Slovakia

Agroforestry in Slovakia

 

In the Slovak Republic, the contact zone of the Carpathian Ridge and the Pannonian Basin creates quite heterogeneous natural conditions, which are also reflected in land use. The traditional agricultural landscape in Slovakia consists of a rich mosaic of small-scale arable fields and permanent agricultural crops with grasslands, vineyards and orchards. This mosaic, closely linked to agroforestry, has been preserved, particularly in mountainous areas with extreme natural conditions. The only land use form, which disappeared after WWII are wood pastures.  Agricultural management in Slovakia has been significantly affected by collectivization, intensification of agricultural production and Slovakia’s accession to the EU in 2004. Thanks to its morphological diversity, Slovakia has great potential for the use of traditional, but also for the establishment of modern agroforestry systems.

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The Slovak Agroforestry Association (SAA)  
The Slovak Agroforestry Association (SAA) is the first official organization dedicated to agroforestry in Slovakia. This association was established in February 2021 and was founded by a group of researchers, farmers, foresters, and agroforestry followers. Its goals include bringing together all those interested in the support and expansion of agroforestry systems in Slovakia and at the same time be as a relevant partner in solving this issue at the domestic level for the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic. SAA is also the Slovak branch of the European Agroforestry Federation.
 

Contacts:

Slovak Agroforestry Association (SAA)
A. Hlinku 2330/2
96001 Zvolen
Slovakia 

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Agroforestry policies in Slovakia

Agroforestry has already been included in many strategic materials of the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic (Envirostrategy 2030, Strategy for Adaptation of the Slovak Republic to Climate Change, Action Plan to Address the Consequences of Drought and Water Scarcity, Intervention Strategy for the Development of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027, etc.), and its support is also declared in the current Government Programme Statement.

Support schemes for the establishment of agroforestry systems for the programming period 2023-2027 and a methodology for their establishment have been prepared.
To date, Slovakia has the ambition to introduce the concept of agroforestry into its legislation as part of the drafting of the new Law on Agriculture.
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Useful links

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