Kuffa: Zoning Proposals for All National Parks Submitted as of Tuesday

Tatranska Lomnica, 5 August (TASR) - The zoning proposals for all national parks have been submitted as of Tuesday, Environment Minister State Secretary Filip Kuffa told a news conference in Tatranska Lomnica on the same day. In line with its zoning proposal, 50 percent of the Tatra National Park (TANAP) should be included in the most highly protected zone. According to Kuffa, the comments procedure on the Mala Fatra National Park's zoning proposal was completed at the respective district office a few days ago. The zoning proposal for the Poloniny National Park has been submitted to the ministry, which is currently processing it. "These will probably be the toughest nuts to crack, but we're ready for this. We'll bring it to a successful conclusion by December," declared the state secretary. Kuffa said that the TANAP zoning proposal, which was presented in April, was withdrawn for the documentation to be corrected. The original proposal didn't include a capercaillie rescue programme. The areas in which this bird lives should be covered by the most highly protected Zone A. The state secretary also confirmed that the corrected proposal has been submitted to the district office. "As new vegetation has been included, the proposal will be approved so that the most highly protected zone, i.e. Zone A, will make up more than 50 percent," said Kuffa. TANAP is the only national park in Slovakia to meet this level, he said, adding that none other national park will have 50 percent of its area covered by most highly protected zone in the next decade. ko/df