80. Geburtstag von RNDr. Michal Džatko, PhD.

Dr. Michael Dzatko, jetziger Ehrenvorsitzender der Arbeitsgruppe "Ökologie mit Schwerpunkt Bodenschutz" der Arge Donauländer feiert heuer seinen 80. Geburtstag. Generalsekretär Peter de Martin gratulierte Dr. Dzatko anlässlich der letzten Arbeittagung.
Sein Lebenslauf ist eng mit der Arge Donau und dem konserviereden Bodenschutz verbunden. Wir gratulieren herzlich.

RNDr. Michal Džatko, CSc. was born on 29. 8. 1931 in Vranov upon Topľa. Secondary education completed graduation in Prešov (1950). For political reasons he could study at Comenius University (Faculty of Natural Resources) only in the years 1952-1955; graduated in biology. In 1956 he began working as an assistant at the Institute of Biology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences; but in 1959, he could only teach in primary schools in Kúty, Kráľová at Senec and High School in Senec. From 1961 until now he is working on the Soil Science and Conservation Research Institute in Bratislava. His professional activity at the Soil Science and Plant Nutrition Research Institute in Bratislava has always tended to addressing issues of conservation and sustainable land use of soil resources system and the country. Later he devoted himself to the detailed ecological land use and soil resources research with emphasis on the protection of agricultural landscape. In this context of efforts and visions he become an active investigator and has participated in the new system of land evaluation in Slovakia, including the assessment and utilization of production potential of soils of Slovakia. He developed and published not a small number of relevant proposals and documents to optimize use and protection of soils and landscape within the Regional Development relating public policy of land use and protection in SR. From 1990-1991 he was Minister of Agriculture and Food of Slovakia, in 1991-1995 he served as Director of Soil Science and Conservation Research Institute in Bratislava. As Minister of Agriculture and Food of Slovakia he pushed the establishment of the Slovak Academy of Agricultural Sciences. This Academy is semantically more significant than just a special guarantee the accuracy of addressing issues of land and soil protection, use and environment for future generations. RNDr. M. Džatko, PhD. is also internationally recognized authority of natural sciences. 20 years was chairman of the "Working Group: Protecting soils in Danube countries (ARGE Donauländer). Because this year he called for his resignation, was honoured "honorary chairman to death".