TICHA, PORTRAIT OF A SILENT WILDERNESS
Located in the western portion of the Slovak Tatra National Park, under status of strict protection, the system of valleys belonging to the 17Km-long “Tichá Dolina” represents one of the last pristine mountain ecosystems in the European Continent, although located right in its industrial heart. The sum of species, habitats, water resources and natural processes belonging to this area makes it an important place for the natural heritage of the whole Planet. In spite of all this, nowadays the integrity of Ticha has to face a large and unexpected menace.
The 19th November 2004 a windstorm of unheard proportions hit the North of Slovakia, affecting 12,500 hectares of forest. In a few hours huge amounts of timber were left on the ground by this massive calamity. After that, harsh polemics raised between local foresters and conservationists, concerning the management of the wind-throws. The first were claiming the wood as precious commercial resource and as material to be removed urgently, under pretences of bark beetle population control, flood and fire preventive measures. The latter stressed the natural aspect of the event as part of biotope processes, while pointing out also the likely large disturbance for the function and structure of the ecosystem due to the logging and wood removal activities. In spite of all this, many compromises have been made between the two parts. Logging took already place in 92% of the affected area indeed, the left 8% of blown-down being in the territory of Ticha valley, core zone for protection in the Tatra National Park and biotope of community interest. The environmentalists were fighting against the bulldozers and chainsaws, which, with the support of the Ministry of Environment, made pressure to enter this natural sanctuary. The valley is still safe, but nobody knows who will have the last word in this dispute. Nobody knows what will be the future of Tichá.
How long will this European wilderness remain untouched?
Located in the western portion of the Slovak Tatra National Park, under status of strict protection, the system of valleys belonging to the 17Km-long “Tichá Dolina” represents one of the last pristine mountain ecosystems in the European Continent, although located right in its industrial heart. The sum of species, habitats, water resources and natural processes belonging to this area makes it an important place for the natural heritage of the whole Planet. In spite of all this, nowadays the integrity of Ticha has to face a large and unexpected menace.
The 19th November 2004 a windstorm of unheard proportions hit the North of Slovakia, affecting 12,500 hectares of forest. In a few hours huge amounts of timber were left on the ground by this massive calamity. After that, harsh polemics raised between local foresters and conservationists, concerning the management of the wind-throws. The first were claiming the wood as precious commercial resource and as material to be removed urgently, under pretences of bark beetle population control, flood and fire preventive measures. The latter stressed the natural aspect of the event as part of biotope processes, while pointing out also the likely large disturbance for the function and structure of the ecosystem due to the logging and wood removal activities. In spite of all this, many compromises have been made between the two parts. Logging took already place in 92% of the affected area indeed, the left 8% of blown-down being in the territory of Ticha valley, core zone for protection in the Tatra National Park and biotope of community interest. The environmentalists were fighting against the bulldozers and chainsaws, which, with the support of the Ministry of Environment, made pressure to enter this natural sanctuary. The valley is still safe, but nobody knows who will have the last word in this dispute. Nobody knows what will be the future of Tichá.
How long will this European wilderness remain untouched?
TICHA, PORTRAIT OF A SILENT WILDERNESS
Located in the western portion of the Slovak Tatra National Park, under status of strict protection, the system of valleys belonging to the 17Km-long “Tichá Dolina” represents one of the last pristine mountain ecosystems in the European Continent, although located right in its industrial heart. The sum of species, habitats, water resources and natural processes belonging to this area makes it an important place for the natural heritage of the whole Planet. In spite of all this, nowadays the integrity of Ticha has to face a large and unexpected menace.
The 19th November 2004 a windstorm of unheard proportions hit the North of Slovakia, affecting 12,500 hectares of forest. In a few hours huge amounts of timber were left on the ground by this massive calamity. After that, harsh polemics raised between local foresters and conservationists, concerning the management of the wind-throws. The first were claiming the wood as precious commercial resource and as material to be removed urgently, under pretences of bark beetle population control, flood and fire preventive measures. The latter stressed the natural aspect of the event as part of biotope processes, while pointing out also the likely large disturbance for the function and structure of the ecosystem due to the logging and wood removal activities. In spite of all this, many compromises have been made between the two parts. Logging took already place in 92% of the affected area indeed, the left 8% of blown-down being in the territory of Ticha valley, core zone for protection in the Tatra National Park and biotope of community interest. The environmentalists were fighting against the bulldozers and chainsaws, which, with the support of the Ministry of Environment, made pressure to enter this natural sanctuary. The valley is still safe, but nobody knows who will have the last word in this dispute. Nobody knows what will be the future of Tichá.
How long will this European wilderness remain untouched?
Located in the western portion of the Slovak Tatra National Park, under status of strict protection, the system of valleys belonging to the 17Km-long “Tichá Dolina” represents one of the last pristine mountain ecosystems in the European Continent, although located right in its industrial heart. The sum of species, habitats, water resources and natural processes belonging to this area makes it an important place for the natural heritage of the whole Planet. In spite of all this, nowadays the integrity of Ticha has to face a large and unexpected menace.
The 19th November 2004 a windstorm of unheard proportions hit the North of Slovakia, affecting 12,500 hectares of forest. In a few hours huge amounts of timber were left on the ground by this massive calamity. After that, harsh polemics raised between local foresters and conservationists, concerning the management of the wind-throws. The first were claiming the wood as precious commercial resource and as material to be removed urgently, under pretences of bark beetle population control, flood and fire preventive measures. The latter stressed the natural aspect of the event as part of biotope processes, while pointing out also the likely large disturbance for the function and structure of the ecosystem due to the logging and wood removal activities. In spite of all this, many compromises have been made between the two parts. Logging took already place in 92% of the affected area indeed, the left 8% of blown-down being in the territory of Ticha valley, core zone for protection in the Tatra National Park and biotope of community interest. The environmentalists were fighting against the bulldozers and chainsaws, which, with the support of the Ministry of Environment, made pressure to enter this natural sanctuary. The valley is still safe, but nobody knows who will have the last word in this dispute. Nobody knows what will be the future of Tichá.
How long will this European wilderness remain untouched?
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