UNESCO: Specify boundaries of Carpathian beech forests

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee, at its 42^nd session in Bahrain, called on Slovakia to specify more exactly the borders of the Carpathian beech primeval forests in the Prešov region, eastern Slovakia, and to protect them legislatively as soon as possible. According to the TASR press agency, the committee, however, also praised the progress achieved by Slovakia. The committee dealt with a report submitted by Slovakia on February 1, 2018. It included a proposal to modify the boundaries of the Slovak components of the site and their buffer zones. This was not submitted by Slovakia due to ongoing negotiations with landowners. "Ensuring the highest degree of protection for the site is of the utmost importance not only for preserving the UNESCO brand itself but for preserving the precious area," said Environment Minister Laszlo Solymos, emphasising the necessity for cooperating with all stakeholders. The Carpathian beech primeval forests in Slovakia and Ukraine were added to the list of the world's cultural and natural heritage in 2007. Ten forest sites were added to the UNESCO list. Four of them are located in Slovakia: Stužica, Havešová, Rožok and Vihorlat. Primeval forests are a chain of islands of original forest that has grown for thousands of years. The entire site consists of 78 components, including the Slovak ones, located on the territory of 12 European countries.