated four core pillars of sustainability: environmental, social, economic and institutional, within an urban planning framework that proved to be both productive and popular across Slovakian cities. Participating cities were also keen to cooperate with each other, both during and after the LIFE project activities. The SD indicator set generated useful data on: traffic situations and citizen mobility; sustainable urban design and sustainable construction methods; environment quality, sustainable land use and biodiversity; city contributions to global climate change; and socio-economic conditions and the attractiveness of cities. A separate theme was also dedicated to evaluating the effectiveness of urban management processes. An additional indicator evaluating landscape impact was also incorporated within the LIFE funded activities. Application of the full ecological footprint methodology, which proved to be challenging, was verified by two Slovak cities (Pieany and Bratislavas Karlova Ves district), where efforts to mitigate climate change /global warming will help to improve quality of life, particularly via the increased amount of urban vegetation. These results are expected to multiply as the methodology becomes more widely used by the Ministry of the Environment (MoE) staff, in the context of the Slovak National Implementation Plan, and the EU Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment. The LIFE project has helped to build good working relations between the Slovakian public sector and environmental NGOs, which in itself represents an important achievement. These positive relations can be evidenced by the MoEs invitation to the LIFE beneficiary to become a member of one of its national working groups. This will help to sustain and strengthen the important and beneficial work that this LIFE Environment project has already delivered. For further information:

http://www.rec.sk

Last update: 31/05/13

European Commission, DG Environment LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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Nature and Biodiversity

To date, the LIFE Nature component (now called Nature and Biodiversity) has co-financed sixteen projects in Slovakia. These projects represent a total investment of 28 million, of which 17 million has been contributed by the European Union. Completed projects mainly addressed the conservation, management and restoration of habitats notably the Sr Fen Nature Reserve, the Danube floodplain forests, the Slovensk Raj National Park, and the Zhorie lowland and military training area. They also aimed at the conservation of bird species - notably the Imperial Eagle and the Great bustard. NGOs and national authorities were the typical project beneficiaries. The project durations ranged between 43 and 60 months. There are eight ongoing projects under the LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity component. These projects will aim at the conservation of habitats (sand dunes, salt marshes and N2000 site in cross-border Bratislava capital region) and species (endangered bird species, root vole, bittern, ferruginous duck, common swift, bats, lesser spotted eagle). They will all be implemented by NGOs and have a duration of 48 to 72 months. The project presented in the box below is an example of a successful LIFE Nature project in Slovakia.

Restoration of Wetlands at Zahorie Lowland (WETREST) LIFE05/NAT/SK/000112

The WETREST project succeeded in improving the conservation status of the habitats and species at eight Sites of Community Importance (SCIs). The project comprehensively analysed the threats and challenges facing each of the SCIs using existing data and botanical and zoological surveys of the sites. On this basis, it developed long-term Management Plans for each respective SCI. The plans were due to be officially approved after the end of the project. It also submitted amendments to seven official Forest Management Plans, with an acceptance ratio of 74% to 100%. A total of two training courses - with 26 and 19 participants - and four study visits with around a dozen participants each were organised for project personnel, as well as five additional short study visits with just two or three key personnel at a time Restoration plans were made for non-recurring restoration and management activities in each of the project sites. In implementing these activities, the project exceeded its target of filling one kilometre of drainage ditches across all sites and also cleared dead trees from a targeted site. The project constructed one large weir and a fish by-pass on the Rudava River. The project also restored meadows along the Rudava River, removing woody vegetation and herbaceous weeds from 178.4ha. The actions were deemed to have improved the conservation status of the areas with noticeable improvements in the water regimes. The habitat improvements should enable wetland tree species such as the European alder ( Alnus glutinosa) to prosper at the expense of pine in the long run. The beneficiary already noticed higher numbers of wetland species of orchid (Liparis loeselii), dragonfly (Leucorrhinia pectoralis), butterfly (Maculinea teleius; Lycaena dispar), beaver (Castor fiber) and stork (Ciconia nigra). For further information: http://wetrest.broz.sk

Last update: 31/05/13

European Commission, DG Environment LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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Information and Communication

Projects funded under this LIFE+ component aim to disseminate information and raise the profile of environmental issues. They also provide training and awareness-raising on the prevention of forest fires. There is one ongoing project under the LIFE+ Information and Communication component in Slovakia. This project focuses on changing water use practices in Slovakia, which are inefficient and polluting. This will be achieved by promoting greater awareness of the importance of water among the general public and other stakeholders. The total budget is 1.1 million, of which the European Union is contributing 49.89%. The project will be implemented over a 36 months period. This project is presented in the box below. More detailed information, including the results, will be provided in due time.

Enhancement of Public Awareness of the Importance of Water for Life, its Protection and Sustainable Use in Accordance with the Water Framework Directive (WATLIFE) LIFE08/INF/SK/000243
The WATLIFE project will set up and launch a media campaign, designed to achieve ten interviews on local and national TV and radio, three press releases and ten newspaper articles. Other promotional products will include a short film - 7 000 DVDs - an interactive exhibition at environmental centres and museums, a website, t-shirts and leaflets. Training sessions and excursions will take place for teachers and pupils. Specific educational materials aimed at the public and schools, such as picture books, will also be published. Eight seminars will be held to increase the knowledge and motivation of 200 mayors and representatives of regional authorities around water use. The project will initiate discussion on various water-related topics in order to develop a consensus around water management. Three workshops for water managers will also be organised. For more information:
http://www.vuvh.sk/index.php/sk_SK/projekt-life/zakladne-informacie-o-programe-life

Last update: 31/05/13

European Commission, DG Environment LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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How to find out more about LIFE and LIFE projects

By surfing on the LIFE website
The LIFE website provides a wealth of information on the LIFE programme: http://ec.europa.eu/life/

By searching on the LIFE projects

For further information on LIFE projects in Slovakia or LIFE projects in general, please consult the online LIFE projects database. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm The easy-to-use database is the authoritative source of information on all ongoing and closed LIFE projects. The database also provides information on the beneficiaries, their contact details, and the projects websites.

By contacting: The National Contact Point for Slovakia

Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic Department of Project Management The Division of Environmental Programmes and Projects Name: Address: Tel: Fax: E-mail: Ms. Zuzana FABEROVA / M. Peter JANY Nmestie . Stra 1 SK - 81235 Bratislava +421 2 5956 24 32 / +421 2 5956 26 64 +421 2 5956 2511 zuzana.faberova@enviro.gov.sk peter.jany@enviro.gov.sk

Website: http://www.minzp.sk/eu/moznosti-financovania-projektov/projekty-sozahranicnou-pomocou/life/

The Monitoring Team for Slovakia

ASTRALE EEIG - SOGES-ILE Rgy u.5 HU - 2000 Szentendre Tel: (36) 26 90451 Fax: (36) 26 500 004 E-mail: soges-ile@astrale.org

Last update: 31/05/13

European Commission, DG Environment LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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Recent Environment Policy & Governance projects in Slovakia

Project Title Project Number Website Click on the icon to read the project summary Project duration

Creative high efficient and effective use of biomass (CHEFUB) The impact of geological environment on health status of residents of the Slovak Republic (Geohealth) Revitalisation of the climate in dried-out communities in Eastern Slovakia via hydroclimate recovery (Hydroclimate recovery) Implementation of sustainable groundwater use in the underground karst system of the Krsnohorsk jaskya Cave (KRASCAVE)

LIFE08 ENV_SK_000240 LIFE10 ENV_SK_000086

http://www.biomasa.sk 01/2010> 12/2012 http://www.geology.sk/geohealth 09/2011> 08/2015

LIFE11 ENV_SK_001019

http://www.ludiaavoda.sk/51sk/projekt-life/ 08/2012> 09/2015

LIFE11 ENV_SK_001023

http://www.geology.sk/krascave 06/2012> 09/2017

Recent Nature & Biodiversity projects in Slovakia

Project Title Project Number Website Click on the icon to read the project summary Project duration

Conservation of Endangered Bird Species Populations in Natural Habitats of the Danube Inland Delta (Danube birds conservation) Conservation of root vole *Microtus oeconomus mehelyi (Microtus) Conservation of Botarus stellaris and Aythya nyroca in SPA Medzibodrozie in Slovakia (AYBOTCON) Conservation of Aquila pomarina in Slovakia (APOMARINA_SK) Protection of Common Swift (Apus apus) and bats in buldings in Slovakia (BIODIV)(APUS & NYCTALUS) Restoration of Natura 2000 sites in cross-border Bratislava capital region(Natura 2000 BA) Restoration of endemic pannonic salt marshes and sand dunes in Southern Slovakia (PANNONICSK)
Protection of the Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) in Slovakia (STERNASK)

LIFE07 NAT_SK_000707

http://www.dunaj.broz.sk/vtaky/ 01/2009 > 06/2013

LIFE08 NAT_SK_000239 LIFE09 NAT_SK_000395

http://www.dunaj.broz.sk/microtus http://www.medzibodrozie.vtaky.sk/

01/2010 > 12/2015

01/2011 > 12/2015

LIFE09 NAT_SK_000396 LIFE10 NAT_SK_000079

http://www.medzibodrozie.vtaky.sk/ 01/2010 > 12/2015 http://www.dazdovniky.vtaky.sk 01/2012 > 12/2015

LIFE10 NAT_SK_000080

01/2012 > 03/2017

LIFE10 NAT_SK_000083

http://www.daphne.sk/pannonics 09/2011 > 12/2016

N/A

LIFE11 NAT_SK_001032

07/2012 > 06/2017

Last update: 31/05/13

European Commission, DG Environment LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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Recent Information and Communication projects in Slovakia

Project Title Project Number Website Click on the icon to read the project summary Project duration

Enhancement of Public Awareness of the Importance of Water for Life, its Protection and Sustainable (WATLIFE)

LIFE08 INF_SK_000243

http://www.vuvh.sk/index.php /sk_SK/projekt-life/zakladneinformacie-o-programe-life

01/2010 > 12/2013

Last update: 31/05/13

European Commission, DG Environment LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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