On 13 February 2025, the Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic (hereinafter referred to as “MIRRI”) in cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic (hereinafter referred to as the “Ministry of the Environment”) organized an introductory conference of the program Support of Sustainable Tourism and Biodiversity Protection in Protected Areas and the opening conference of the predefined project Tourists and Nature Together. The conference was also attended by the Ambassador of Switzerland to Slovakia, Peter Nelson, and other representatives from Switzerland, including the University of Applied Sciences in Zurich and the Swiss Parks Network. Of course, there were experts, partners and interested organizations from Slovakia, who learned new useful information about the challenges and opportunities in the field of sustainable tourism and nature conservation.
The conference included the ceremonial signing of the project agreement between MIRRI SR and the Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic for the project Tourists and Nature Together and the conclusion of partnership agreements with the National Park Administrations and the Swiss partner. Slovak national parks will have a total of €22.9 million available for the development of tourism, environmental education and the improvement of biodiversity.
The administration of the Veľká Fatra National Park will use most of the contribution for the development of infrastructure:
- reconstruction and creation of a new Eco-educational center in the Gaderská Valley, which will combine an informational interactive exhibition on nature conservation and space for environmental activities directly in the territory of the national park, as such space is currently missing in the area,
- reconstruction of the Smrekovica field station, which in the future should serve mainly as a base for organizations conducting scientific research in the territory of the Veľká Fatra National Park.
- construction of new educational trails in the Gaderská and Ľubochnianska valleys and the creation of a new educational site about wetlands and other aquatic plants, animals and ecosystems, which will be created on the site of non-functional small ponds near the new planned eco-center.
The remaining part of the contribution will be used for the implementation of the so-called soft activities, which will include, for example:
- new environmental programmes for all age groups, including a specific and relatively often bypassed group of seniors;
- unique Days with an Expert – various walks in the Fatra nature with commentary by professional employees of the Administration of the Veľká Fatra National Park,
- training of local tourist guides,
- creation of new promotional materials on nature conservation, protected species, and less visited areas in the Veľká Fatra,
- art competitions, exhibitions, an enviro-education workshop and much more.
An important item on the agenda was also the announcement of the open call “Strengthening Biodiversity in Protected Areas”. The call, with an allocation of more than €3 million, is intended for public and non-governmental organizations active in the field of environmental protection and aims to improve the condition of habitats, support nature-friendly management measures and implement educational initiatives. The minimum amount of the requested grant is EUR 200 000 and the maximum amount of the requested grant is EUR 500 000, with 5% co-financing required.
More information about the call as well as the possibilities of applying for a grant can be found HERE.
The grant from the second Swiss contribution represents significant financial assistance for all national parks in Slovakia, for which a huge thank you goes to the Swiss partners and everyone who worked on the project until its approval. We believe that we will be able to fulfill all the activities as planned, we will keep you informed and we will be very happy to see you at many of them.
Text: Ing. Vasiľová
Photo: archive of S-NPVF
