SDG National Commitments Form: Submission #28

Please outline briefly the commitment(s) made in the areas outlined above Increase the share of forests where close-to-nature practices are applied to 25% (500 thousand ha).

Close-to-nature forest management is the gradual creation of forests with a differentiated age, species, genetic and spatial structure mimicking the natural forests characteristic of the conditions of a given locality. Such forests contribute to the conservation of biodiversity, they are more resilient and better adapted to the adverse impacts of climate change and thus able to provide the required ecosystem services. Close-to-nature practices form an integral part of sustainable forest management – a long-term strategic goal anchored in the national forest policy.

Restore 125 km of rivers by 2023.

Slovakia, as a landlocked country, borders five countries and shares the largest international river basin, the Danube, with 14 countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Cooperation in international structures is therefore essential for us and has a long tradition. With the adoption of the National Water Policy in 2022, Slovakia has embarked on a path of promoting the revitalisation of rivers, and restoring the natural character of streams that have been modified or straightened in the past for various reasons.
Restoring natural conditions will improve the resilience of river systems and provide the framework for the sustainable multifunctional use of rivers including increased resilience to adverse climate change impacts.

This national commitment also draws on a commitment presented by Slovakia at the UN Water Conference in March 2023:
Rivers restoration - https://sdgs.un.org/partnerships/rivers-restoration