Cladonia rei, not very common lichen species in Slovakia, was found in the vicinity of copper smelters at Krompachy, growing on bare acid soil, amongst the moss Ceratodon purpureus, in habitats strongly affected by airborne heavy metals and SO2. All vascular plants, except for a few hardly surviving species of severely damaged shrubs and trees, have disappeared from these habitats. The lichen was very abundant, showing apparently a high tolerance towards the pollution.