Summary of this year's events

First of all, the former director of the Tatra National Park Administration and other key representatives of the state nature protection have been replaced under political dictate of the new Slovak Government. The Slovak Government's intention of logging in Ticha and Koprova valleys hasn't been stopped by anything so far. They have ignored scientific studies and appeals of experts, the IUCN statement and even the threat of an EU lawsuit against Slovakia.

April 11, 2007 the State Forests of TANAP sent a giant harvester and workers to the Ticha Valley. They started to convert its beautiful nature to a dead clear-cut area under pretence of fighting against bark beetle.

The foresters only have an approval from the regional forestry authority. It means that they ignore the fact that these areas are a part of National park and they act as in an un-protected timber forest. Morover, these two reserves are Sites of European Conservation Importance, Sites of European Importance For Bird Conservation and a part of UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Mr. Ladislav Miko, Director for Natural Resources in DG Environment at the European Commission, confirmed repeatedly that any intervention to biotopes of European importance requires a proper EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) Study. More information on WWF website.

April 21, 2007 activists of the WOLF Forest Protection Movement (WOLF), FoE Slovakia, FoE Czech Republic, Greenpeace Slovakia, Greenpeace Czech Republic and other NGOs, Slovak scientists and other Slovak and Czech citizens started a blockade of logging in Ticha and Koprova valleys. Since then the activists have been preventing logging machines from entering the valley by standing, sitting or laying in front of them.

The Government of the Slovak Republic has called the police to intervene against silently protesting citizens. During police intervention Jozef Fiala, expert on the protection of biotopes and author of the expert's report on violation of legislation on the nature protection in Ticha and Koprova valleys has been injured. Despite police interventions, activists have been keeping the blockade, however, the harvester slowly moves in the valley under the police protection.

In relation to the intervention of the State Forests of TANAP in Ticha and Koprova valleys, the WOLF has approached national institutions including the police and General Prosecutor's Office. Stopping of this illegal logging is supported by numerous experts and scientists who elaborated several reports and wrote letters to the national authorities, but without proper reaction. Some Slovak celebrities protest against logging as well.

The use of force against peaceful protesters in Ticha and Koprova valleys was intensified during the last days, before on Thursday, 26th of April, 10:00 AM CET, the Slovak Environment Inspection suspended the harvesting works. On Saturday, 28th of April, the Ticha and Koprova Valleys were declared "Areas Protected by Citizens".

In July, the Slovak Environment Inspection suprisingly declared that the logging caused no harm at all to the ecosystems in the two valleys. At that time, however, the case was already investigated by the European Commission due to infringement of the EU Habitat Directive, and the investigations still continue.

Photogallery of the logging works (April 11-26, 2007)

Photogallery of the declaration of the "Area Protected by Citizens" (April 28)