Recent letters to CSTS

"Attaching a high priority to the co-operation with the Central and Eastern European countries, I acted, in September 1997, when I was Head of the Environmental Committee of the Council of Europe, as an expert during an in situ appraisal preceding the award of the European Diploma to Slovak Dobroc Primeval Forest. Hence I know it and could appreciate the big variety of plant and animal species.

We have destroyed primeval forestst in Western Europe. Slovakia has the big chance to possess, with some other Central and Eastern European countries, some very important of these exceptional ecosystems. But this situation includes also the responsibility to protect them as they are of international value and are part of the "Common world heritage".

I would like to take this opportunity to underline the importance this event (Editors note: the introduction of CSTS new book "Slovak primeval forests - diversity and protection) and to encourage you to well preserve and manage these kind of natural relics, which will be under increasing pressure with man's development policy."

Dr. Jean-Pierre Ribaut
Former Head of the Division of Environment
Council of Europe, Strasbourg, France

"Viliam, my feet have not touched the ground since I have been back - of course even by being away for a week increases the pressure on you at work! Nevertheless I would not have changed things one bit - the week was excellent indeed, and like every such experience it changes your life permanently thereafter - that week is a heightened part of your life, and so counts for so much more than most of the other weeks in the year! So I will do your questionaire soon."

Peter Quelch

"Thank you very much for taking such good care of us and taking us to so many amazing places. I thought the Czech Republic was lovely but Slovakia is stunning. You did very well to show us so much in only three days. I was very sorry to leave Slovakia and your company."

Hester Cox

Guides and guests in front of the Prosiecka Valley

"I would like to thank you for an excellent day out, it really was very enjoyable and informative and in retrospect I wish we had arranged to have more time with you.

It was superb to have someone with such enthusiasm for the work they are involved in and with such a breadth of knowledge not only of the forest environment but of the geology and history of the location.It is important for visitors to feel relaxed and enjoy their visit as well as take on board information, for myself you have achieved a perfect balance."

Graeme Mactavish

Dear Viliam,

Just a short note to thank you for your assistance to Dan and I on our recent visit to the Slovak and Czech Republics! The visit was a great success from our point of view and we also had a brilliant time! Maggie and Jan did an excellent job in guiding us. I am sorry that you were not able to join us, but I hope that we will meet you again soon.

With best wishes and thanks.

Phil Lyth, FWAG, Northallerton, UK

I have placed a link to your excellent gallery of photos at the Slovakia Sightseeing page (http://goeasteurope.about.com/msubsk7.htm). It will be uploaded later today.

I am also recommending to another About guide ecosystems.guide@about.com

Bill Biega
goeasteurope.guide@about.com
We mine the Web so you don't have to.

"It was wonderful to be in areas which have not been saturated by tourism and to be in woodlands which were unspoilt. That's the real charm of Slovakia and I know that tourism will grow there in the future but hopefully will not destroy this unique beauty of Slovakia. It's very  encouraging to know that your organisation is promoting this in a sensitive and sustainable fashion. In many places this has been lost in the West."

Karen Dobbins, The Central Scotland Countryside Trust

The day long tour with Viliam Pichler and staff at the Centre for Scientific Tourism, based in nearby Zvolen, was an inspirational experience for me. It was a genuine pleasure to met fellow environmentalists who were obviously extremely patriotic and proud of Slovak heritage, culture and it landscape characteristics.
 
The tour involved visits to Polana World Biosphere Reserve near Zvolen. The view from the summit was breathtaking and took in the Low and High Tatras and the densely wooded hillside of Polana itself (a collapsed Caldera). All around you could see many remote hillside farms and summer pastures of a culture virtually unchanged for centuries.
 
Other visits included the wooden Church at Hronsek, the mineral springs at Micinske Travertíny, the primeval  forest at Badín and finally the ancient mining town of  Banská Bystrica.
 
I hope to remain in contact with Viliam Pichler and The Centre for Scientific Tourism and help to promote and sustain its objectives.

David Graham, South West Environmental Action Project (SWEAP), UK

Later we walked down a steep sided wooded valley where there was much evidence of forestry activity. Joseph was kindly awaiting us and took us off to lunch.

We were then scheduled to visit the unique wine cellars at Hrušov which are caves carved into the tufa and ideal for the storage of wine (and even more ideal, we were later to learn, for evading prying eyes of wives). We met two most kind and jolly men who took us to their respective cellars for sampling purposes. These two excellent men, Mr. Stanko and Mr. Benko, merrily poured the contents of their casks into glasses fill even the most hardened amongst us had to say "enough". They then filled six plastic bottles with their wine, handed it to us, saw us to our car and having locked their cellar doors, gave us a cheery wave and set off laughing back to their homes. We were touched by their kindness and enriched by their fellowship.

Are all Slovaks like this we wondered?

Roger Stott, Yorkshire Dales

The onlyrider I would like to add concerns European Larch. During the last century British Foresters were plagued by Larch Canker affecting European Larch. Some tree growers switched over to using Japanese Larch, but as you know it twists & Corkscrews although it grows quickly. However other tree growers began using the Dunkeld Hybrid Larch (you probably know all this so I am teaching my grandmother to suck eggs...). Down in Kent south of Canterbury in the mid 50s I planted 2 ha of Hybrid Larch. So for a long time foresters kept away from European Larch (I think close planting might have worstened the problem). Eventually tree growers became aware of the superb qualities of European Larch from the Tatras (I just have a few). So I am sure the RFS party would be delighted to see some of this Larch.

Hugh Kemp

Note: Also see brief excursion reports and what VIPs think about Slovakia.

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