Overview and area of protected areas
Overview and area of protected areas in Slovakia
State: 31.12.2024
Total area of the national system of protected areas in Slovak Republic ( 2.- 5. levels of area protection * )
is 1 133 665 ha, which is 23,12 % of the territory of Slovakia. **. For more information, see the reports below.
* In the territory of the Slovak Republic, where protected areas are not declared, the first level of protection generally applies, in which general protection of nature and landscape is applied.
** The mutual overlap of these areas of the national system and the level of protection valid according to the latest regulation is also taken into account, i.e. even after the overlap of the national system with areas of European importance.
** The mutual overlap of these areas of the national system and the level of protection valid according to the latest regulation is also taken into account, i.e. even after the overlap of the national system with areas of European importance.
1. National system of protected areas in Slovakia
1.1. Large-scale protected areas (LPA)
1.2. Small-scale protected areas (SPA)
1.3. National system of protected areas in total
1.3.1 Large-scale (LPA) + small-scale (SPA) protected areas
1.3.2 Total area of the national system of protected areas in the Slovak Republic
2. Territories of the European system of protected areas Natura 2000
2.1. Protected Bird Areas (PBA)
2.2. Territories of European Importance (TEV)
3. Natural areas of international importance
Carpathian beech forests - natural heritage of UNESCO,
Slovak Karst Caves - UNESCO natural heritage,
Biosphere Reserves in Slovakia
Ramsar sites in Slovakia
Territories with a Diploma of the Council of Europe
1. National system of protected areas in Slovakia
1.1. Large-scale protected areas (LPA)
| Category of protected areas | Code | Number of areas | Area of the protected area in ha | Area of the protection zone in ha | Total area of the protected area in ha | % of the territory of Slovakia including protected area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Parks | NP | 9 | 317 168,0468 | 247 045,1365 | 564 213,1833 | 11,51 % |
| Protected Landscape Areas | PLA | 14 | 522 581,5090 | 0,0000 | 522 581,5090 | 10,66 % |
| Spolu | 23 | 839 749,5558 | 247 045,1365 | 1 086 794,6923 | 22,16 % |
Large-scale protected areas (VCHU) total
Number of protected areas: 23
Area without protection (buffer) zone
839 749,5558 ha: 17,13 % from area of Slovak republic
839 749,5558 ha: 17,13 % from area of Slovak republic
Area of protection (buffer) zone
247 045,1365 ha: 5,04 % from area of Slovak republic
247 045,1365 ha: 5,04 % from area of Slovak republic
Area including protection (buffer) zone
1 086 794,6923 ha: 22,16% from area of Slovak republic
1 086 794,6923 ha: 22,16% from area of Slovak republic
Area of the Slovak Republic
49 035 km2 (4 903 500 ha)
49 035 km2 (4 903 500 ha)
State: 31.12.2024
1.2. Small-scale protected areas (SPA)
| Category of protected areas | Code | Number of areas | Area of the protected area in ha | Area of the protection zone in ha / PZ by law (*) |
Total area of the protected area in ha | % of the territory of Slovakia including protected area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nature reserves | NR | 421 | 21 087,5688 | 5 555,6760 + 6 205,0000 (*) = 11 760,6760 | 32 848,2448 | 0,67 % |
| National nature reserves | NNR | 166 | 71 163,0862 | 1 988,1027 + 3 832,0000 (*) = 5 820,1027 | 76 983,1889 | 1,57 % |
| Natural monuments without „caves by law“ (**) a „waterfalls by law“ (***) | NM | 276 | 1 498,1373 | 387,7006 + 2 943,0000 (*) = 3 330,7006 | 4 828,8379 | 0,10 % |
| National Natural Monuments | NNM | 60 | 58,9365 | 3 406,6762 + 52,0000 (*) = 3 458,6762 | 3 517,6127 | 0,07 % |
| Protected areas | PA | 191 | 21 517,6926 | 2 424,5635 | 23 942,2561 | 0,49 % |
| Protected Landscape Elements | PLE | 1 | 2,5161 | 0,0000 | 2,5161 | 0,00 % |
| Municipality protected areas | MPA | 13 | 666,3440 | 0,0000 | 666,3440 | 0,01 % |
| Nature Parks | NPK | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| Spolu | 1128 | 115 994,2815 | 13 762,7190 + 13 032,0000 (*) = 26 794,7190 |
142 789,0005 | 2,91 % |
(*) PZ by law: protection zone by law – not specifically declared, has a width of 60 m or 100 m around the perimeter of the protected area
(**) Cave by law – a cave that is not specifically declared, meeting certain parameters, is automatically a natural monument
(***) Waterfall by law – a waterfall that is not specifically declared, meeting certain parameters, is automatically a natural monument
(**) Cave by law – a cave that is not specifically declared, meeting certain parameters, is automatically a natural monument
(***) Waterfall by law – a waterfall that is not specifically declared, meeting certain parameters, is automatically a natural monument
Small-scale protected areas (MCHU) total
Number of protected areas: 1128
Area without protection (buffer) zone
115 994,2815 ha: 2,37 % from area of Slovak republic
(There are not included some locations where the area is not listed - e.g. caves, or area data are not available)
115 994,2815 ha: 2,37 % from area of Slovak republic
(There are not included some locations where the area is not listed - e.g. caves, or area data are not available)
Area of protection (buffer) zone
13 762,7190 ha
13 762,7190 ha
Area of the protection (buffer) zone by law
13 032,0000 ha1.3.1 Large-scale (LPA) + small-scale (SPA) protected areas
1.3.2 Total area of the national system of protected areas in the Slovak Republic
13 032,0000 ha
Area of protection zone including protection zone by law
26 794,7190 ha: 0,55 % from area of Slovak republic
26 794,7190 ha: 0,55 % from area of Slovak republic
Area including protection (buffer) zone
142 789,0005 ha: 2,91% from area of Slovak republic
142 789,0005 ha: 2,91% from area of Slovak republic
Area of the Slovak Republic
49 035 km2 (4 903 500 ha)
49 035 km2 (4 903 500 ha)
State: 31.12.2024
1.3. National system of protected areas in total
1.3.1 Large-scale (LPA) + small-scale (SPA) protected areas
Area after taking into account the overlap of VCHU and MCHU
| Large-scale protected areas (LPA) + Small-scale protected areas (SPA) |
Number | Area in ha including protection zone (*) | % of the territory of Slovakia including protected area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spolu Large-scale protected areas (LPA) + Small-scale protected areas (SPA) | 1151 | 1 137 534 (*) | 23,20 % |
(*) po zohľadnení prekryvu VCHÚ a MCHÚ
Area of the Slovak Republic
49 035 km2 (4 903 500 ha)
49 035 km2 (4 903 500 ha)
State: 31.12.2024
1.3.2 Total area of the national system of protected areas in the Slovak Republic
After taking into account the overlap of the national system territories and the level
of protection applicable according to the latest regulation
- even after the overlap of the national system with territories of European importance.
The total area of the national system of protected areas in the Slovak Republic,
classified by protection levels (2nd to 5th level of territorial protection, i.e. large-scale protected areas
and small-scale protected areas, their protection zones declared or established by law,
but excluding cave protection zones and municipal protected areas that do not have a protection level)
is 1 133 665 ha, which represents 23,12 % of the territory of Slovakia.
This takes into account the mutual overlap of these areas of the national system and the level of protection
valid according to the latest regulation, i.e. even after the overlap of the national system with areas of European importance.
| Total area of the national system of protected areas | % of the area of Slovakia |
|---|---|
| 1 133 665 ha | 23,12 % |
Area of the Slovak Republic
49 035 km2 (4 903 500 ha)
49 035 km2 (4 903 500 ha)
State: 31.12.2024
2. Territories of the European system of protected areas Natura 2000
The territories of the European system of protected areas Natura 2000 - Protected Bird Areas and Areas of European Importance largely overlap with the national system of protected areas.
2.1. Protected Bird Areas (PBA)
| Number of prot. areas | Rozloha CHÚ v ha | Rozloha ochranného pásma v ha | Rozloha CHÚ spolu v ha | % z územia Slovenska vrátane ochr. pásma |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | 1 284 806,0886 | 0,0000 | 1 284 806,0886 | 26,20 % |
Area of the Slovak Republic
49 035 km2 (4 903 500 ha)
49 035 km2 (4 903 500 ha)
State: 31.12.2024
A list of Protected Bird Areas with their area can be found on the website: Protected bird areas.
It is a significant area within the Natura 2000 system, designated for the protection of natural habitats, wild animals and wild plants.
For more information, visit: Sites of European Importance.
3. Natural areas of international importance
All areas of international importance are declared in some category of the National system of protected areas.
State: 31.12.2024