TANAP Director Resigns, New Leadership Appointed from 1 August

Vysoke Tatry, 31 July (TASR) – Director of the Tatra National Park Administration (TANAP), Peter Olexa, has stepped down from his position, effective as of 1 August 2025, with the resignation confirmed for TASR by Martina Petranova from the TANAP Administration on Thursday. Environment Minister Tomas Taraba (nominee of the Slovak National Party) has appointed the current director of the Low Tatras National Park, Michal Babnic, to lead TANAP from Friday, 1 August. According to the ministry press department, Olexa stepped down for personal reasons. Minister Taraba expressed his thanks to Olexa for his work and dedication during his tenure. Michal Babnic holds a Master’s degree from the Faculty of Environmental Studies at Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra. He has extensive experience in nature conservation, as he served for ten years as head of the nature guard department in the Mala Fatra National Park and worked on predator monitoring in protected areas. Babnic also coordinated professional internships for students from Matej Bel University in Banska Bystrica and previously served in a local forest cooperative promoting nature-friendly forestry practices. Since January 2024, he has been heading the Low Tatras National Park Administration. mf