**2. The Tatra National Park**

The study area covers the whole of the Slovak part of the Tatra Mountains (High Tatras, Belianske Tatras and West Tatras) and a part of the Podtatranska Basin. The Slovak-Polish frontier runs in the north of the study area (Fig. 1).

#### **2.1 Natural biodiversity**

The Tatras form a geomorphological unit at the extreme top of the arching province of the Western Tatras. In terms of exogenous relief-forming processes, the surface of highmountain landscape is the glacial georelief. The tallest peaks of the Tatras are over 2,600 m

Fig. 1. Location of the study area

observed in case of "islands" in the sense of fragments of natural biotopes in the "sea" of the

The most frequently studied fragmentation consequences include assessment of the effects on birds. Betts et al. (2006), who investigated dependence of two bird species on fragmentation of their natural biotopes, confirms the hypothesis that landscape configuration is important for selected species only in case of a too small range area and isolated occurrence of suitable biotopes. Faaborg et al. (1993) pointed to the main fragmentation consequences for the neotropical migrating birds and simultaneously presented his proposals how to minimise the negative effects of fragmentation in landscape management. Parker et al. (2005) studied effects of forest areas and forest edges on distribution of 26 species of singing birds and reports that effects of forest fragmentation is negative for many species while the forest area is more important in terms of bird occurrence than its shape (length of edges). Likewise, Trzcinski et al. (1999) emphasize that the effects of the decline in forest area are more serious than fragmentation alone and that the decline of the forest area cannot be compensated by optimisation of spatial arrangement of the remnant fragments. Kuroshawa and Askins (2003) arrived at a similar conclusion and report that preservation of some species in deciduous forest requires occurrence of sufficiently big forest areas. The same authors also consider the forest acreage a suitable

Fragmentation not only reduces the area of available habitat but can also isolate populations. As the external matrix is physiognomically and ecologically different from the forest patch, an induced edge is formed. Riitters et al. (2002), leaning on studies of several authors, state that a change in area of forest and an increased fragmentation can affect 80 to 90% of all mammals, birds and amphibians. According to habitat types of matrix, Faaborg et

Permanent fragmentation that resulted in islands of forest surrounded by dissimilar

Temporary fragmentation that occurs through timber harvest practices, which create

Large forest areas are rapidly becoming fragmented not only as a result of human activities, but as a result of natural disasters as well*.* In November 2004, the territory of the Tatra National Park, Slovakia was affected by a calamity whirlwind that destroyed around 12,000 ha of forest at altitudes between 700 m to 1,350 m above sea level and substantially changed the vegetation cover in the whole area. The whirlwind and subsequent logging of damaged

The study area covers the whole of the Slovak part of the Tatra Mountains (High Tatras, Belianske Tatras and West Tatras) and a part of the Podtatranska Basin. The Slovak-Polish

The Tatras form a geomorphological unit at the extreme top of the arching province of the Western Tatras. In terms of exogenous relief-forming processes, the surface of highmountain landscape is the glacial georelief. The tallest peaks of the Tatras are over 2,600 m

agro-industrial landscape.

indicator of selected bird species frequency.

habitat types (e.g. urban areas), and

frontier runs in the north of the study area (Fig. 1).

holes of young forest within a matrix of mature forest.

timber has radically changed the natural conditions of local fauna and flora.

al. (1993) recognize:

**2. The Tatra National Park** 

**2.1 Natural biodiversity** 

a. s. l. The basin is classified as the type of morphostructure of dell grabens and morphotectonic depressions with the relief resting on glacial, glacifluvial and polygenic sediments. The climate of the Tatras is cool to very cool and moist. The mean January temperature in the high-mountain part of the territory is between -7 and -11 degrees of Celsius with the mean annual precipitation totals of 1,200 –2,130 mm. The mean January temperature in the cool subtype oscillates between -6 and -7 ºC and the annual precipitation total is between 1,000 and 1,400 mm. The moraine zone in the foreland of the Tatras is classified as the type of cool mountain climate with the mean January temperatures between -5 and -6.5 ºC and the mean annual precipitation total between 800 and 1,100 mm. Mean annual air temperatures in the area of the upper timber line in the altitude of 1,600 – 1,800 m above sea level are 2-4 ºC; in July it is 10 to 12 ºC with the mean annual precipitation totals from 900 to 1,200 mm. The annual course of the air temperature with the minimum in January and the maximum in July prevails in the territory. The lowest temperature instead of occurring in January often moves to February and the highest temperature occurs in August in the highest positions above 2,000 m. n. m. Inversions are typical for the region. The amount of precipitation in the Tatras increases with the increasing sea level altitude. Monthly totals are minimum in winter and maximum in summer. The amplitude of the yearly course depends not only on the sea level altitude but also on exposition of the terrain.

Nature of the Tatras is the unique example of the fully devolved alpine ecosystems on a comparatively small and completely isolated territory lacking any direct links to other alpine mountain ecosystems. It is precisely this feature that makes the Tatras so unique and valuable in terms of natural history not only for Slovakia but also Europe. The great species diversity of fungi, vascular and non-vascular plants in the Tatras is the result of pronounced altitude differences, varied geology but also diverse moist conditions and soils. Endemites of the Tatras, Western Tatras and the Carpathians are the most important representatives of flora. Forest and non-forest plant association linked to five vegetation zones and the substrate exist in this territory.

Destruction of the Forest Habitat in the Tatra National Park, Slovakia 261

The alpine zone including alpine meadows stretches to 2,300 m a.s. l (Fig. 3). The only wood species resisting the extreme conditions are the low shrubs of *Salix kitaibeliana, Salix alpina, Salix reticulata, Salix herbacea, Juniperus communis* subsp. *alpina, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium gaultherioides, Calluna vulgaris,* and *Empetrum hermaphroditum, Juncus trifidus, Festuca supina, Campanula alpinum, Hieracium alpinum,* and *Pulsatilla scherfelii* dominate on granite substrate. The most exuberant plant associations with the typical representatives like *Dryas octopetala, Festuca versicolor, Saxifraga caesia, Primula auricula*  and *Helianthemum alpestre* grow on the base rocks in the Belianske Tatras and in a part of the

The subnival zone, as the only in the territory of Slovakia, reaches to the sea level altitude of 2,300 m. Its area in the High Tatras is about 9.6 km² (Izakovičová et. al, 2008) and it is located in the core zone of the National Park. It is remarkable for the reduced vegetation period and a very thin soil layer. Lichens, mosses and algae prevail in these conditions while the vascular plants are represented by *Gentiana frigida, Silene acaulis, Saxifraga bryoides, Cerastium uniflorum, Saxifraga retusa, Festuca supina, Poa laxa,* and *Oreochlora disticha*. About forty species of vascular plants also occur in altitudes over 2,600 m. a.s.l. and some of them

Endemites that occur only in certain spots are among the extremely rare species of the Tatra flora – 57 species represent the Carpathian endemites in the Tatras. Among them is, for instance, *Aconitum firmum* subsp. *firmum*. The West Carpathian endemites include paleoendemites from the Tertiary Era, for instance, *Saxifraga wahlengergii, Delphinium oxysepalum* and *Dianthus nitidus*. The Tatra endemites cover 36 species of genera *Alchemilla*, *Thalictrum minus subsp. carpaticum* and *Cochlearia tatrae*. The endemite of the High Tatras is

In terms of age structure, the young growths at the age below 40 years and three- or multilayer older growths resist best the winds. The planted spruce monoculture at the age of 40-60 years is prone to snow calamities and 60-100 years old stands are susceptible to wind calamities. Ecologically very stable growths at the age of 140-220 year also occur in the subalpine zone. However, the 80-100 years old growths with low resistance due to single layer prevail in the High Tatras and in the Belianske Tatras. In extremes of the valleys of the montane zone of the Western Tatras there are 100-120 year old ecologically stable growths (Izakovičová et al., 2008). The best resistance is observed in a three-layer forest growth,

*Ranunculus altitatrensis* and the one of the Belianske Tatras is *Hieracium slovacum*.

Western Tatras.

are glacial relicts.

Fig. 3. Biocenoses in the alpine zone (Photo: M. Kopecká)

Fig. 2. Vegetation zones over the Štrbské Pleso Lake in the High Tatras (Photo: M. Kopecká)

The submontane zone covers the lowest part of the region up to the sea level altitude of 800- 900 m. The transformed forest is typical while agricultural landscape prevails. The original mixed forests, which once covered the total submontane zone, survive only in inaccessible and mostly wetlogged localities. Spruce-pine and fir-beech woods grow here on acid substrates. The dominant species is the spruce (*Picea abies*). Rare and threatened species like *Ledum palustre, Pedicularis sceptrum-carolinum* and *Iris sibirica* grow in wetland and peat bogs. Among other important species are *Carex lasiocarpa, Carex davalliana, Gymnadenia conopsea, Menyanthes trifoliata, Primula farinosa* and *Pinguicula vulgaris*.

The montane zone is located at the attitude from do 800-900 m a. s. l. to 1,500-1,550 m a.s.l. It includes thick woods with the dominance of *Picea abies*. Broad-leaved forests with dominance of birch and alder trees prevail on the wet soils in the foothills of the Tatras. In altitudes below 1,200 m apart from spruce trees other species like *Pinus sylvestris, Abies alba, Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus silvatica, Betula pendula,* and *Salix caprea* grow. The most common shrubs include *Lonicera nigra, Lonicera xylosteum, Rosa pendulina* and *Rubus ideaus*. Mountain spruce woods almost exclusively dominate in altitudes above 1,250 m a. s. l. *Sorbus aucuparia, Larix decidua* and *Pinus cembra* thrive on acid soil while *Acer pseudoplatanus* and *Fagus silvatica* prefer calcareous substrates. Peat bogs (*Sphagnum sp*.) with occurrence of many rare species such as *Eriophorum vaginatum, Drosera rotundifolia, Oxycoccus palustris*  represent other than forest associations.

Subalpine zone spreads from 1,500-1,800 m. a. s. l. Vegetation consists of continuous growths of *Pinus mugo* and dwarfed trees. In the lower parts of the zone species like *Picea abies, Pinus cembra, Betula carpatica, Ribes alpinum, Ribes petraeum, Sorbus aucuparia* and *Salix silesiaca* occur. Among herbs are *Aconitum firmum* subsp. *firmum*, *Cicerbita alpina* and *Doronicum austriacum*.

Fig. 2. Vegetation zones over the Štrbské Pleso Lake in the High Tatras (Photo: M. Kopecká) The submontane zone covers the lowest part of the region up to the sea level altitude of 800- 900 m. The transformed forest is typical while agricultural landscape prevails. The original mixed forests, which once covered the total submontane zone, survive only in inaccessible and mostly wetlogged localities. Spruce-pine and fir-beech woods grow here on acid substrates. The dominant species is the spruce (*Picea abies*). Rare and threatened species like *Ledum palustre, Pedicularis sceptrum-carolinum* and *Iris sibirica* grow in wetland and peat bogs. Among other important species are *Carex lasiocarpa, Carex davalliana, Gymnadenia conopsea,* 

The montane zone is located at the attitude from do 800-900 m a. s. l. to 1,500-1,550 m a.s.l. It includes thick woods with the dominance of *Picea abies*. Broad-leaved forests with dominance of birch and alder trees prevail on the wet soils in the foothills of the Tatras. In altitudes below 1,200 m apart from spruce trees other species like *Pinus sylvestris, Abies alba, Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus silvatica, Betula pendula,* and *Salix caprea* grow. The most common shrubs include *Lonicera nigra, Lonicera xylosteum, Rosa pendulina* and *Rubus ideaus*. Mountain spruce woods almost exclusively dominate in altitudes above 1,250 m a. s. l. *Sorbus aucuparia, Larix decidua* and *Pinus cembra* thrive on acid soil while *Acer pseudoplatanus* and *Fagus silvatica* prefer calcareous substrates. Peat bogs (*Sphagnum sp*.) with occurrence of many rare species such as *Eriophorum vaginatum, Drosera rotundifolia, Oxycoccus palustris* 

Subalpine zone spreads from 1,500-1,800 m. a. s. l. Vegetation consists of continuous growths of *Pinus mugo* and dwarfed trees. In the lower parts of the zone species like *Picea abies, Pinus cembra, Betula carpatica, Ribes alpinum, Ribes petraeum, Sorbus aucuparia* and *Salix silesiaca* occur. Among herbs are *Aconitum firmum* subsp. *firmum*, *Cicerbita alpina* and *Doronicum austriacum*.

*Menyanthes trifoliata, Primula farinosa* and *Pinguicula vulgaris*.

represent other than forest associations.

The alpine zone including alpine meadows stretches to 2,300 m a.s. l (Fig. 3). The only wood species resisting the extreme conditions are the low shrubs of *Salix kitaibeliana, Salix alpina, Salix reticulata, Salix herbacea, Juniperus communis* subsp. *alpina, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium gaultherioides, Calluna vulgaris,* and *Empetrum hermaphroditum, Juncus trifidus, Festuca supina, Campanula alpinum, Hieracium alpinum,* and *Pulsatilla scherfelii* dominate on granite substrate. The most exuberant plant associations with the typical representatives like *Dryas octopetala, Festuca versicolor, Saxifraga caesia, Primula auricula*  and *Helianthemum alpestre* grow on the base rocks in the Belianske Tatras and in a part of the Western Tatras.

Fig. 3. Biocenoses in the alpine zone (Photo: M. Kopecká)

The subnival zone, as the only in the territory of Slovakia, reaches to the sea level altitude of 2,300 m. Its area in the High Tatras is about 9.6 km² (Izakovičová et. al, 2008) and it is located in the core zone of the National Park. It is remarkable for the reduced vegetation period and a very thin soil layer. Lichens, mosses and algae prevail in these conditions while the vascular plants are represented by *Gentiana frigida, Silene acaulis, Saxifraga bryoides, Cerastium uniflorum, Saxifraga retusa, Festuca supina, Poa laxa,* and *Oreochlora disticha*. About forty species of vascular plants also occur in altitudes over 2,600 m. a.s.l. and some of them are glacial relicts.

Endemites that occur only in certain spots are among the extremely rare species of the Tatra flora – 57 species represent the Carpathian endemites in the Tatras. Among them is, for instance, *Aconitum firmum* subsp. *firmum*. The West Carpathian endemites include paleoendemites from the Tertiary Era, for instance, *Saxifraga wahlengergii, Delphinium oxysepalum* and *Dianthus nitidus*. The Tatra endemites cover 36 species of genera *Alchemilla*, *Thalictrum minus subsp. carpaticum* and *Cochlearia tatrae*. The endemite of the High Tatras is *Ranunculus altitatrensis* and the one of the Belianske Tatras is *Hieracium slovacum*.

In terms of age structure, the young growths at the age below 40 years and three- or multilayer older growths resist best the winds. The planted spruce monoculture at the age of 40-60 years is prone to snow calamities and 60-100 years old stands are susceptible to wind calamities. Ecologically very stable growths at the age of 140-220 year also occur in the subalpine zone. However, the 80-100 years old growths with low resistance due to single layer prevail in the High Tatras and in the Belianske Tatras. In extremes of the valleys of the montane zone of the Western Tatras there are 100-120 year old ecologically stable growths (Izakovičová et al., 2008). The best resistance is observed in a three-layer forest growth,

Destruction of the Forest Habitat in the Tatra National Park, Slovakia 263

Fig. 4. Diminution of forest near the town of Vysoké Tatry a/ in 2000 b/in 2006

Fig. 5. Thousands of hectares of forest were damaged by the 2004 whirlwind (Photo: P.

Barabáš)

which however, is rare in the Tatras. The whirlwind that struck the mountain range in November 2004 damaged prevailingly single-layer spruce or combined larch/spruce growths.

The varied building of zoocenoses of vertebrates and invertebrates depends on varied types of biotopes in individual zones, while there are several endemites and relic species in the Tatras. The montane zone is the richest in terms of wild life. Thanks to high diversity of biotopes (shrubby vegetation, monocultured woods, mixed woods, thin underwood with grasslands) plenty of animal species live in forests. *Capreolus capreolus* and *Sus scrofa* find food not only in the forest but also in the contiguous farm cultures. Typical field species like *Lepus europaeus* and *Perdix perdix* also live there. *Cervus elaphus* is comparatively common. *Ursus arctos, Lynx lynx, Felis sylvestris, Martes martes and Meles meles* represent carnivorous animals in the forest zone. *Tetrao urogallus, Tetrastes bonasia, Accipiter gentilis, Falco subbuteo*, and *Aquila pomarina* are the bird species that stand out in the fauna of the Tatras. *Lutra Lutra*, an eminent indicator of the water environment quality, is rare and threatened. *Salamandra salamandra, Triturus alpestris* and *Triturus montadoni* are the amphibians worth mentioning. The dwarf pine zone is in fact an intermediate phase between the montane and alpine zones. Chamoix descend to this zone in winter in search for food, while several predators from the forest zone ascend here in summer. Because of harsh living conditions only a limited number of animals lives in the alpine zone, among them *Rupicapra rupicapra tatrica, Marmota marmota latirostris*, *Pitymys tatricus, Chionomys nivalis, Tichodroma muraria, Anthus spinoletta, Aquila chrysaetos*, and *Oenanthe oenanthe*.

#### **2.2 Disastrous whirlwind of November 2004**

19. November 2004 between 15:00 and 20:00 hours, the territory of Slovakia was swept by the whirlwind with almost 200 km/hour gusts. It caused the greatest damage in the territory of the Tatra National Park where in a short time more than 12,000 hectares of forest growths were wrecked (Crofts et al., 2005). It is an area greater than the one annually forested in the total territory of Slovakia. The wind uprooted a continuous belt of forest from Podbanské to Tatranská Kotlina at the altitude from 700 to 1,250-1,350 m a.s.l (Fig. 4). The border between the damaged and undamaged forest was almost straight line following the contour line at the altitude of 1,150 m a.s.l., in the eastern and 1,350 m a.s.l. in the western parts of the territory. In the absolute majority of cases the trees were uprooted, broken trees were rare. Orientation of uprooted trees seen on the aerial photographs and in the terrain confirmed that the damage was caused by the north-eastern to northern winds (Jankovič, 2007).

Representation of individual wood species damaged by the calamity was roughly the same as the wood species composition of growths before the event. The share of spruce trees, of course, dominated with 76%, those of pine, larch, and fir amounted to 8%, 7%, and 15 % respectively while the share of damaged broadleaved wood species was 7.5 %. Estimating by the age, the 60-120 year old specimens with almost 60% share in the total calamity damage were the ones most affected (Fig. 5).

Repeated forest fires that are extremely harmful for biodiversity followed several years after the calamity whirlwind. Fire – either caused by humans or natural – impairs and damages all components of forest ecosystems disrupting the production and other functions of the forest. The biggest fire in the history of the Tatras broke out in a year after the calamity whirlwind (2005) in the calamity area. It damaged 230 hectares of forest biotopes along with about 15,000 cubic metres of unprocessed timber and about 14 hectares of live forest (Fig.6).

which however, is rare in the Tatras. The whirlwind that struck the mountain range in November 2004 damaged prevailingly single-layer spruce or combined larch/spruce

The varied building of zoocenoses of vertebrates and invertebrates depends on varied types of biotopes in individual zones, while there are several endemites and relic species in the Tatras. The montane zone is the richest in terms of wild life. Thanks to high diversity of biotopes (shrubby vegetation, monocultured woods, mixed woods, thin underwood with grasslands) plenty of animal species live in forests. *Capreolus capreolus* and *Sus scrofa* find food not only in the forest but also in the contiguous farm cultures. Typical field species like *Lepus europaeus* and *Perdix perdix* also live there. *Cervus elaphus* is comparatively common. *Ursus arctos, Lynx lynx, Felis sylvestris, Martes martes and Meles meles* represent carnivorous animals in the forest zone. *Tetrao urogallus, Tetrastes bonasia, Accipiter gentilis, Falco subbuteo*, and *Aquila pomarina* are the bird species that stand out in the fauna of the Tatras. *Lutra Lutra*, an eminent indicator of the water environment quality, is rare and threatened. *Salamandra salamandra, Triturus alpestris* and *Triturus montadoni* are the amphibians worth mentioning. The dwarf pine zone is in fact an intermediate phase between the montane and alpine zones. Chamoix descend to this zone in winter in search for food, while several predators from the forest zone ascend here in summer. Because of harsh living conditions only a limited number of animals lives in the alpine zone, among them *Rupicapra rupicapra tatrica, Marmota marmota latirostris*, *Pitymys tatricus, Chionomys nivalis, Tichodroma muraria, Anthus spinoletta,* 

19. November 2004 between 15:00 and 20:00 hours, the territory of Slovakia was swept by the whirlwind with almost 200 km/hour gusts. It caused the greatest damage in the territory of the Tatra National Park where in a short time more than 12,000 hectares of forest growths were wrecked (Crofts et al., 2005). It is an area greater than the one annually forested in the total territory of Slovakia. The wind uprooted a continuous belt of forest from Podbanské to Tatranská Kotlina at the altitude from 700 to 1,250-1,350 m a.s.l (Fig. 4). The border between the damaged and undamaged forest was almost straight line following the contour line at the altitude of 1,150 m a.s.l., in the eastern and 1,350 m a.s.l. in the western parts of the territory. In the absolute majority of cases the trees were uprooted, broken trees were rare. Orientation of uprooted trees seen on the aerial photographs and in the terrain confirmed

that the damage was caused by the north-eastern to northern winds (Jankovič, 2007).

Representation of individual wood species damaged by the calamity was roughly the same as the wood species composition of growths before the event. The share of spruce trees, of course, dominated with 76%, those of pine, larch, and fir amounted to 8%, 7%, and 15 % respectively while the share of damaged broadleaved wood species was 7.5 %. Estimating by the age, the 60-120 year old specimens with almost 60% share in the total calamity

Repeated forest fires that are extremely harmful for biodiversity followed several years after the calamity whirlwind. Fire – either caused by humans or natural – impairs and damages all components of forest ecosystems disrupting the production and other functions of the forest. The biggest fire in the history of the Tatras broke out in a year after the calamity whirlwind (2005) in the calamity area. It damaged 230 hectares of forest biotopes along with about 15,000 cubic metres of unprocessed timber and about 14 hectares of live forest (Fig.6).

growths.

*Aquila chrysaetos*, and *Oenanthe oenanthe*.

**2.2 Disastrous whirlwind of November 2004** 

damage were the ones most affected (Fig. 5).

Fig. 4. Diminution of forest near the town of Vysoké Tatry a/ in 2000 b/in 2006

Fig. 5. Thousands of hectares of forest were damaged by the 2004 whirlwind (Photo: P. Barabáš)

Destruction of the Forest Habitat in the Tatra National Park, Slovakia 265

clasify a land cover type of interest into four main fragmentation components. Although originally intended for forest fragmentation analysis, the LFT is also aplicable to any land

CLC data layers are accessible in vector format. For the identification of forest fragmentation, conversion of LFT into the raster format was needed. The preparatory steps consisted of data selection for the model territory and their conversion to the grid reclassification of classes. The module *Polygrid* with 25 m cell size was used for the conversion of the vector format to raster – grid. Cell size was opted taking into account the fact that in interpretation of land cover the LANDSAT 4 TM a LANDSAT 7 ETM satellite

As the LFA tool requires a 3 class land cover map as an input, it was necessary to aggregate land cover classes in order to discern forest and other than forest areas, i.e. to reclassify land

 1 = fragmenting land cover: residential, commercial, urban, pastures, orchards, fallows (on the study area CLC classes 112, 121, 124, 131, 134, 142, 211, 222, 231,242, 243, 321,

2 = non-fragmenting land cover: water, rocks, ice, snow, sand ( CLC classes 411, 511,

Forest is classified into four main fragmentation components: *patch, edge*, *perforated*, and *core* (Fig.7). 'Core forest' is relatively far from the forest/non-forest boundary and 'patch forest' comprises coherent forest regions that are too small to contain core forest. 'Perforated forest' defines the boundaries between the core forest and relatively small perforations, and 'edge forest' includes the interior boundaries with relatively large perforations as well as the

Fig. 7. Illustration of four types of spatial pattern on an artificial map (Vogt et al., 2007)

The forest area classification is based on a specified edge width (Parent & Hurd 2008). The edge width indicates the distance over which other land covers (i.e. urban) can degrade forest. The core pixels are outside the "edge effect" and thus are not degraded from

cover classes so that the grids input into the analysis contains the following values:

cover type of interest.

322, 324, 333)

512 and 332)

images with the resolution capacity of 25 m were used.

3 = forest (CLC classes 311, 312 and 313)

exterior boundaries of the core forest regions.

Fig. 6. Fire of 2005 damaged 230 ha of forest biotopes (Photo: P. Barabáš)

It also damaged the natural undergrowth and artificially restored growth on an area amounting to about 13 hectares. It was additional factor that contributed to the significant fragmentation of forest in the Tatra National Park.
