Protected areas of the Czech Republic

National nature reserve Řežabinec a Řežabinecké tůně

There are at least six types of protected areas of the Czech Republic.

Specially Protected Areas

National Park

National park (Czech: národní park, abbreviated as NP) is a large area whose considerable part consists of natural ecosystems or ecosystems little affected by human activities in which the abiotic features, flora and fauna have unique scientific and educational importance on an international or national level. They are established by both Chambers of the Czech Parliament. As of 2007 there are 4 National Parks in the Czech Republic (with year of establishment and area in brackets):

Short Name Full Name Established Area Protective Zone Area
Krkonoše Krkonošský národní park (KRNAP) 1963 363.27 km2 (140.26 sq mi) 186.42 km2 (71.98 sq mi)
Podyjí Národní park Podyjí 1991 63 km2 (24 sq mi) 29 km2 (11 sq mi)
Šumava Národní park Šumava 1991 685.2 km2 (264.6 sq mi) 944.8 km2 (364.8 sq mi) *
České Švýcarsko Národní park České Švýcarsko 2000 79 km2 (31 sq mi)
* The Šumava Protective Zone constitutes the CHKO Šumava

Protected Landscape Area

Moravian Karst PLA

Protected Landscape Area (Czech: chráněná krajinná oblast, abbreviated as CHKO) is a large area of harmonic landscape with a typical relief, with a considerable share of natural forest and permanent grassy ecosystems, there can also be preserved human settlement monuments (such as log cabins etc.). They are established by the Czech Government. As of 2007 there were 25 Landscape Protected Areas in the Czech Republic (with year of establishment and area in brackets):

Czech name English translation Established Area
Český ráj Bohemian Paradise 1955 181.52 km2 (70.09 sq mi)
Moravský kras Moravian Karst 1956 92 km2 (36 sq mi)
Šumava Bohemian Forest 1963 944.8 km2 (364.8 sq mi)
Jizerské hory Jizera Mountains 1967 350 km2 (135 sq mi)
Jeseníky Ash Mountains 1969 740 km2 (286 sq mi)
Orlické hory Eagle Mountains 1969 200 km2 (77 sq mi)
Žďárské vrchy Žďár Highlands 1970 715 km2 (276 sq mi)
Český kras Bohemian Karst 1972 132 km2 (51 sq mi)
Labské pískovce Elbe Sandstones 1972 245 km2 (95 sq mi)
Beskydy Beskids 1973 1,196.96 km2 (462.15 sq mi)
Slavkovský les Slavkov Forest 1974 640 km2 (247 sq mi)
České středohoří Bohemian Central Uplands 1976 1,070 km2 (413 sq mi)
Kokořínsko Kokořín Area 1976 270 km2 (104 sq mi)
Lužické hory Lusatian Mountains 1976 350 km2 (135 sq mi)
Pálava Pavlov Highlands 1976 70 km2 (27 sq mi)
Křivoklátsko Křivoklát Area 1978 630 km2 (243 sq mi)
Třeboňsko Třeboň Area 1979 700 km2 (270 sq mi)
Bílé Karpaty White Carpathians 1980 71.5 km2 (27.6 sq mi)
Blaník 1981 40 km2 (15 sq mi)
Blanský les Plánský's Forest 1989 212.35 km2 (81.99 sq mi)
Litovelské Pomoraví Litovel Morava Basin 1990 96 km2 (37 sq mi)
Broumovsko Broumov Area 1991 410 km2 (158 sq mi)
Poodří Oder Basin 1991 81.5 km2 (31.5 sq mi)
Železné hory Iron Mountains 1991 380 km2 (147 sq mi)
Český les Bohemian Forest 2005 470 km2 (181 sq mi)
Novohradské hory Nové Hrady Mountains pending 219 km2 (85 sq mi)
Střední Poohří Central Ohře (Eger) Basin pending 240 km2 (93 sq mi)
Máchův kraj Mácha's Region pending
Brdy proposed

National Nature Reserve

National Nature Reserve (Czech: Národní přírodní rezervace, abbreviated as NPR) is a smaller area of exceptional nature value, where a typical relief of typical geological composition is combined with ecosystems imnportant on an international or national level. They are established by the Czech Ministry of Environment.

Nature Reserve

Nature Reserve (Czech: Přírodní rezervace, abbreviated as PR) is a smaller area with concentrated nature features and ecosystems typical for a given geographical region. They are established by the appropriate Regional Government (Czech: krajský úřad) or Management of a National Park or Landscape Protected Area.

National Nature Monument

National Nature Monument (Czech: Národní přírodní památka, abbreviated as NPP) is a nature formation of a smaller area, usually geological or geomorphological formation, mineral or fossil collection locality or a habitat of endangered plants or animals in parts of ecosystems with a local environmental, scientific or esthetic importance. They are established by the Czech Ministry of Environment.

Nature Monument

Nature monument Hroby in Tábor District

Nature Monument (Czech: Přírodní památka, abbreviated as PP) is a nature formation of a smaller area, usually geological or geomorphological formation, mineral or fossil collection locality or a habitat of endangered plants or animals in parts of ecosystems with an international or national environmental, scientific or esthetic importance. They are established by the appropriate Regional Government (Czech: krajský úřad) or Management of a National Park or Landscape Protected Area.

Other protected parts of Landscape

Nature Park

Nature Park Buděticko with Rabí Castle

Nature park (Czech: Přírodní park) is usually a large area serving the protection of a landscape against activities that could decrease its natural and esthetic value. They can be established by any State Environment Protection body.

Memorable Tree, Group of Trees or Alley

Memorable Tree, Group of Trees or Alley (Czech: Památný strom, skupina stromů nebo stromořadí). They can be established by any State Environment Protection body.

Notable Landscape Feature

Notable Landscape Feature (Czech: Významný krajinný prvek) is usually a natural, cultural or historical feature typical for a given locality or region. They can be established by any State Environment Protection body.

Specially Protected Species of Plants and Animals

Specially Protected Species of Plants and Animals (Czech: Zvláště chráněné druhy rostlin a živočichů) are those species or subspecies which are very rare, generally endangered, scientifically or culturally important. They are listed in a Czech Ministry of Environment regulation. As of 2003, there are 477 plant species, 27 fungus species and 191 animals on the list.

Further reading

References

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