Rasi: Swiss-Slovak Cooperation to Bring over €24 million to National Parks

Tisovec, December 6 (TASR) - Thanks to Slovak-Swiss cooperation, Slovak national parks will be able to draw on a package of over €24 million, with the money being destined for developing infrastructure and protecting conservation areas, said Investment Minister Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) after signing the respective agreement with Swiss Ambassador to Slovakia Peter Nelson on the Zbojska mountain pass (Banska Bystrica region) on Friday. The cooperation between Slovakia and Switzerland in the framework of support for national parks should be mainly focused on supporting sustainable tourism and strengthening biodiversity in conservation areas. Switzerland will support Slovakia's national parks with a sum amounting to 22.8 Swiss franks (over €24 million). "This money will be used to build national park infrastructure, such as information centres, eco-educational centres, tourist spots and shelters. The money should also help our national parks to team up and cooperate with each other, to administer parks, as well as many pilot projects," said Rasi. All national parks in Slovakia will receive money, but Switzerland has set a condition that the less-known ones should have priority. The support for parks should be built on two basic pillars: developing infrastructure and soft activities. "This means working with the public and with people. Once the infrastructure is built, be it visitor centres, huts or tourist shelters, the goal of the next part of the project is to engage in educational activities developing biodiversity," said Environment Ministry State Secretary Filip Kuffa. In addition to investments in developing national parks, the Swiss ambassador expects the cooperation to lead to exchanges of expertise. ko/df