News details

Slovakia: Project Calcareous mires

Calcareous mires in Slovakia (2010-2012)

During 2010-2012 ERA participated in publishing a scientific book on calcareous spring fens in Slovakia. Calcareous fens, are peat and travertine (chalk) depositing wetlands and are very rare throughout Europe and even worldwide. In Slovakia they are located almost exclusively in the Western Carpathian Mountains. Most of the original mires in Slovakia have disappeared mainly during the communist rule. But locally spring fed mires are remarkably well preserved. Some of them, such as Belianske Luky, the largest spring fed fen in Europe and Brezové mire, which is the most pristine spring fen in Slovakia, are among the best examples of calcareous mires in Europe.

The book builds on the results of ecohydrological research carried out in the period 2002-2005, mainly in the High Tatra Mountains, but also in the lowlands near Bratislawa. The ecohydrological research was carried out by a team of Slovak, Dutch and Polish researchers and aimed at assessing the restoration perspectives of damaged calcareous mires. The project was financed by the Dutch Government and in a later stage also by the Global Environmental Fund (UNDP/GEF) and carried out by DAPHNE, Institute of Applied Ecology (Viera Sefferová Stanová and Jan Seffer).


  • Literature list

    Grootjans, A.P., Gojdičová, E., Šefferová Stanová, V. (eds.) 2011. Selected Fens and Bogs in Slovakia and Poland; Field guide to the IMCG Field symposium and Congress 2010. IMCG News Letter 2011-4 (special issue), 91pp. ISSN 1682-1653.

    Hájkova, P., Grootjans, A.P., Madaras, M., Rybníčková, E., Wolejko, L., Hájek, M., Joosten, H., Michaelis, D., Lamentowicz, M., & Opravilová. 2012. How a Sphagnum fuscum bog changed into a calcareous fen: the remarkable history of a Slovak spring fed mire. Journal of Quart. Science 27: 233-243.

    Grootjans, A.P., Jansen, A.M.J. & Šefferová Stanová, V. (eds.) 2012. Calcareous mires of Slovakia; landscape setting, management and restoration prospects. 109 pp. KNNV Publishing, Zeist, NL.

    Grootjans, A.P. & Jansen, A.M.J. 2012.  An eco-hydrological approach to wetland restoration. Chapter 3. In:  Grootjans, A.P., Jansen, A.M.J. & Stanova, V. (eds.) 2012. Calcareous mires of Slovakia; landscape setting, management and restoration prospects, pp. 21-28. 

    Madaras, M., Grootjans, A.P., Janáková, M., Kemmers, R.F., Wołejko, & Dlapa, P. 2012. Brezové Mire; the jewel in the crown of Slovak mires. Chapter 4. In:  Grootjans, A.P., Jansen, A.M.J. & Stanova, V. (eds.) 2012. Calcareous mires of Slovakia; landscape setting, management and restoration prospects, pp. 29-40.

    Madaras, M., Grootjans,A.P., Šefferová Stanová,V.,  Galvánek,D., Janáková, M., Dražil,T. Wołejko. L.&  Pavlanský, J. 2012. Calcareous spring fen Belianske lúky Meadows; the largest spring fen in North Western Europe. Chapter 5. In:  Grootjans, A.P., Jansen, A.M.J. & Stanova, V. (eds.) 2012. Calcareous mires of Slovakia; landscape setting, management and restoration prospects, pp. 41-66.

    Grootjans, A.P., Janáková, M. Madaras, M.& Wołejko, L. 2012.  Poprad Fen: Fen regeneration after peat excavation. Chapter 6. In:  Grootjans, A.P., Jansen, A.M.J. & Stanova, V. (eds.) 2012. Calcareous mires of Slovakia; landscape setting, management and restoration prospects, pp. 67-76.

    Madaras, M., Grootjans, A.P., Šefferová Stanová, V., Janáková, M., Laštůvka, Z. & Jansen, A. 2012. Fen meadows of Abrod; in urgent need of protection. Chapter 7. In:  Grootjans, A.P., Jansen, A.M.J. & Stanova, V. (eds.) 2012. Calcareous mires of Slovakia; landscape setting, management and restoration prospects, pp. 77-96. 

    Macura, V. Škrinár, A., Janák,M., Valachovič, D. Madaras, M.,  Grootjans, A.P. &Jansen, A.J.M. 2012. Restoration measures in the Porec catchment. Chapter 8. In:  Grootjans, A.P., Jansen, A.M.J. & Stanova, V. (eds.) 2012. Calcareous mires of Slovakia; landscape setting, management and restoration prospects, pp. 97-106.

    Downloads:
    Mires-SL-IMCG Newsletter2011-4_special issue.pdf

    Mires-of-Slovakia 2012.pdf