Greed and the narrow personal interests have led to the destruction of one of most beautiful, best preserved and the original secondary natural forest Divine stairs/Bozje stenge on Mt. Pohorje, Slovenia, EU. This is the only one except unique primeval forest Šumik and situated in a EU bird protected area in Natura 2000. Sadly it isn't additionally protected as a reserve as Šumik forest is. It's almost original composition of 150 to 200 year old beech and fir, largest and most beautiful on Pohorje was so far only decreased from age or illness, is now falling under the chainsaw and digger. In the past, something no man dear to do and his impact was minimal.

For the first time it is something like this happening in private forest on Mt. Pohorje. For owner being so irresponsible and doing such damage in his forest, let alone the secondary primeval forest. Until now, such damage and devastation usually happened only in state forests. Additionally to logging is deep wound, caused by the construction of the forest track, the first time ever in that area in such a manner and to such extent. Until now, there was a small, barely visible footpath half meter to meter wide. Now it is actually a forest road 3 to 10m wide, 4m deep, sculpted into a very steep hill of Divine stairs/Bozje stenge which is already constantly transformed by erosion. Collapse of soil, rocks and trees caused by erosion has already begun. The first next strong rain or thunder storm will provoke greater erosion and landslides, which will take away Divine stairs/Božje štenge, cover the road and the valley below.

The previous developments and current events

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Responsible for this activities are

• Owner and her husband Šahtler Stanko, ordered the destruction. Apparently the owner's family is living here for 600 years. I do not understand how he can doing something like that and having such a relationship to his property and nature's treasure...  He is not worth owning it, certainly the ancestors are turning in their graves. Similarities as abuse, rape and exploitation are purely accidental or not?
• Strnad Miran for logging of 150 to 200 year old Beech trees and making this horrible forest truck on behalf of Šahtler Stanko,
• Institute for forest of Slovenia/ Maribor and their local branch in Ruse, the person in charge Alojz Pucko, tel. +386 (02) 661 51 01, to allow any logging at all and to the extent within naturally preserved, exceptional such natural beauty and heritage. For not knowing or tolerating illicit making of forest track. Mr. Pucko is completely indifferent to this problem and protection. By the way, this person was apparently involved in our activities in the protection of Pohorje and the establishment of Natural park Pohorje. Now he has been revealed in the right light, all was just a a sham in order to see who does what and to calm us down. Not to speak of suspicious transactions and selection for felling, extent, mode of logging, using forest machines by GGMB and the absence of controls and sanctions regardless of the horrific consequences. And suspicious transactions in the timber trade and unnecessary government selling of timber to Austria at ridiculously low prices and affected by bark beetles to Italy. Does not leave no other conclusion than, that only money making is essential, ending only in the back pockets of resourceful individuals with associations, with abuse and exploitation of nature, irrespective of the terrible consequences that remain to wildlife and us. And another thing, the EU and the Slovenian Government, therefore, European and Slovenian taxpayers financed the tractors, the farmers (including Mr.Šahtler, it's said to have 4 tractors) and forestry machinery of GGMB wich is carrying out terrible destructions elsewhere on Pohorje. Welcome in European Union
• Forestry Inspection of Slovenia/ Maribor responsible for Ruse Mr. Tomaž Peček. Due to inactivity, not providing adequate protection, allowing/ not knowing about decision to cut. Weren't aware of initiating/ and tolerated illicit making of forest track. Minimal supervision and sanctioning of ecological damage anywhere on Pohorje, although they are the main responsible for it. Again, we can not do otherwise, than to conclude that is so because MB Institute for Forest, forest industry and forestry MB Inspection MB had very close ties in the past. This used to be all one service, staff, friends, indeed all together in a closed circuit and this participants control themselves, without external independent institutions and civil sphere. We know how effective this is and where is going from experiences elsewhere, this is the main reason for the present situation.
• Inspection for the protection of nature Slovenia/ Maribor. Responsible representative for Ruse Mrs.Marta Šisernik tel. +386 (02) 887 00 44 (was on leave until 09.11.2009). Due to inactivity, not providing adequate protection, allowing / not knowing about the decision/decree to cut. Weren't initiating / tolerated illicitly making of forest truck.
• Institute for Nature Conservation Slovenia/ Maribor,  Due to inactivity, didn't provide adequate protection, allowing/ not knowing about the decree to cut. Weren't aware of initiating / tolerated illicit making of forest truck.
•  Vili Rezman, Mayor of Ruse and all the other Ruse's personalities who are one way or another active in the community and know what is happening in Ruse. All talk and it seams virtual activities and cooperation in the protection and creation of the natural park are now shown as empty promises. It was all just a sham in order to see who does what and to calm us down. Current developments on the Rusko Pohorje, and not only Divine stairs/Bozje stenge, ski resort, Universiade and the related suspicious transactions, the introduction of mass tourism, irrespective of the consequences. Does not leave no other conclusion than, that only money making is essential, ending only in the back pockets of resourceful individuals with associations, with abuse and exploitation of nature, irrespective of the terrible consequences that remain to wildlife and us.
• Farm Grizold dealing with farm tourism. This terrible forest track runs on marked Holcar hiking path from the road Ruse-forest Šumik through Divine stairs/Božje štenge in direction to the farm Grizold, both advertised in media. It is now about 1 km long and goes somewhere to 3/4 the intended path. Obviously there is a related commercial interest and a desire for mass tourism. This way they have killed more flies with one stone, unfortunately at the expense of nature and us, leaving only the devastation.

The measures we are now forced to implement

Due to the specificity and urgency of the problem to prevent further destruction, we call everybody to:

• Sign Petition for protection Divine stairs, Pohorje, nature and wildlife
  with each signature petition is automatically sent to all addressees!
• Permanent pressure on the domestic and foreign media, public and politics for the protection, rehabilitation of damage caused in the secondary primeval forest Devine stairs/Božje štenge and Reber and the immediate declaration of a Natural reserve.
• Civil disobedience, peaceful and non-violent demonstrations on Divine stairs/Bozjih stengah itself in front of digger, tractor and trees destined for the felling, if necessary, confined to them and demonstrations in front of the responsible institutions.
• Economic boycott of perpetrators of ecological damage. We do not want to prevent any of their work and earning, but if they do not respect the laws and basic moral and ethical values, than we have no choice. This means that we appeal and we are pressing in public and in the media that these people don't deserve that anybody does business with them and everything that is connected to their business until they stop the logging and ecological damage. We accept only the complete termination of all activities and declaration of Reserve.
• We are prepared to compromise, a written commitment by both parties to a moratorium on logging and construction of forest tracks on their part and on our civil disobedience and a boycott. In the meantime work ona solution in the form of protection and declaration of forest Reservation or purchase by us, a non-profit foundation which the care and protection of the natural development of Divine stairs/Božjih šteng and Rebra, without influence of humans for all times or to purchase by the State. In the case of redemption by our non-profit foundation itself assumes the role of finance and derivation of the transaction. In fact, I just prepare myself in the establishment of the Foundation for the same reasons for other sites, protection of forests with their purchase, return the natural state and leaving to the natural development without human influence. People are unfortunately not aware that forests are worth more if left to natural development and protect, rather than for short-term profit and exploitation. Enough already if we only give us fresh air, beauty, peace, ecological and sustainable recreation and relaxation.

We are calling all nature lovers who have a heart in the right place and know what is right and what is not to stop the pointless and needless destruction of secondary primeval forest of Divine stairs/Božje štenge and Reber on Pohorje once and for all, and to immediately declare the Natural reservation in this area.