ZLV Online

Abstract

Nature conservation policy is restricting the active forest management in protected areas. This paper describes current issues related to the forestry in the protected areas of the Slovak Republic. Major conflicts follow from different approaches to the forest management, biodiversity protection, ecosystem services, and property rights. Specific disputes can be resolved, but these political conflicts are complex and permanent, linked to social, cultural, economic and scientific aspects. Based on the theory, for those cases the „conflict management“ approach is used for the mitigation of unwanted consequences. Based on analysis of policy instruments from Slovakia and approaches implemented in other European countries, an alternative conceptual model of policy instruments was proposed to mitigate wood production and nature conservation conflicts. The intention of the model is to unlock the potential of forests in protected areas within the goals of the green economy. Evaluation of tree species composition and comparison of costs required for the forest regeneration between really used and model species composition in the areas affected by spruce dieback.