Established by Decree of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Socialist Republic No. 58/1985 Coll. of 24 June 1985, as amended by Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic No. 287/1994 Coll.
Address:
Správa CHKO Ponitrie
(Administration of the Ponitrie PLA)
Samova ul. 3
949 01 Nitra
Web:
https://chkoponitrie.sopsr.sk
Tel.:
037 77 64 901
Fax:
037 77 64 903
HOT LINE:
0911 485 274
Area of operation: the Protected Landscape Area, the districts of Bánovce nad Bebravou, Levice, Nitra, Partizánske, Prievidza, Topoľčany, Zlaté Moravce and partially the districts of Žarnovica and Žiar nad Hronom.
The Ponitrie Protected Landscape Area is situated in two distinct orographic regions – Tribeč and Vtáčnik. They differ in terms of geological structure, forest types, and plant and animal communities.
Tribeč is one of the ancient central mountain ranges. It is composed of crystalline schists and granodiorites, as well as Mesozoic rocks (limestones, dolomites, quartzites and schists), of which the quartzite hills, which run along its ridge from west to east, are morphologically unique. The Tribeč region is characterised by oak-hornbeam, oak and, at higher altitudes, beech forests. Given its altitude, geological substrate and aspect, the Tribeč region is predominantly covered by thermophilic plant communities. Rare and protected species grow here, such as the Slovak pennywort, the stinking hellebore, the Venetian sweet pea, the dwarf iris, the spring snowflake, the large-flowered pasque flower, the golden-headed lily and a number of other protected species.
Vtáčnik, a younger mountain range of volcanic origin, forms part of the volcanic Slovak Central Mountains. Andesites and their pyroclastic deposits are the most widespread rock types in the area. Vtáčnik is characterised by beech forests and mixed beech and fir stands. The summit of Vtáčnik is covered by shrubby beech stands, known as deciduous dwarf pine forest with native spruce, in which mountain plant species such as garlic-leaved saxifrage, Austrian chamomile and hairy woodrush are found, plane-leaved rockcress, Moldavian helmet-flower and a notable occurrence of Siberian saxifrage. The common yew is also found here, albeit rarely.
Among the fauna of the Ponitrie Protected Landscape Area, the presence of the lynx and the wildcat as native carnivores is particularly noteworthy. In Vtáčnik, as well as in Tribeč, the brown bear is appearing with increasing frequency, and the wolf is occasionally sighted. Furthermore, red deer are found here, whilst roe deer and wild boar inhabit the lower-lying areas. Fallow deer and mouflon, which were introduced to Slovakia in 1867, thrive very well in Tribeč. Among the rare birds of prey in the area, the golden eagle, the lesser spotted eagle and the honey buzzard all nest here.
As for owls, in addition to the common species, these include the eagle owl, the long-tailed owl and the pygmy owl. Among the galliform birds, the hazel grouse is worth mentioning, although its numbers in Vtáčnik are now relatively low. Among the songbirds, the red-breasted flycatcher is noteworthy, whilst all species of woodpecker are present. Among amphibians, the spotted salamander and the common frog are commonly found; amongst reptiles, the tree snake is particularly numerous, whilst the northern viper is also found, albeit rarely, in Vtáčnik. The area is also rich in many rare and protected invertebrates, such as the giant water scorpion, the Alpine water scorpion, the great stag beetle and the steppe sag. Among the butterflies are, for example, the crested fritillary, the fruit-tree swallowtail and the fennel swallowtail; among the spiders, the red steppe spider.