CSTS Managers and Cooperating Scientists

Primeval Forest Pod Dudášom

The Centre is run by managers and a broad circle of external associates from scientific community. Among them are: Dr. Viliam Pichler (CSTS co-ordinating manager), Emil Hirjak, MSc (technical manager), Dr. Stano Baxa (CSTS manager), Peter Jaloviar, MSc (CSTS manager), Jan Machava, MSc (CSTS manager), Prof. Dr. Eduard Bublinec (soil science, forest ecology, environmental science), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jaroslav Kontriš (botany, geobotany), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Oľga Kontrišová (environmental science), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eva Križová (plant sociology), Prof. RNDr. Pavol Plesník (landscape ecology), Prof. Dr. Milan Saniga (silviculture, primeval forests), Prof. Dr. Ladislav Šomšák (botany), Prof. Dr. Dionýz Vass (geology), Boris Beláček, MSc (geology), Dr. Jaroslav Ďurkovič (micropropagation of rare trees), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Juraj Gregor (soil science), Dr. Anton Krištín (ornithology), Dr. Ján Kulfan (entomology), Dr. Miro Saniga (mammaliology, ornithology), Dr. Peter Zach (ornithology, entomology) and others.

The Institute of Forest Ecology and the City of Zvolen

ÚEL SAV logo

The Institute of Forest Ecology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences is located in Central Slovakia in Zvolen. In forestry circles it is regarded as an indispensable part of Slovak forestry research net.

The hoopoe (Upupa epops). The research carried out at the Institute of Forest Ecology covers all components of both forest and the adjacent ecosystems. Photo: T. Krištín

The principal area of research covers a broad spectrum of forest ecosystems in the western Carpathians. Particular emphasis is placed on the biology and ecology of organisms associated with successional processes in forest ecosystems. The Institute also deals with problems concerning long-term changes and stress factors in forest ecosystems, in both geographic and biotaxonomic terms. Studies on the structure, productivity and stability of natural, semi-natural and commercial forests also feature prominently in the Institute's research program, encompassing pedology, phytocoenology, phenology, mycology, ecophysiology, as well as invertebrate and vertebrate zoology.

The Institute publishes the journals Folia Ecologica and Acta Ecological Slovaca. It participates actively in international research programmes and cooperates with both Slovak and foreign organisations in the field of forest and nature conservation.

History of Zvolen in brief

Coat of arms of Zvolen

Slavic tribes began to settle this area and build fortified settlements approximately in the 6th century. Soon they built a fortified castle on a hill overlooking the Zvolen Hollow. Its main task was to protect an important traders' route "Magna Via". The medieval town of Zvolen was probably granted town privileges before the Tartar invasion in 1241. Having been one of the most important crossroads, it recovered fairly quickly from Tartar raids and as early as 28^th December 1243 the King Belo IV renewed the town's privileges. By this act Zvolen rejoined the group of other "royal" towns. In the meantime, the old castle was replaced by a new castle built by the King Ludovit I ("The Great"). Its importance grew in connection with the Turkish threat. Zvolen acted as the centre of defence of neighbouring wealthy mining towns: Kremnica, Banská Štiavnica, Banská Bystrica. Around the town, city walls were erected and the city never fell into the hands of Turks despite their numerous attempts to take it.

Zvolen Castle

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