The Chapel of the Virgin Mary is a symbolic gateway to the forest open-air museum in Vydrov. For years, it attracted attention not only with its architecture made of fir bark, but also with the captivating scenery in which it was located. Today, it is rather a symbol of faith that the surrounding forests will be saved.

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Bark beetle

The forests in Čierny Balog are attacked by the calamity of bark beetle to such an extent that it is necessary to extract up to a million cubic meters of wood. The insect spread also to the protected landscape area of the Muránska Planina National Park. No one claims responsibility. A business is created for interest groups, but the locals are filled with fear of floods or a decline in tourism after the excessive clearings.

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Matej Kalina

professional photographer, News and Media Holding

Matej Kalina is a Slovak photojournalist, whose photos are published by Plus 7 Dní, Život, Trend, Plus 1 Deň, Šarm, Zdravie, Dobré jedlo and others. He is inclinded towards a social documentary, where, according to his own words, he tries to record an undistorted reality in such a way as to create space for the viewer to have his own opinion. He won several Slovak Press Photo and Czech Press Photo awards.