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News from May to August:

- in May and June 2001 detailed bird counts were carried out at the Great Hrhov fishpond to evaluate effects of the spraying with Roundup Biactive in 1999 and 2000. Exact numbers are still not ready, but the evaluation will be finalised in September 2001.

Earlier studies showed that:

- In 2001 only less than 20 ha remained from the 90 ha cover of Typha and Phragmites (reeds) at the Greater Hrhov fishpond (Typha had disappeared almost completely).

- 4 breeding species disappeared completely from the Great Hrhov fishpond: Little Bittern, Black-necked Grebe, Little Grebe and Spotted Crake

- more than 60% decline of the populations of Bittern, Marsh Harrier, Little Crake, Bearded Tit, Great Reed Warbler, Savi's Warbler and Reed Warbler.

- Negotiations at the Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Environment were held to prepare amendments for the proposed new version of the Mining law, prepared by the Ministry of Economy. These amendments should ensure, that the opinion of the (local) Environmental Office should also be involved in the future in the decision-making process for application for all new quarrying in the protected areas.

- The environmental committee of the Parliament visited the Slovak Karst in first days of August 2001. Six members of this committee met representatives of SOSNA and local the government in Hrhov.
Local citizens and NGO activists explained their point of view of the existing environmental threats for the region: new quarries proposed by international companies in the Protected landscape
Area Slovak Karst, pesticides and their effects at commercial fishponds included into IBA Slovak Karst. The politicians were informed about suggestions, claims and demands of local citizens
and NGOs. They promised to promote environmentally friendly management in the karst region by their decisions through:

· supporting designation of the national park Slovak Karst

· supporting amendments to the new mining law, leading to maintaining the previous position of involving local environmental offices in decision-making when new mining areas are planned and proposed

· supporting the steps towards exclusion of any further exploitation of raw material deposits in the Slovak Karst area

· taking steps to stop the use of herbicides in wetland areas, if we can prove the negative impact of these chemicals on the environment. [Precise data on the impact of Roundup Biactive on the Hrhov fishpond ecosystem will be delivered to members of the parliamentary committee as soon as they are available.]


Samo Pacenovsky

Proact © David Conlin 2001