Economic and ecological potential of the protected areas in the Pieniny Mountains

English. The aim of this paper was a synthetic evaluation of selected aspects of the economic and ecological potential of the Pieniny, one of the most interesting medium-height mountain ranges in the Carpathians. The paper is an attempt to analyse the potential of protected areas of Pieniny Region, especially the Pieniny National Park. Economic interest and nature conservation as pursued by the national park and supported by the specific, individual farms, seem to be related to a significant extent. Except for the highly developed non-agricultural entrepreneurship in the Pieniny communes, including tourism and the related services, smallscale, dispersed agricultural production is important here. Sheep are kept in small herds and the majority of them are handed over for collective grazing during the season. They are grazed in 12 herds, one of which is involved in the environment-friendly cultural grazing in the Pieniny National Park. Sheep grazing in the pasture lands and abandoned arable land helps to maintain the biodiversity and the attractiveness of the cultural landscape, and tourists can buy sheep’s cheese produced by the local people, who live in the Pieniny.

English. economic potential, natural values, the Pieniny Mountains

15

48-55

49 : Bioeconomy, Finance and Taxes, Home Economics, New Dimensions in the Development of Society