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Centre for Scientific Tourism in Slovakia hosted Swiss Ambassador to Slovakia, Mr. Thomas Wernly On June 14, 2000, Mr. Wernly visited Poľana Biosphere Reserve. Dr. Pichler and Dr. Zach, both from CSTS, provided the Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation with the insights into the geological origin of the once largest Carpathian volcano. Mr. Wernly also expressed his interest in the situation of the Poľana's famous mountain spruce forest. After having seen large indigenous, incessant spruce stands, he appreciated their sound health status. It can be attributed both to the air pollution reduction and to the special soil conditions. A part of the soils on the Poľana massif were classified as Andosols with a pronounced allophane effect. This effect manifests itself in favourable soil water and nutrients regimes, among other things. Therefore, trees on such soils usually reach extraordinary dimensions. Following explanations on biodiversity in the Poľana region given by Dr. Zach, Mr. Wernly also set out the reintroduction strategy for lynx in Switzerland. After lunch in Zvolen, Mr. Wernly was shown the National nature Monument Mičinské Travertíny, The monument consists of several travertine piles, having typical bowls on their tops. Water springing form these bowls is strongly mineralised. The importance of this phenomenon consists also in the fact, that just a few miles from there, the landscape appearance changes very abruptly into a karst plateau and still further into a surface shaped by Tertiary volcanism. Mr. Wernly highlighted this enormous geodiversity in the interview he granted to the Slovak State TV. Then Mr. Wernly accompanied by the CSTS guides went on to Poniky, a village with an early gothic church featuring newly restored frescoes. In the church, he enjoyed a rich symbolism used by ancient masters artisans who depicted the whole History of Salvation on a very limited area. Before Mr. Wernly and Dr. Pichler took part in the evening reception given by the Mayor of Zvolen, he managed to pay a brief visit to the Badínsky Primeval Forest as well. In the primeval forest he learnt about the biodiversity research programme carried out by the entomologists from the Institute of Forest Ecology in Zvolen.
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