PROACT SLOVAKIA 2006

MINING OPERATIONS

HOME | MINING OPERATIONS | BEFORE & AFTER | PROTEST TO TOURNIGAN | COMMISSIONER DIMAS | PROACT MAIN


 
I know the background take me direct to the   ACTION
  
 

MINING OPERATIONS POSE A THREAT TO ENDANGERED BIRD SPECIES AND HABITATS IN SLOVAKIA

Almost exactly 5 years ago Proact ran its first ever campaign, at the request of Slovak NGOs, to prevent exploitation of natural resources by foreign mining companies and have the Slovak Karst declared a National Park. This aim was achieved after considerable lobbying of government ministries, parliamentary bodies and members of parliament.

 

In the meantime conservation efforts were actively pursued and nature protection legislation was put in place. As part of the Natura 2000 programme the Slovak government agreed to the designation of SPAs and SSSIs and these were submitted to the EU in Brussels. Before however the planned areas could be finally confirmed, and afforded the required protection, the spectre of the exploitation of Slovakia’s natural resources has again emerged. The mining lobby have persuaded the Ministry for the Economy to draw up a new draft law which will give mining operations priority over nature protection in selected areas. Once again short-term gains threaten to take precedence over conservation of natural landscape, community recreational needs and jeopardize the breeding habitats and key populations of large raptors and other endangered bird species (See details in the draft letter below).

 

 For orientation, maps showing planned mining activities for uranium and gold are shown on the Canadian Tournigan Gold Corporation’s website at:

 

http://www.tournigan.com/s/Uranium.asp 

 

and

 

http://www.tournigan.com/s/Kremnica.asp

 

The Slovak NGOs are preparing a legal case to challenge the most dangerous clauses in the new law and have them removed. They have the support of their Environment Ministry. They are now appealing for a public expression of support by international conservationists and nature lovers.

For a visual impression of the possible impacts, and well-documented environmental legacies of such operations, see:
 


WHAT YOU CAN DO

 

In consultation with Slovak conservationists we have prepared a draft text to be sent to the responsible Economy Ministry. Send it (or one with your own concerns and suggestions - some tips here) via the link provided - or by post or fax - to

 

MAIL TO MINISTRY OF THE ECONOMY

 

Plain text:

To:   polocikova@economy.gov.sk;dunko@economy.gov.sk;

Cc:   pilinsky.peter@enviro.gov.sk; juskova.anna@enviro.gov.sk;

Bcc:   sosna@changenet.sk;  info@proact-campaigns.net

It is important that you also take time to send emails to the main foreign mining company involved

 

LINK TO TOURNIGAN GOLD CORPORATION

 

and to alert the EU Environmental Commissioner

 

LINK TO EU COMMISSIONER DIMAS

 


HABITAT AND SPECIES PROTECTION MUST NOT BECOME VICTIMS OF NATURAL RESOURCE EXPLOITATION

 

By electronic mail (staff please forward personally) to:

 

Mr Jirko Malcharek

Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic and Minister for Economy

 

with copy to:

 

Mr Michal Duranko

General Director Production and Network Industries Section

 

Info copy for attention of:

 

Prof. Dr. László Miklós

Minister for the Environment

 

Dear Minister,

 

It is with great dismay that I/we have learnt of proposals to change the Slovakian mining law, giving priority to exploitation of natural resources over conservation, nature protection and local recreational interests.

 

Since joining the European Union in 2004 Slovakia has researched and nominated Specially Protected Areas (SPAs) as part of the Natura 2000 programme and the proposals have been accepted in Brussels. It now rests with the Slovakian Government to confirm these sites and afford them the required protection.

 

Planned mining operations in the neighbourhood of Kremnica, Kosice and Dubnica nad Váhom, are either planned within proposed SPAs or sufficiently adjacent as to adversely affect protected bird species and their habitats and, in the case of Kosice, could represent a hazard to human life or health.

 

At threat are important European populations of endangered bird species, and their breeding habitats, such as the Eastern Imperial Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle, and Ural Owl. Other species threatened include the Black Stork, Black, Three-toed and White-backed Woodpeckers, Capercaillie, Pygmy Owl, Hazel Grouse and other species of community concern according to SPA designation criteria.

 

Passing the new mining law in its present form, ignoring conservation and local recreational interests, would undermine the Slovakian Natura 2000 programme and offend against national nature protection laws, the Slovak Constitution and the European Union Birds and Habitat Directives.

 

I/We urge you to accept the advice of your national non-governmental organisations (e.g. SOSNA, SOVS, and VLK/WOLF) and remove all controversial clauses which would lead to contravention of Slovakian and EU legislation and this could lead to legal sanctions being imposed by the EU if SPAs and SCIs are not designated ad planned. We will be writing separately to Mr Stavros Dimas, EU Commissioner for the Environment to bring the matter to his attention.

 

In the hope that you will once again take account of legitimate international interest and concern in our common European natural resources I/we remain,

 

Sincerely

 

(Name and address)


Last updated on:

© Proact 2006