Gov't: Procedure Related to Felling Trees and Shrubs to Be Simplified (2)

Bratislava, April 24 (TASR) - Procedures for felling woody plants are to be simplified, as the Environment Ministry considers this to be an important preventive measure for reducing dangerous encounters between people and bears as well as damage caused by animals to agricultural crops and orchards, according to an amendment to the Nature and Landscape Protection Act, which was approved by the government at its session on Wednesday. The cabinet also recommends that Parliament should approve the proposal via a fast-tracked legislative procedure. "The reason for drafting this bill is primarily the need to reconsider the exemptions set by law when the consent of a nature protection authority isn't required for felling woody plants, so that those statutory exemptions reflect the needs of the population in agricultural and other activities in the countryside, while at the same time ensuring that the interests of nature and landscape protection are protected sufficiently," said the Environment Ministry. Consent for felling shouldn't be required for trees with a trunk circumference of 80 centimetres or less, and for continuous shrubs covering up to 100 square metres in area. According to the amendment, consent will be required if such trees grow in cemeteries, in built-up areas of municipalities and in places open to the public. The ministry claims that this should remove an unnecessary bureaucratic burden on the population and shortcomings that arise in practice. am/df