Participatory conservation in a post-communist context: The Tatra National Park and Biosphere Reserve, Slovakia

A small mangrove colony growing for several decades on a mud flat on the left side of Balat River mouth has become today a large and healthy forest, containing a high ecosystem service value in the core of the Red River biosphere reserve. As a pioneer ecosystem located at land– water interface in the tropic, there exist always risks to mangroves, especially due to climate change and sea level rise. Sea level rise is a worldwide process, but subsidence is a local problem that can exacerbate these geo-hazards. A monitoring of shallow subsidence has been carried out by using SET-MH technique (developed by the United States Geological Survey) to track the both accretion and land sinking in the core zone of the National Park. The measurement shows the average sedimentation rate of 2.9 cm / yr and the sinking rate of 3.4 cm / yr, since Dec. 30th 2012. This is the first ground-based observation of shallow subsidence under mangroves in the Tonkin Gulf. As a simple and low cost method, so further expansion of this monitoring could provide more useful information to help identify the generally sinking trend of coastal areas in the Red River Delta and also to protect its own biosphere reserve.

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The structure of forest stands in the Tatra National Park: The results of 2016–2017 inventory

Forest Research Papers ◽

10.2478/frp-2019-0002 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 80 (1) ◽

pp. 13-21 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jan Bodziarczyk ◽

Jerzy Szwagrzyk ◽

Tomasz Zwijacz-Kozica ◽

Antoni Zięba ◽

Janusz Szewczyk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Picea Abies ◽

Fagus Sylvatica ◽

National Park ◽

Forest Stands ◽

Protection Zone ◽

Dead Trees ◽

Standing Dead ◽

Elevation Zone ◽

Standing Dead Trees ◽

Tatra National Park

Abstract The composition and structure of forest stands in the Tatra National Park were examined using data gathered in 2016 and 2017 from 617 circular sample plots (0.05 ha each). The diameter at breast height of all living trees, standing dead trees, snags, and wind throws was measured along with diameters and lengths of fallen logs within the plot boundaries. Tree height was measured for all living trees within the core (0.01 ha) of the sample plots. Using the obtained data, height-diameter curves were calculated for all major tree species and in the case of spruce, the height-diameter relationships were also calculated separately for each of the three elevation zones (up to 1200 m, between 1200 and 1400 m, above 1400 m). For each elevation zone and park protection zone, we also determined the volumes of live and dead trees. The volume of living trees in the Tatra National Park amounted to 259 m3/ha, which was higher than the volume of dead trees (176 m3/ha). Snags constituted the largest part of the dead wood whilst over 97% of the standing dead trees were spruce Picea abies. Among living trees, the share of spruce ranged from 81% in the low elevation zone to 98% in the middle zone. Other significant species in the lower zone were Abies alba (11%) and Fagus sylvatica (4.5%), while in the middle and upper elevation zones only Sorbus aucuparia occurred in significant numbers. Furthermore, in the lower elevation zone, Fagus sylvatica was the only species displaying significantly higher volumes in the ‘strict protection’ zone compared to the other park areas. In the ‘landscape protection’ zone, Picea abies was the most dominant species and the share of other species in the lowest elevation zones calculated based on tree density was smaller than calculated based on tree volume, indicating problems with stand conversion from spruce monoculture to mixed forest.

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Geodiversity map of the Tatra National Park for geotourism

Quaestiones Geographicae ◽

10.2478/v10117-012-0012-x ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 99-107 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Zbigniew Zwoliński ◽

Jakub Stachowiak

Keyword(s):

National Park ◽

Point Of View ◽

Tatra Mountains ◽

Thematic Layers ◽

Park Area ◽

Tatra National Park ◽

The Tatra Mountains

Geodiversity map of the Tatra National Park for geotourism The paper indicates the relations between geodiversity and geotourism in the Tatra National Park. Geodiversity of the Tatra Mountains is visualized by its geodiversity map, whereas geotouristic attractions are measured by touristic attractions along touristic trails on geodiversity map. Areas of the highest geodiversity cover merely 8.2% of the Tatar National Park area. These are mainly areas close to the Tatra Mountains' main ridge. It is so due to geology, landform energy, slopes, landform fragmentation and geoecological belts. Most of the analyzed thematic layers categorizes ridges as more geodiversed than valley areas. The trails situated in the valley bottoms usually cross by areas of low geodiversity, however, from geotouristic point of view, it should be noted that slopes and ridges circumvolving the valley can be marked by high geodiversity. The mountain slopes and ridges are within tourist's sight, what increases trail's geotouristic attractiveness. Amongst many geotouristically interesting parts of the Tatra Mountains Dolina Pięciu Stawów valley appears to be the most appealing with its high quantity and high variety of post-glacial forms on valley's bottom as well as on its slopes.

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Restoration of Forests in the Tatra National Park

Verhandlungen der Gesellschaft für Ökologie Wien 1975 ◽

10.1007/978-94-015-7168-5_17 ◽

1976 ◽

pp. 107-111 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Stefan Myczkowski

Keyword(s):

National Park ◽

Tatra National Park

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Relationship between substrate, physico-chemical parameters and foraminiferal tests in the Doñana National Park, a Biosphere Reserve in SW Spain

Journal of Iberian Geology ◽

10.1007/s41513-019-00116-w ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

pp. 21-38 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Liliana Guerra ◽

Cristina Veiga-Pires ◽

María Luz González-Regalado ◽

Manuel Abad ◽

Antonio Toscano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

National Park ◽

Biosphere Reserve ◽

Chemical Parameters ◽

Doñana National Park ◽

Sw Spain ◽

Physico Chemical

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The impact of windthrow and fire disturbances on selected soil properties in the Tatra National Park

Soil and Water Research ◽

10.17221/9/2008-swr ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 3 (Special Issue No. 1) ◽

pp. S74-S80 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

E. Gömöryová ◽

K. Střelcová ◽

J. Škvarenina ◽

J. Bebej ◽

D. Gömöry

Keyword(s):

Microbial Biomass ◽

Microbial Activity ◽

National Park ◽

Soil Microbial Activity ◽

N Mineralisation ◽

Soil Microbial ◽

Microbial Characteristics ◽

Fire Disturbances ◽

Tatra National Park ◽

The Impact

: In November 2004, forest stands in the Tatra National Park (TANAP) were affected by windthrow and in July 2005, the wildfire broke out on a part of the affected area. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of the windthrow and fire disturbances on soil microbial activity. Basal and potential soil respiration, N-mineralisation, catalase activity, soil microbial biomass, and cellulase activity were measured in soil samples taken from the A-horizon (depth of 0–10 cm) along 100 m transects established on 4 plots (reference site, burnt, non-extracted, and extracted sites) in October 2006. Some soil microbial characteristics exhibited a high spatial variability, especially microbial biomass and N-mineralisation. Significant differences in soil microbial characteristics (especially basal soil respiration and catalase activity) between plots were found. Generally, the highest microbial activity was revealed on the plot affected by fire. Soil microbial activity was similar on the extracted and non-extracted sites.

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Evaluation of Abiotic Controls on Windthrow Disturbance Using a Generalized Additive Model: A Case Study of the Tatra National Park, Slovakia

Forests ◽

10.3390/f11121259 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 1259

Author(s):

Vladimír Falťan ◽

Stanislav Katina ◽

Jozef Minár ◽

Norbert Polčák ◽

Martin Bánovský ◽

...

Keyword(s):

National Park ◽

Generalized Additive Model ◽

Damage Index ◽

Additive Model ◽

Forest Damage ◽

Wind Force ◽

Independent Variables ◽

Soil Skeleton ◽

Abiotic Controls ◽

Tatra National Park

Windthrows are the most important type of disturbance occurring in the forests of Central Europe. On 19 November 2004, the strong northeastern katabatic winds caused significant damage and land cover change to more than 126 km2 of spruce forests in the Tatra National Park. The risk of subsequent soil erosion and accelerated runoff has increased in the affected habitats. Similar situations may reoccur this century as a consequence of climate change. A geographical approach and detailed research of the damaged area with more comprehensive statistical analyses of 47 independent variables will help us to obtain a deeper insight into the problem of windthrow disturbances. The results are based on a detailed investigation of the damaged stands, soil, and topography. A comprehensive input dataset enabled the evaluation of abiotic controls on windthrow disturbance through the use of a generalized additive model (GAM). The GAM revealed causal linear and nonlinear relationships between the local dependent quantitative variables (the damage index and the uprooting index) and independent variables (various soil and topography properties). Our model explains 69% of the deviance of the total damage. The distribution of the wind force depended upon the topographical position—mainly on the distance from the slope’s foot lines. The soil properties (mainly the soil skeleton, i.e., rock fragments in stony soils) affect the rate and manner of damage (uprooting), especially on sites with less wind force. Stem breakage with no relation to the soil prevailed in places with high force winds. The largest number of uprooted trees was recorded in localities without a soil skeleton. The spruce’s waterlogged shallow root system is significantly prone to uprooting. The comprehensive research found a significant relationship between the abiotic variables and two different measures of forest damage, and can expand the knowledge on wind impact in Central European forests.

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