National Id
Slovakia_01
Site name
Morava floodplain, Tatras forests, and Eastern Carpathians
Summary
The annual cycle of flows in the Morava River, south of Bratislava, and its tributaries were modified in three sites leading to restoration of the wetland biotic complexes and movements between fragments of habitat isolated by land use. Thanks to Biodiversity Protection project, funded by the Global environmental Trust Fund and national funds, 4 oxbows and over 19km of floodplain were restored.
Light or indepth?
Light
NUTS Code
Bratislavský kraj
RBD code
SK40000
Transboundary
0
Data provider
REC
NWRM(s) implemented in the case study
Longitude
17.207
Latitude
48.0575
Climate zone
cool temperate moist
Mean rainfall
600
Mean rainfall unit
mm/year
Average temperature
10,8000001907349
Average runoff coefficient
0,25
Type
Case Study Info
Vegetation class
floodplain forests
Administrative annual cost information
435000USD: Computerization, monitoring and Data management
Application scale
Field Scale
Installation date
1998-06
Area subject to Land use change or Management/Practice change (ha)
250
Constraints
Some stretches of natural river beds and fluvial processes remain especially in the Morava River and its tributary, the Rudava.
Favourable preconditions
The area is theoretically protected at this time as national parks, nature reserves or landscape protected areas
Contractural arrangements
1
Design contractual arrangement
Arrangement type Responsibility Role Comments Name
Contractual agreement
between Slovak Republic (the Recipient) and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT TRUST FUND GRANT AGREEMENT
Design consultation activity
Activity stage Key issues Name Comments
Design phase
Workshops
in the slovak Republic with management and research personnel and the Slovak ministry of environment Department of Nature and Landscape conservation. Designed to provide key interventios and develop institutional capacieities and the focus of activity will be on three areas.
Design land use change
Land use change type
Permanently irrigated land
Design authority
Authority type Role Responsibility Name Comments
National water authority
Initiation of the measure
Department of Nature and Lndscape Conservation; Ministry of Environment
National water authority
Czech Republic Authority
National water authority
Austrian Auhority
NGO
WWF
Key lessons
Institutional stability is a key condition for project success; professional development is a vital step in building human capacity; explicit targets help managers identify the success, cost-effectiveness and basic usefulness of most components throughout implementation; involving NGOs during implementation were key to success.
Financing mechanism
1
Financing mechanism information
The project funded as well the professional development and training needed to secure the restored ecosystems.
Financing difficulties
1
Financing difficulties information
Project co-funding from Austrian EcoFund (363250e) never materialized and caused re-organization of Project components and budgets
Success factor(s)
Success factor type Success factor role Comments
Other
main factor

Insitutional stability

Other
secondary factor

Involving NGOs

Attitude of decision makers
secondary factor

Qualified and very committed professionals within the PMCU

Existing staff and consultant knowledge
secondary factor

Establishment of the Joint Scientific Advisory committes proved usefull for provideing guidance to the project activities and specially for increasing awareness of the project among the national and international scientific and academic community.

Financing
Financing type Comments
Other
Global Environmental Trust Fund
Other
MacArthur Foundation
National funds
Austrian EcoFund
National funds
Slovak Government
Barrier
Barrier type Barrier role Comments
Other
main barrier
The project came in the first year of on-going changes in legislative, administrative and institutional arrangements in Slovakia
Other
secondary barrier
Ongoing re-privatization of land prevented forest restoration activities
Other
secondary barrier
Frequent changes in high positions in the Ministry of Environment officials in Nature conservation section
Other
secondary barrier
Some leakage of trainees occurs because of salary inequities.
Driver
Driver type Driver role Comments
Organisation committed to it
main driver
Financing share
Financing share type Share Comments
National funds
3
European funds
72,5500030517578
Policy description
Biodiversity degradation through pollution, overuse by visitors and complex impacts from adjacent land uses. The forests have been cut, water table reduced, and spring floods interrupted and the native meadows have been converted to cropland.
The floodplain forests have been reduce. the water table has dropped and spring floods have been interrupted. Large areas of meadow were ploughed up and converted in to arable fields. the once continuous flood plain area has been transformed into a mosaic of remnant natural areas and areas of intensive management.
Part of wider plan
1
Policy target
Target purpose
Improved Biodiversity
Policy pressure
Pressure directive Relevant pressure
Policy area
Policy area type Policy area focus Name Comments
Policy impact
Impact directive Relevant impact
Policy wider plan
Wider plan type Wider plan focus Name Comments
Policy requirement directive
Requirement directive Specification
Direct benefits information
To protect ecological zones of substantial international importance, reduce loss of species, restore ecosystems and maintain a high level of diversity. Forested innovation by integration of various levels of biological diversity to address issues in conservation planning.
The project will complement other activities such a Bank-financed forestry development loan and GEF-supported protection activities. Components of the project are also directed to integrating planning outside the strictly protected areas in consultation with affected communities and interests.
Ancillary benefits information
Trough research and monitoring in these areas, knowledge will be gained as to how human activities have affected, and are affecting, different types of ecosystems and habitats, and how this actions can be changed to keep these areas and the societies that depend on them, healthy.
Costs total
2326658
Costs total information
2300000(GEF Project Grant)+870000(Co-financing Total)= 3170000 USD
Restoration-Morava: 256000USD --> 187972 €
Information on Economic costs - income loss
70000USD
Ecosystem improved biodiversity
1
Information on Ecosystem improved biodiversity
Restoration of riparian vegetation, fish and breeding birds
Information on Ecosystem provisioning services
N/A info
Ecosystem impact climate regulation
Not relevant for the specific application
Information on retained water
N/A info
Information on increased water storage
Arable lands now are meadows where water stay for longer periods of time.
Water quality overall improvements
N/A info
Information on Water quality overall improvements
N/A info
Soil quality overall soil improvements
N/A info
Information on Soil quality overall soil improvements
N/A info