Understanding the challenges faced by natural landscapes with Slovak ecologists. (13.11.2024 16:00)

According to the 2022 WWF Living Planet Report, wildlife populations have declined by an average of 69% over the past 50 years. This species loss affects not only animals but also plants, fungi, and microbes—the fundamental building blocks of any ecosystem. In Slovakia, where forests cover over 40 percent of the landscape, biodiversity within these woodlands is also in decline. Grasslands, which make up nearly 30 percent of the country, are similarly under threat. To better understand the challenges facing these landscapes, we spoke with two experts. Zoltan Kun, a forest ecologist, recently co-authored an open letter to E.U. decision-makers ahead of this year’s COP CBD in Cali, Colombia. Signed by 150 scientists, the letter aims to spotlight the biodiversity crisis in Europe’s vast forests. We also spoke with Monika Janišová, a grasslands researcher with the Slovak Academy of Sciences, who discussed the critical relationship between societies and grasslands.