Poľana is the highest and best-preserved volcanic mountain range in Slovakia. Forests dominate the area, while its diverse terrain supports a rich mosaic of grazed and mown meadows, peat bogs, as well as unique traditional farmland plots and old orchards.

  • We are restoring mountain meadows and opening up forest stands to support habitats of the Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
  • We are regenerating juniper stands and implementing agroforestry measures.
  • A key priority for us is improved protection of the Western Capercaillie habitat and of the extremely rare plant Thlaspi jankae, which occurs at only a single site in Slovakia, within the Site of Community Importance Hradné lúky.
Borievkové porasty_Vrchdetva
Some of the most valuable juniper pasture communities on Poľana are found at the Vrchdetva site, home to rare and endangered invertebrate species. Photo: PLA Poľana
9 Thesium ebracteatum 2
The plant Thlaspi jankae was considered extinct for almost 100 years and was rediscovered at Hradné lúky in 2016. Photo: Peter Potocký