Above Podmanín, at the piedmont of Manínec and Veľký Manín in the Strážovské vrchy, lies a small, open hillside that, at first glance, may seem dry and lifeless. But appearances can be deceiving—these warm, sunlit slopes are bursting with life. Hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of warm-requiring species thrive here, including rare insects, plants, lichens, fungi, and other organisms. Some of them are already on the brink of extinction in Slovakia. To prevent this fate on Manínec, we joined forces with local volunteers who have revived the traditional grazing of sheep in their free time. As part of the LIFE Endemic PANALP project, we expanded the pasture to include previously overgrown rocky slopes and introduced goats from our mobile herd. Their hooves and keen appetites play a vital role in preserving the Apollo butterfly and countless other species that share its habitat.
A fragment of xerotherm, a habitat of warm- and dry-requiring grasslands on Manínec, surrounded by pines and spruces. Without our collaboration with local enthusiasts, it would have gradually disappeared into the shadows of the forest. And with it, the rich diversity of life—once sustained for centuries by grazing herds—would have vanished as well.
The Apollo butterfly, one of our largest, rarest, and most beautiful butterflies. Seventy years ago, nearly 600 sites in Slovakia were home to this species—today, only the last individuals struggle to survive on 40 to 50 locations. This is a clear sign that something in the landscape is not right. A quick look at what has changed over time tells the story. Suitable habitats, such as rocky slopes, have drastically declined. The Apollo caterpillar feeds on houseleeks and mainly white stonecrops, succulents that thrive on sunlit rocky surfaces. Meanwhile, adult butterflies rely on flowering plants as a nectar source for sustenance.
The Italian locust, blue-winged grasshopper, dung beetle, antlion (Myrmeleon formicarius), and many other creatures inhabit even the most extreme habitats found on Manínec. What may seem like barren ground at first glance is, upon closer inspection, teeming with rare and remarkable life forms.
The dark-red helleborine, an orchid with a pleasant vanilla fragrance, thrives in open woodlands, rocky meadows, and slopes with calcareous soils. Although relatively common, it faces threats similar to many of our native orchids, including habitat overgrowth, changes in forest composition, and construction in unsuitable locations.
Fifty to seventy years ago, many areas like Manínec were artificially afforested, often with non-native species such as black pine or manna ash. Additionally, collectivization led to the disappearance of a mosaic of small fields, meadows, and pastures, drastically reducing biodiversity. Modern intensive agriculture has further exacerbated the issue—livestock are now kept indoors, and instead of traditional mowing and hay drying, many meadows are harvested for silage. This process involves immediately baling the cut vegetation, trapping unripe seeds and countless slow-moving invertebrates. Restoring grazing to the landscape is therefore highly beneficial. It creates disturbances – small trampled patches of bare soil where a variety of plants can germinate. On rocky terrain, goats are particularly effective at keeping shrubs in check through browsing. Livestock grazing is far from unnatural; it mimics the role of large herbivorous ungulates, which once roamed these landscapes before being wiped out by human activity.
The warm, dry slopes of Manínec with pastures and sparse woodlands in 1950 and today.
Since farming – whether through grazing or mowing – s not very profitable on low-yield land, local conservationists have taken on this task at Manínec. They initially organized volunteer workdays focused on removing woody plants. In their free time and at their own expense, they eventually introduced sheep to control expansive grasses and reduce the need for labor-intensive mowing and raking. Thanks to our project, grazing was doubled in 2022 – goats were added to the herd, and the pasture was expanded to include steep rocky slopes. These areas are favored by rare butterflies, including the Apollo butterfly, for which we also opened up two xerothermic clearings by removing invasive and non-native trees.
Grazing, when done in the right places, is a boon for nature. On rocky slopes, goats are the ideal natural mowers. They graze the grass, reduce shrubs, expose the rocks, spread seeds with their hooves, open up forest edges, prevent succession, and limit the spread of invasive species. They reveal the rocks and make life possible for hundreds of species of organisms. Many plants, such as creeping thyme, stonecrops, oregano, or fringe-flowered gentian, require a low grassy cover. They are competitively weak and cannot survive under un-grazed vegetation.
The Apollo butterfly and many other invertebrates depend on flowers, which goats and sheep also enjoy eating. That’s why grazing on Manínec is unsuitable during certain periods, and we only bring the animals there after the nectariferous plants have flowered or seeded. Until then, our mobile herd grazes other suitable areas in the Strážovské vrchy and the Biele Karpaty.
The rarity of the area was confirmed right in the field, as we encountered a variety of living creatures under our feet in a short period. These included the Alopecosa cuneata spider, Apollo butterfly, speckled yellow butterfly, peacock butterfly, brimstone butterfly, dew moth, dingy skipper moth, cabbage butterfly, violet oil beetle, Myrmeleon formicarius antlion, blue-winged grasshopper, Italian locust, European mantis, succulent white stonecrop, medicinal creeping thyme, oregano, orchids such as the white helleborine, dark-red helleborine, and pale-flowered orchid, fungi like the flowers of tan, st. George’s mushroom and countless others.
