250th anniversary of the birth of Jozef Dekret Matejovie

€10 silver collector coin

Jozef Dekret Matejovie (12 July 1774 – 18 January 1841) was born in Dobroč near Čierny Balog. Coming from a forestry background, Matejovie laid the groundwork for rational management of Slovak forests and made a major contribution to forest preservation. In the 19th century, timber was the main source of building material and energy for the metallurgical industry in central Slovakia. Its extraction and processing were an important source of livelihood for the local population. Aware of the disastrous consequences of unregulated logging for both the environment and society, Matejovie was successful in changing hitherto detrimental practices. In 1809 he began efforts to regenerate forest stands. He established the first forest nurseries and seed banks, and he put a stop to clear-cutting. To promote natural forest regeneration and the creation of mixed stands, he relocated logging to other sites. He further ensured the husbandry of timber resources by, for example, utilising waste from logging sites. Under his leadership, nearly four thousand hectares of deforested land were reforested by 1838.