Private Landowners Threaten Lawsuit Over Tatra National Park Zoning, Claim State Failed to Consult Them

Private landowners in Slovakia's Tatra Mountains are preparing legal action against the state, claiming they were not consulted about zoning changes in Tatranský národný park (Tatra National Park). Under Slovak law, protected areas can only be declared on privately-owned land with the explicit consent of the property owner. The landowners assert that the state does not possess such consent for their properties within the national park boundaries, alleging that authorities have ignored their legal rights in the zoning process. The dispute highlights tensions between conservation efforts and property rights in one of Slovakia's most important protected natural areas, which encompasses part of the High Tatras mountain range along the border with Poland.