Stohlova: Draft Zoning of Four National Parks Threatens Natural Wealth (2)

Bratislava, 9 March (TASR) - The proposals for zoning the Tatra National Park (TANAP), the Low Tatra National Park (NAPANT), the Mala Fatra National Park and the Poloniny National Park put Slovakia's natural resources in danger, opposition MP Tamara Stohlova (Progressive Slovakia/PS) told a press conference on Monday, adding that none of the proposals meet the quality requirements set out in the recovery plan. "All the zoning proposals submitted are so sloppy and poorly prepared that they threaten the very essence of the existence of Slovak national parks. High winds and natural disasters are nothing compared to [Environment Minister] Tomas Taraba [a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee] and his fellow developers," stated Stohlova. The opposition MP described the proposal to move valuable national park areas into zone D, which is the least strictly protected zone, as the most audacious step. She stated that areas with this protection level are used for built-up areas and areas marked by human activity. "The important thing is that the transfer to zone D will allow these state-owned lands to be sold to private individuals. We can prepare for another wave of privatisation, like what we saw in the 1990s," she said. Stohlova also described the expansion of development zones as an absurd step. "This wouldn't be a problem, because zoning is supposed to serve this purpose, but Taraba is doing it at the expense of forests, at the expense of truly untouched rare areas," said Stohlova, adding that the minister's proposals go beyond the scope of municipal and regional land area plans. "He's literally drawing up plans for developers and investors with this zoning, which even the municipalities haven't taken into account, which no one has officially requested, and which haven't been assessed in terms of their impact on the environment," she said. The Environment Ministry has responded by saying that this was another unsuccessful marketing attempt by the MP. According to the ministry, PS has proven that it's unable to come up with any meaningful solutions. The ministry claims that it has prepared meaningful, clear, and predictable rules for four national parks and their development. The proposals are currently at the final stage. "The only thing PS is really interested in is maintaining chaos in the granting of exemptions in national parks and the opportunity for non-governmental organisations to profit from the payment of compensation worth €100 million for the restriction of rights in protected areas," stated the Environment Ministry. The Environment Ministry added that it rejects "activist progressive ideology" that would turn national parks into open-air museums, deepen the losses in the management of national parks by millions of euros a year and "impoverish" people under the pretext of strict nature protection. NOTE: This story has been extended to include the final two paragraphs. am/df