Články bez rubriky

Nature Conservation 2023 — 5. 6. 2023 — Články bez rubriky

Summary of 2022 Issues

On Nature in the Czech Republic

Drbal K.: Looking Back on the International Year of Caves and Karst 
The International Union of Speleology (UIS) has declared 2021 as the International Year of Caves and Karst (IYCK) under the motto Explore, Understand, Protect. The importance of the action can be highlighted by the fact that the karst landscape covers approx. 20 % of Earth´s surface, karst gravitation water accumulations/aquifers provide about one tenth of global drinking water supply and caves are visited by approx. 150 million tourists a year, thus supporting national economies. Just these numbers are quite sufficient argument for declaring the International Year of Caves and Karst. In the Czech Republic, many excursions, field trips, exhibitions, explorations, workshops and conferences have been organized as a contribution to the IYCK. Due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and measures taken against it the UIS has decided to extend actions under the umbrella of the IYCK through 2022. 

Jindřich Prach, Mottl Josef, Vojen Ložek, Lucie Hrůzová, Jaroslav Veselý, Tomáš Urban & František Pojer: Fragments of Successes from the Landscape of Changes and Stability: the Český kras/Bohemian Karst under Protection of the Protected Landscape Area for a half a Century
In 2022 half a century has passed since declaration of the rich limestone landscape not far from Prague a Protected Landscape Area (PLA). The Český kras/Bohemian karst (Central Bohemia) is a textbook of changes in nature, from a sea with trilobites almost half a billion of years ago up to current overgrowing the landscape and decline in rare species. Unlike mountain and remote protected areas nature and the landscape have been shaped also by humans for many thousands of years there and it would be incorrect to consider nature conservation without humans, land managers and visitors. The article presents half a century of rapid social changes as well as changes in the landscape and nature in this pictu-resque, dynamic and at the same time in some aspects stable area. Stable with respect to the fact which phenomena have been preserved under the title of the PLA, particularly by recovery and replacement of traditional management. The authors believe that the Český kras/Bohemian Karst will continue to be successfully preserved and managed in collaboration among nature conservationists, land managers, naturalists and many others, thus effectively maintaining its basic phenomena for future generations. 

Antonín Krása: Distribution of the Clouded Apollo (Parnassius mnemosyne) in the Moravský kras/Moravian Karst

In 2021, the Czech Entomological Society declared The Insect of the Year for the first time: the critically endangered Clouded Apollo (Parnassius mnemosyne) was selected for the campaign. There were more reasons to do it: the aim was to popularize entomology as well to draw attention to the elegant and rare umbrella species. At the same time an appeal appeared asking the general public to seek for the butterfly species in the field, thus contributing to present knowledge of the state of its populations across the Czech Republic. Because such a population lived and lives also in the Moravský kras/Moravian Karst (Central Moravia), having been rather ignored for a long time, the article summarises outputs of its four-year monitoring there. It is encouraging that they are mostly positive. Generally, the current Clouded apollo´s state in the Moravský kras/Moravian Karst and its vicinity looks very good, many trees have dried up and other were killed by drought together with wood-destroying insects and fungi. On the majority of the area inhabited by apollos, relatively natural broad-leaved deciduous or mixed forests grow but tree drying caused by climate drought also occurred there, reserves left to spontaneous development and primary/virgin forests have naturally become less dense thus positively influencing the Clouded apollo´s population there. 

Michal Hejna & Olga Suldovská: Caves in the Český kras/Bohemian Karst
Karst and caves – the terms belong inherently together. Moreover, in the Český kras/Bohemian Karst (Central Bohemia) number of discoveries of known caves grew very slowly, much less attention by explorers and researchers was drawn to them there in comparison to the Moravský kras/Moravian Karst. Even the name of the Ćeský kras/Bohemian Karst asserted slowly and strenuously. The contribution very briefly sums up development in knowledge of caves in the karst area. The Český kras/Bohemian Karst is unique neither due to its size nor the length of caves but due to extremely long-term karst development, complicated speleogenetic processes and internationally important palaeontological and archaeological findings in cave sediments. The most recent finding in the caves there is a dating of female skeleton from the Koněprusy Caves. DNA analysis showed that she was a member of very early migration wave of modern humans to Europe more than 45,000 years ago. With a little bit of journalistic exaggeration it can be stated that the oldest modern European woman is known just from the Koněprusy Caves. 

Benda P.: Half a Century of the Labské pískovce/Elbe Sandstones Protected Landscape Area as Seen by the Director

In 2022, the Labské pískovce/Elbe Sandstones Protected Landscape Area (northern Bohemia) has been celebrating 50 years since its establishment. Despite humble beginnings the staff often did great things at that time. After endorsing the Act on Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection in 1992 the PLA Administrations staff was strengthened, suitable facilities were built and necessary finances were available. The Labské pískovce/Elbe Sandstones PLA Administration staff also increased in number and some excellent personalities have been up to now working there. Particularly Werner Hentschel was appointed as Head of the PLA Administration and began to cooperate with the Sächsische Schweiz/Saxon Switzerland National Park: such a cooperation has been of utmost importance for the PLA. At present the PLA Administration has been fighting efforts to use the open landscape for building, unsuitable forestry and agriculture production, real biodiversity loss and intentions to canalize the Labe/Elbe River there. What to wish for the future? We wish our successor wrote about us with respect and appreciated what has been done for Labské pískovce/Elbe Sandstone nature.

Bauer P., Benda P. & Härtel H.: Looking Back on Fifty Years of the Labské pískovce/Elbe Sandstones Protected Landscape Area
Fifty years of the Labské pískovce/Elbe Sandstones Protected Landscape Area (northern Bohemia) provide an opportunity to assess how its Administration has been reflected in nature and the landscape within the unique area. Therefore, the article presents an extensive account of main events or milestones in nature conservation within the Labské pískovce/Elbe Sandstones as well as the Českosaské Švýcarsko/Bohemian-Saxon Switzerland. Nature and landscape management in the Labské pískovce/Elbe Sandstones aimed through all measures at maintaining landscape heterogeneity and landscape scenery/character, at management of are species and their habitats as well as at recovering some species which have become extinct due to human activities there. The Administration step-by-step makes efforts to complete a network of small-size Specially Protected Areas in order to give sufficient attention to species and their communities/assemblages which need the active management. Such an approach of course requires good partners who are considered by the Administration to be very important players. Without farmers and local authorities it has not been possible to maintain the Labské pískovce/Elbe Sandstones and České Švýcarsko/Bohemian Switzerland´s current face. 

Cílek V.: The Composed Landscape
When Piotr Migoň, a Polish geomorphologist published the monography called “Geomor-phological landscapes of the World” in Springer Verlag/Publishing in 2010, the Česko-saské Švý-carsko/Bohemian-Saxony Switzerland appeared among landscapes of European importance because of not only its beauty, but also as a place where an important continental branch of European Romanticism was formed being conceived in quite another way than the English one. From a pan-European point of view the area is probably the most distinctive and landscape-rich region in the Czech Republic as a whole although cannot be compared from a botanical point of view with e.g. the Český kras/Bohemian Karst or the Džbán/Jug Plain. The principal determinative element there is the Labe/Elbe River cut by high walls into Cretaceous sandstones. 
The Českosaské Švýcarsko/Bohemian-Saxon Switzerland landscape consists of three originally very different phenomena: a huge river valley, sandstone formations and volcanic elements highlighting its truly continental importance. 

Jurajda P. & Kalous L.: Non-native Fish Species in Waters of the Czech Republic

In Ochrana přírody/Nature Conservation Journal 6/2021 the issue of plant and animal invasive alien species has been extensively and synoptically analysed including new legislation that had entered in force in the Czech Republic in 2021. The European Union adopted Regulation No 1143/2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species. The EU´s law has been repeatedly complemented by an updated list of invasive alien species of Union concern (the Union list): as of 1 June 2022 it included 66 species requiring stricter measures to be implemented. Among the invasive alien species listed there also are fishes: of them, two, namely the Stone moroko (Pseudorasbora parva) and Pumpkinseed, also known as the Common sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus) occur also in the Czech Republic. For dealing with fish invasive alien species in the Czech Republic suitable fishery management should be carried out because non-native species can, but also may not to pose a threat to native species and habitats. Most vulnerable water ecosystems are small backwaters: to avoid negative impacts on native species and ecosystems, they should be a priority. 

Nováková A.: The Octopus Stinkhorn – An Exotic Member of Mycobiota in Nature of the Czech Republic
Walking in nature, we can meet many fungi in the Czech Republic throughout the year. Their fruiting bodies differ in shape, size or colour. Fruiting bodies of the Octopus stinkhorn, also known as the Devil´s fingers (Clathus archeri) with red arms resemble starfishes and due to their exotic appearance they are highly visible. The conspicuous species of the Czech Republic´s mycobiota is native to Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand: moreover, it has spread in Europe and other areas. Although the Octopus stinkhorn has been step by step spreading across the whole country´s territory, it has been totally missing in some regions. The fungus is a significant synanthropic species, preferring sparse semi-cultural to ruderal growths in river and brook valleys or in the vicinity of fishponds, i.e. at sites with higher groundwater level. The Octopus stinkhorn is considered to be an inedible mushroom; in the Czech Republic it is classified as non-native fungal species posing no threat for the current ecosystem there. 

Hejna M.: Calcareous Tufa at Svatý Jan pod Skalou/St. John under the Rock and its Caves
Calcareous tufa at Svatý Jan pod Skalou/St. John under the Rock and its caves is the smallest karst group within the traditional karsological classification of the Český keas/Bohemian Karst (Central Bohemia). At the same time these are not only in the Český kras/Bohemian Karst caves created in the most recent rock. The whole calcareous tufa cascade at Svatý Jan pod Skálou/St. John under the Rock is an internationally significant site for stratigraphy and knowledge of development in climate during the Holocene. In the calcareous tufa shells of molluscs occurring in the vicinity or just on the cascade´s surface at the time when the respective calcareous tufa layer were created have been preserved. In addition, there are many woody plant leaf imprints as well as other palaeontological and archaeological material there. According to the stable carbon and oxygen isotope ratio within the calcareous tufa the development of climate and the environment during the latest/current geological epoch – the Holocene can be easily traced. A main article summarizing the knowledge of the site published in Quaternary International journal in 2002 has been cited in international literature approx. fifty times.

Zajíček P.: Parts of the Na Špičáku Cave Inaccessible to the Public
The Na Špičáku Cave (northern Moravia) has been known since time immemorial: it is mentioned in historical records as early as in the 15th century. In addition, there are many epigraphic inscriptions, engravings and paintings on walls in the underground space. It is the smallest show cave in the Czech Republic: a part accessible to the public is 220 meters long out of the total of 410 meters. Less than 200 meters of corridors deviating from a visitor path are not excessively large. Moreover, there are remarkable evidences of history, particularly inscriptions and paintings on the walls, stalagmite/stalactite decoration is beautiful there as well as at some sites characteristic moldings confirming a long-term history of the whole cave system. In the longest inaccessible to the public branch of the cave system under Špičák Hill, there is an abyss leading to the underground water surface. In another shallow abyss called the Kostnice/Ossuary Pleistocene cave bear bones have been found. 

Pešout P. & Šíma J.: What Does the European Union´s Nature Restoration Law Mean for Nature Restoration in the Czech Republic?
On 22 June 2022, the European Commission published a proposal of the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on nature restoration as a key legislative tool for the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 implementation and as a pillar of the European Green Deal. The Regulation does not aim at restoring ecological functions in natural habitats only, but also in the landscape as a whole, groups of ecosystems of farmland, cities, forests, watercourses or on habitats important for pollinators. Most measures do not focus on specially protected parts of nature, but on the landscape managed and inhabited by humans. It is clear that without total improvement in the state of farmland/agroecosystems, forests and water ecosystems, without changes in approaches in land-use/territorial planning the targets simply cannot be reached. In freshwater ecosystems, there is e.g. a commitment that at least 25,000 km of negatively affected rivers will be restored into free-flowing rivers by 2030 through the removal of primarily obsolete barriers and the restoration of floodplains and wetlands. For forests, the Regulation assigns to EU Member States to enhance diversity/heterogeneity in their species, age and spatial structure aiming at increasing their quality, resilience/resistance and biological diversity. The Regulation´s cornerstone is developing the National Nature Restoration Plan of the Czech Republic: to meet its goals and targets, it will be necessary to ensure appropriate financial support through adapting both EU and national financial tools. In addition, monitoring schemes have to be complemented and after it will be debated, changes in the Regulation itself should be expected. 

Knížátková E. & Havel P.: The National Commit-ment to Increase the Coverage and to Improve the State of Protected Areas in the Czech Republic 
Similarly to the other European Union Member States, the Czech Republic should present the particular proposal how to increase the coverage as well as protection and management intensity in protected areas by the end of 2022. The task is included into the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 which considers effectively managed protected areas as one of the key tools to halt biodiversity decline and loss and which aims at protecting 30 % of the EU´s land, a third of them to be strictly protected. Contributions of the individual EU Member States should take into account different conditions and reflect their real importance for biodiversity conservation. What can be in the above time period offered feasibly by the Czech Republic has been debated by experts. Moreover, it has been more and more becoming clear that biodiversity decline and loss cannot be halted by protected areas only and the efforts should also by targeted on the landscape outside protected areas (the non-reserved landscape) aiming also at its restoration. Both the efforts should reasonably complement each other: for this purpose, the new EU initiative provides a quite good background. 

Nature & Landscape Management

Matrková J., Jurajda P. & Vlach P.: The Eurasian Minnow in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands
Due to changes in the landscape, the Eurasian minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) has been disappearing also in the Czech Republic over the past decades. Therefore, a sub-national Action Plan for the above fish species was launched in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands in 2016. During its preparation, mapping the Eurasian minnow had confirmed concern about it: the species had been found only at 14 sites there. The fish survives often in small isolated populations in upper/source stretches of brooks. Moreover, within the dry summer of 2018 a lot of the refuges became fully dry. Thus, a project aiming at finding the sites where the Eurasian minnow has survived and where measures strengthening and enhancing its conservation should be applied was developed. The research revealed that there have been no really viable populations, except probably of the Želivka River, in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands. At some sites, minnow´s numbers have significantly declined. On the other hand, it was found that thanks to small pools in the landscape the Eurasian minnow has surprisingly survived even dry periods when there was no water flow in streams. 

Vojtěch Šťastný & Jan Riegert: Which Wetlands Are the most Suitable for Birds?
In comparison to the past, wetlands have been declined in the Czech Republic´s landscape. Those left are very often affected by human activities, particularly by draining. Therefore, wetland ecosystems, or more precisely their habitats have currently been displaying various features and quality. Birds occurring there can significantly help in wetland habitat/environment assessment. The article presents results published by the authors (Wetlands Ecology and Management, 29, 81-91, 2021). Based on the research carried out the authors concluded that the wetland minimum size attractive for most bird species is approx. 10 hectares. Factors evidently influencing wetland bird community composition include vegetation wetness level, ration between wetland vegetation cover and open water surface and distance to road. Influence of bush cover, distance to water body and reed cover was also significant. Bush cover and reed cover were positively correlated with diversity index, while distance to water body was negatively correlated with diversity index.

Radim Jarošek, Daniel Kletenský, Tomáš Galia & Václav Škarpich: Instream Wood Management and Monitoring on the Odra River in the Po-odří/Odra River Basin Protected Landscape Area
The article deals with instream wood because in nature conservation practice it is important how pursuant to the current legislation to ensure leaving instream wood in a river thus avoiding its removal as a barrier in a stream pursuant to the Water Act and its implementing provisions. The duty is considered by watercourse managers differently, which is in principle correct since there are various situations in the field in this respect. Within a project instream wood monitoring has been implemented and efforts shall be continuing during the next three years. The project funded by the Czech Science Foundation and carried out by the University of Ostrava will include monitoring floated wood by GPS sensors, regular photography by unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) or by using time-lapse cameras. The authors believe that such a comprehensive research will result in better understanding patterns in instream wood recruitment, remaining and mobility in meandering rivers. The monitoring´s outputs can be used for instream wood management not only in the Poodří/Odra River Basin Protected Landscape Area (Moravian-Silesian Region), but also in other watercourses. 

Elznicová J., Vébrová D., Zacharová J. & Müllero-vá J.: Changes in the Landscape in the České Švýcarsko/Bohemian Switzerland and Labské pískovce/Elbe Sandstones throughout Time
The Labské pískovce/Elbe Sandstones (northern Bohemia) which also regionally includes the České Švýcarsko/Bohemian Switzerland harbour the landscape having been formed for millions of years. At the same time with geological components also its living part (biota) has been formed. The whole landscape had originally been covered, except for the extreme rock environment, by forests, the form, shape and extent of the latter being directly determined by natural conditions. Moreover, humans were later more and more contributing to forming the landscape and their impacts have been one of the strongest drivers initiating huge changes over time. If the human impacts decline they can be erased by natural processes and nature takes over its former area back. Such changes can be read also in an histo-rical context. If we wish to know more on nature surrounding us and to better understand it, it is necessary to aim at recent history, particularly the last century rich in principal historical events. History of the landscape and human activities within it play a key role in understanding the current state as well as for preserving species diversity, ecosystem functions and landscape values for future generations. 

Śafránek J.: Unwelcome Works of Art in the Čes-ké Švýcarsko/Bohemian Switzerland National Park

Unfortunately, vandalism does not avoid National Parks and this is true also for the České Švýcarsko/Bohemian Switzerland National Park (northern Bohemia). Undisciplined visitors engrave various messages and inscriptions on rocks. Vandals also destroy infrastructure or tourist faci-lities, e.g. signboards and signposts, or paint all possible spaces including rocks. The last particularly apparent example is a series of graffiti created by an unknown “artist” at some sites in the municipality of Hřensko and also directly in the the České Švýcarsko/Bohemian Switzerland National Park. The most apparent for ordinary visitors was a strange inscription on a rock wall near the tourist path leading through the Kamenice River Gorge/Glen. For erasing the inscriptions steam cleaning was applied because it does not damage a sandstone surface layer and rock surface is almost intact after cleaning. The story has a quite happy-end because the works of arts were despite serious difficulties erased by a specialized company. 

Šťastný V. & Bednářová K.: The Sedmihorky Peatbog Restoration 
The article presents the restoration project on the Sedmihorky peatbog nearby the town of Turnov in the Český ráj/Bohemian Paradise Protected Landscape Area, which is nowadays interesting mainly because of bird populations. The project was fully funded by the European Union via the Operational Programme Environment (OPE) 2014-2020 and successfully implemented in 2021-2022. The difficult project preparation had preceded the implementation, e.g. dealing with complicated land ownership including the state property was necessary. Both the historic aerial photos of the site as well as the project documentation of an amelioration system carried out under socialism were available. The drainage site disposal and restoration of the natural water regime of the peatlands and the creation of new habitats as 14 pools were the project´s aims. The clay apertures were used to terminate the amelioration system functioning. The first growing season demonstrated achievements of the project. The pools with their surrounding are full of clean water and for instance the Common Crane (Grus grus) successfully nested for the first time and one young fledged there.

Zeidler M.: Nitrogen Management in Non-forest Communities
High level of nitrogen deposition has been responsible for ecosystem changes and important losses of plant species diversity in natural non-forest communities. In Central Europe, the natural input of atmospheric nitrogen has increased by an order of magnitude due to anthropogenic activities. From a nature conservation point of view, there are several proven ways to eliminate the impact of nitrogen on vegetation: grazing, mowing, sod cutting and burning. The advantages and disadvantages of each practice in terms of improving habitat suitability, removing N, species richness, and the unintended consequences are summarised for habitats in the Czech Republic. Long-term adaptive management accompanied by long-term monitoring are recommended for reaching the target state of the particular habitat.

Čamská K.: Shall It Be Necessary to Enhance a New Common Agricultural Policy? 
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is a key tool for ensuring sustainable landscape and biodiversity managed linked to agricultural land within the European Union. The just completed draft CAP for the period 2023-2027 is confronted with that of the Nature Restoration Law. The latter is based on specific objectives for grassland habitats that fall within the scope of Directive 92/43/EEC on the protection of natural habitats, wild animals and wild plants, commonly known as the Habitats Directive. It requires the introduction of such measures on agro-ecosystems, so that it manifests itself in a change in the trend in the status of insects, birds and soil from negative to positive.

Hofmeister J. & Svoboda M.: What Does the European Union´s Nature Restoration Law Mean for Forests in the Czech Republic?
The EU Nature Restoration Law sets an ambitious and highly demanding, but if fully implemented effective target to carry out measures to improve the state in natural habitats by 2050 everywhere where necessary, i.e. in all ecosystems in need of restoration, but by 2030 at least on 20% of the European Union´s land and sea areas. If nature should be really restored within the EU, a way the Regulation is implemented is of the utmost importance. Not only in forests but particularly there we should employ creative forces of nature when at the same time reasonably applying management approach. If we are able to establish a functioning network of forest habitats on the landscape level or even better on sub-national one open to impacts of natural disturbances and more comprehensive food webs the latter including large herbivores as well as their predators, we will be surprised that huge proportion of workload in specific open forest space management can be done just by nature itself instead of humans. Thus, nature conservation effort could be more focused on spatially small and in the cultural landscape isolated sites having been left out of reach of positive effects of restored forest ecosystems. 

Kujanová K. & Marek P.: Will the European Union´s Regulation on Nature Restoration Match Water Framework Directive Unmatched Ambitions? 
The Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, hereinafter WFD) has been implemented in the Czech Republic more than two decades. Nevertheless, the implementation has been very slow providing only minimal impacts on improving the state of waters as a whole. The proposed Nature Restoration Law published by the European Commission on 22 June 2022 offers a new challenge to really meet the particular targets within free-flowing watercourses. Moreover it has been a question whether the EU Member States are even when making every effort able to honour a joint commitment to restore 25,000 kilometres of free-flowing rivers. Based on the experience raised during improving morphological state of watercourses and removing barriers in the Czech Republic during the past 30 years, it is clear that due to the recent and current rates the Czech Republic will not be able to match its fair commitment, even just formally. If the Czech Republic should be able to match the fair part of the commitment to restore free-flowing rivers, in addition to significantly increased effort to implement the measures more attention has to be paid to prepare an infrastructure for applying the Regulation in the field and to positively motivate the general public. Nevertheless, cooperation among various sectors and responsible involvement of all the institutions and components dealing in practice with water ecosystem management is a fundamental precondition of the Regulation´s successful implementation across the country. 

Just T.: Have We Been Prepared to Use of Benefits of Floods for Improving the State of Watercourses in the Czech Republic?
Floods occurred in the Czech Republic in 1997 and 2022 made difficulties nobody had been prepared to face and most people involved in their mitigation did their best. Definitely it was possible to do a lot of issues better, inter alia, during contro-ling damages caused on watercourses by the floods. The devastating floodings offered also lessons learnt from involvement of the State Nature Conservancy authorities which can help to avoid doing useless and harmful steps, and on the contrary some positive aspects of floods can be used. Based on knowledge from the past floods e.g. it is clear that riparian woody plant growths had been often accused of causing the disaster: therefore, they were consequently cut. Positive functions of the growths, e.g. buffering overbank flows or capturing the material brought by flood waves particularly outside built-up areas were ignored. Therefore, a two-step assessment is needed because it allows distinguish what is a real damage and what to some extent accepted changes. Applying reasonable approach, flood damages can be a useful tool for restoring the natural state in the selected watercourses.

 
Research, Surveys and Data Management

Sedláček O.: The Alcon Blue in the Czech Republic 
The Alcon Blue, sometimes called also the Alcon Large Blue (Phengaris alcon) is among a huge range of diurnal butterfly species which have been balancing just on the edge of survival (Hejda et al. 2017). Although the butterfly can be very easily detected in the field, our knowledge on its current distribution, population size or state of habitats has been rather incomplete (Uřičář & Laštůfka 2013). In 2020, a comprehensive mapping the species financed by the Landscape Management Programme, i.e. from the State/Governmental Budget, namely its ecological forma P. alcon f. alcon associated by its development with the Marsh gentian (Gentiana pneumonanthe) was carried out by the author. The distribution of the plant species is, however, limited to only a few last sites in southwestern Bohemia: in other parts of the Czech Republic, the gentian has become extinct. The research revealed that if we are going to maintain both the fascinating butterfly species and the splendid gentian in the wild in the Czech Republic it is necessary not only to keep the sites, but also to actively support the occurrence of both species. If there are enough buterfly´s host plants the butterfly evidently prospers there. In addition, a re-introduction attempt showed that thought-out, elaborated and well-done transfer can help the threatened invertebrate species. 

Vlašín M.: A Population of the Aesculapian Snake in the Vlára River Pass and its Protection and Conservation
The Aesculapian snake (Zamenis longissimus) is one of the biggest European snakes. Pursuant to Act No. 114/1992 Gazette on Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection, as amended later, and the relevant decrees, the species is Critically Endangered. The Action Plan for the Conservation of the Aesculapian Snake in Europe (Edgar & Bird, 2006) recommends to develop and implement national action plans/recovery programmes in all countries with occurrence of isolated populations. Therefore, the national Action Plan/Recovery Programme was elaborated in the Czech Republic by Zavadil et al. (2008), having been later updated (Větrovcová et al., 2010). The document suggests, inter alia, to carry out regular monitoring the species in all areas of its occurrence across the country and to implement supporting measures, e.g. building dry small walls, semi-natural hatching sites, etc. Within the monitoring, a population studied in the Bílé Karpaty/White Carpathians Mts., i.e. in Vlára River Pass and in the Žítkov region is by demotope (the area inhabited by a certain population) the biggest of the three ones living in the Czech Republic. Nevertheless, the population density is quite variable and it seems to be most likely lower than in a population inhabiting the Podyjí/Thaya River Basin. Taking into account that this is a margin of the Aesculapian snake´s distribution range it is necessary to carry out intensive efforts to maintain the population in the Bílé Karpaty/White Carpathians Mts. The necessity of close transboundary bilateral co-operation with Slovakia is evident. 

Pavlíčko A., Heřman P. & Fric F.Z.: Has the Baton Blue Become Extinct in the Czech Republic?
The Baton blue (Pseudophilotes baton) is the Atlantic-Mediterranean species declining across Europe and occurring from the Iberian Peninsula to Central Europe: in the latter, there is eastern limit of its distribution range. In most of its distribution range, the species display two-generation development (May – June, August – September), in cold areas or years single-generation one: the latter prevails in South and probably southwestern Bohemia. In the Czech Republic, only a few small Boton blue populations in South and southwestern Bohemia has until recently survived. At most historical sites the species has become or has been becoming extinct. A study commissioned by the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic aimed at the current state of Baton blue populations at the individual sites and thus, at revealing abundance and level of threat across the whole Czech Republic. After two years of research and surveys, a drastic decline in the whole Czech Republic´s population was found. Therefore, it is possible that the butterfly species has gone extinct in the country because the most recent confirmed findings were reported from the Šumava/Bohemian Forest Mts. in 2019. The recovery of the Baton blue in the Czech Republic including direct semi-natural breeding started in 2022 has become very urgent, if it is not too late. 

Dana Klímová Hřívová, Jana Petruželová & Marie Kotasová Adamová: Meadow Wetland Restoration and its Influence on Water Invertebrates 
In the Czech Republic, lowland wetland meadows are one of the most threatened habitats. The main drivers of their decline and loss include particularly decline in traditional management measures, targeted draining, consequent overgrowing by natural self-seeding as well as spreading aggressive plant species the latter excluding wild plant and animal species there. Thus, suitable meadow wetland management should aim namely at maintaining an open character of the above habitat effectively provided by grazing and mowing. Although it is not at first glance recognisable, the measures can significantly influence also small water bodies if management is implemented in their close vicinity. The article presents the project entitled Management measures and assessment of their impact on meadow wetland biodiversity and it introduces the pilot results of water body hydrobiological monitoring in a meadow wetland near the village of Krumvíř (South Moravia). The first results show that pools in the early stage of their development serve as a refuge for many species including those fully new for the wetland under study. Removing vegetation by mowing and grazing in the vicinity of the pools would result in increase in nutrient level there. Eutrophication is an issue far exceeding management at the single site which can be substantially mitigated only by extensive measures within the region as a whole. New knowledge on impact of properly set wetland habitat management would contribute to elaborating measures to be applied in degraded meadow wetland restoration on a wider scale and thus to important agriculture landscape improvement.

Svoboda J.: The Last Hunters, Fishermen and Food Gatherers. Interdisciplinary Archaeological Survey in the České Švýcarsko/Bohemian Switzerland
During the last 30years one of the still empty sites on Europe´s archaeological map was filled: in the České Švýcarsko/Bohemian Switzerland (northern Bohemia) nobody had expected such a long-ago human settlement. More than twenty years of systematic survey show that the rocky and seemingly bleak region was attractive only for the certain type of prehistorical populations in the early Holocene 11.000 – 7,500 years ago. These had been exclusively hunters, fishermen and food gatherers in the to date less studied time period from the Last Glacial through the Preboreal and the Boreal up to the early Atlantic: in the subsequent periods almost up to the Middle Age these were occasional visitors. Because the survey has been from the beginning team and interdisciplinary, it has allowed to examine the human settlement in the context of the changing landscape, vegetation and fauna. 

Čapla M. & Komárek J.: Spectral Displays of the Selected Woody Plants in the Context of Climate Change 
In optical remote sensing spectral reflectance is a keystone. Ability of vegetation to reflect or on the other hand to absorb solar radiation depends on many factors: the most important ones include its photosynthetic pigment ratio as well as physiological and morphological structure of leaves. The authors aimed at description and comparison of spectral displays in the selected woody plant species across the vegetation period. The data were gathered by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) or a drone equipped with a multispectral camera during five flight missions. The spectral display of five tree species, namely the Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), Common or European oak (Quercus robur), Common hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), Norway spruce (Picea abies) and the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) were examined. The results suggest noticeably dynamic development and almost all the spectral curves corresponded with typical development of vegetation. The sharpest differences among the woody plants were reported from reflectance in near-infrared radiation (NIR) where together with green light an increase was found by August, while from August there was a decline. Lower values of the reflectance in blue and red part of the spectrum were detected in the middle of the season. Spectral differences between coniferous and broad-leaved deciduous trees were also clearly manifested. The above patterns were captured in the seasonal dynamics in Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) which confirmed more dynamic development of the reflectance in broad-leaved deciduous trees. 

Balák I., Káňa V., Koudelka M., Suldovská O. & Světlík I: A Bear Cube from the Javoříčko Karst
In 1918 a subtle entrance into a small cave was discovered in a small limestone islet in the Javoříčko Karst (Central Moravia) during quarrying. In late July 2019, a new lesser dome 9 meters long, approx. 1.5 wide and on average approx. 8 meters high was discovered there. It contains relatively rich decoration consisting particularly of stalactites and coralite forms. In addition to cave decoration, bone remnants were found there: among them, there was a smaller vertebrate skeleton. Experts determined it as a juvenile, one-year old brown bear (Ursus arctos). The results of dating show that the skeleton is from the period approx. 14,000 years ago, i.e. from the Late Pleistocene, the very end of the Last Glacial Period. 

Plesník J.: The Species Concept in Nature Conservation Theory and Practice 
The species problem has been one of the most pressing issues in biology: there currently are at least 35 different concepts, i.e. definitions of the species category. Most researchers agree that species are lineages, or, more specifically, separately evolving population-level lineages. In the article, the most commonly used species concepts, namely Morphological, Biological and Phylogenetic ones are debated, paying attention to their impact on nature conservation: inter alia, taxonomic inflation or conservation genetic should be mentioned there. One prominent idea has been the concept of the evolutionary significant unit (ESU), a population unit that merits separate management and has a high priority for conservation. Given that biologists have spent decades trying to find a universal definition of species and have not achieved it, it has become obvious that there is no single correct definition. Proposals for pluralism are motivated by the fact that particular criteria for identifying species are not applicable in all situations and the observation that multiple concepts can give conflicting results when they are applied. The author suggests that within the pluralism, there could be an opportunity to apply nature conservation approach that the species is a group of individual varying in numbers and important from a point of view of nature heritage management; thus it should be protected, conserved or managed: the individuals share an evolutionary and ecological history and are distinct from other groups. The longstanding disagreement should not become an impediment to responsible conservation and wildlife management. 

Ouhrabka V. & Tásler R.: Mapping and Documenting Karst Phenomena in the Krkonoše/Giant Mts. Region
Although the Krkonoše/Giant Mts. and the region under them are not from a point of view of karst and karst underground space typical areas, dozens of small and a few more extensive caves reaching even more than 100 meters in length have been discovered and documented there. There also are surface flow sinks as well as lot of karst springs. The Krkonoše/Giant Mts. karst phenomena mostly created in crystalline limestone (marble) and calcite crystalline dolomite with significant geomorphological and hydrogeological functions have not been fully realized yet. Many Krkonoše/Giant Mts. caves were also formed in non-karst rocks (quartzites, granites, phyllites, mica-schists, etc.). New research carried out within a mapping resulted in key knowledge of the local carbonate age. In a wall in the Jezerní dóm/Lake Dome in the Ponikelská jeskyně/Poniklá Cave remnants of cliff corals aged approx. 285 million years were identified, thus confirming the Devonian (the Givet) age of the Poniklá carbonates. 

Rozsypálek J., Polochová V., Bábek J., Javorský D., Prouza M., Martinek P. & Klečka J.: Knowledge on Possibilities How to Inhibit Expansive Growths of the European Mistletoe 
In the Czech Republic, expansive spreading of the hemiparasite European mistletoe (Viscum album) has becoming a huge issue of national importance not only for woody plants growing outside forests, but also for forest stands themselves. The greatest trouble is caused by the fact that the evergreen shrub infests a lot of important broad-leaved deciduous and conifer woody plant species. Although the initial damage caused to a host woody plants is rather negligible (chronic), European mistletoe spreading should not be underestimated. Due to very rapid to expansive spreading, after five to ten years since the appearance of the first little shrubs the mistletoe becomes a pathogenic agent causing acute dying of hundreds to thousands of woody plants. The most effective defence has been proved to be prevention against and early treatment of mistletoes, as long as its distribution has not been covered continuously an area but has been localised at a few trees only. Comparing effectiveness of mechanical and chemical eradication of mistletoe is very difficult and their application in the field depends on the current state of the respective woody plant and the intensity of infestation. In medium infested trees, combination of mechanical (periphery and thin branches of a tree) and chemical (where it is not possible to remove the parasite by a cut) treatment should be applied. In medium heavily infested trees with decreased vitality chemical treatment should be preferred while in heavily infested trees, if they are not veteran/memorial or otherwise important trees, it is suitable to remove of the respective woody plant. 

Zajíček P.: An Unexpected Discovery in the Kateřina Cave
The Old Kateřina Cave (the Moravský kras/Moravian Karst, South Moravia) has been known and visited since the prehistoric times. It is evidenced by recently found and dated carbon drawing traces on walls inside the cave. Results of probes carried out close to the prehistoric drawings revealed a finding which could be expected only by hardly anybody. Artefacts found there show that there was a secret money counterfeiting workshop within the Old Kateřina Cave dated by archaeologists back to the late 14th century or the early 15th century. A discovery of a few prehistoric shards younger than the late Neolithic drawings documented at some sites in the Old Kateřina Cave should also be mentioned. Due to the fact that another carbon drawing was dated back to the Hallstatt Period it is clear that the Kateřina Cave has been visited regularly and often since the late Neolithic Period, i.e. in the Neolithic period itself, the Bronze Age, the Hallstatt Period and since the early Middle Ages. 

 

Nature Conservation Legislation

Filipová P.: Fencing Pastures in the Light of the Building Act and the Act on Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection
In the Czech Republic, livestock grazing is, in addition to its “production-economical” character also an important tool for managing from a point of view of nature conservation valuable habitats. Therefore, it is subsided from landscape management subvention programmes/subsidy schemes: land owners or tenants implementing grazing are financially supported. Thus, the question of administrative requirements for building a fence is raised. The same issue is also related to preventive measures aiming at terminating large carnivore attacks or making them difficult. In the Czech Republic´s legal system the fencing is regulated by two main pieces of legislation, namely the Building Act and the Act on Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection. Pursuant the former, such a fencing can be processed in simplified authorization procedure, because only location of a fence, not its building is regulated. Act No. 114/1992 Gazette on Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection, as amended later, sets some other public-law limitations for putting a fence into the landscape. They include particularly those arising from territorial protection, species protection, duty to provide permeability of the landscape or from general nature conservation. The article deals with the fact that even if grazing is carried out for managing valuable habitats, it is necessary to take into account also other interests which can be in conflict with the fencing. 

Vladimír Mana: Unified Environmental Opinion
The Unified Environmental Permission (UEP) concept was for the first time discussed within inter-ministerial comment procedure on the consultation document on recodification of public building law. The Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic then proposed it as an alternative to a very broad integration of administrative authorities into a new state/public building admi-nistration. The then UEP concept was based on proposing appropriation public interest protection for a special administration procedure which would result in a single administrative decision consisting of assessment of the particular intent on the relevant environmental components. 
The intention of the new Czech Republic´s Government to change the new Building Act revived the idea to achieve the UEP concept and the Ministry of the Environment was tasked with elaborating a legal document which would together with amendment to the Building Act allows a real facilitation and acceleration of issuing building permits. Introducing the UEP into the Czech Republic´s legislation provides a huge opportunity to make – after many years – an important step towards a real facilitation of issuing permits for various building and non-building intents. 

Jitka Jelínková: Controlling Fireworks and Pyrotechnics Use in the Czech Republic - a new Paragraph in the Act on Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection 
New paragraph 3 included into Article 66 of Act No. 114/1992 Gazette on Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection as a Members of Parliament´s amendment to the so-called Anti-Invasive Alien Species Amendment to the above Act (Act No. 364/2021 Gazette) sets power for the State Nature Conservancy authorities to restrict or to ban fireworks or pyrotechnics use in the defined areas. Moreover, the well-intentioned legislative initiative raises some questions in relation to more general wording of paragraph 1 Article 66 as well as to competency of the State Nature Conservancy authorities. For nature conservation practice the most important is the conclusion that Article 66 paragraph 3 does not exclude possibility to control fireworks or pyrotechnics use outside the areas defined there, through applying Article 66 paragraph 1 if the condition of the general provision are met. Rich practice of the court highlights a strong preventive feature of Article 66 because restriction or ban on these activities can be justified by possible threating generally or specially protected parts of nature, not by only the fulfilled threat itself. 

Mlčoch S. & Mazancová E.: Thirty Years of the Act on Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection in the Czech Republic
On June 1, 1992, Act No. 114/1992 Gazette on Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection (ANCLP) came into force. Since that time it has been many times amended which is understandable due to a dynamic and sometimes turbulent development in the society as well as in legislation in the Czech Republic. The most important amendment transposed the European Union´s nature conservation legislation into the Czech Republic´s legal order. Recently, there has been an extraordinary pressure to make building activities easier resulting in a comprehensive recodification of the building law in 2021 including the principal changes in the ANCLP´s power. We live in extremely turbulent world which is not so much in favour of nature conservation and landscape protection. Biological diversity has been declining, only a little space is allocated for wild nature/wilderness. Further development is in hands of new politicians: the authors wish them courage and reason to make decisions to the benefit of nature.

 
Stejskal V.: Thirty Years of Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection in the Judicature of the Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic

In the last 30 years of force of Act No. 114/1992 Gazette on Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection (ANCLP) the Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic has dealt not once in its judicature on environmental law also with nature conservation and landscape protection. The article summarizes some important topics the Constitutional Court has ruled. The examples given deal with nature conservation as public interest, Specially Protected Areas declaration and nature conservation in National Parks or landscape protection. To sum up, in the last 30 years of ANCLP´s effect the Constitutional Court has dealt with nature conservation and landscape protection from a point of view of the regulation based on constitutional law systematically and its opinions were always consistent and often in favorem of nature conservation. The exemption is the recent exclusion of civil society organisations from administration procedure if nature conservation and landscape protection can be affected in the procedure. 

Stejskal V.: Proposal for the European Union´s Legislation on Nature Restoration
After some postponements, on 22 June 2022 the European Commission presented a package of legislation measures to restore damaged ecosystems within the European Union by 2050 and to reduce the use and risk of chemical pesticides by 50% by 2030. The article tries to explain the content and targets of the proposal for the EU nature restoration regulation. The proposal is pioneering, being the EU´s very first legislation proposal on the topic in nature conservation and landscape protection. Through legally binding targets in the EU Member States it has an ambition to provide damaged terrestrial and water ecosystems with appropriate restoration but also to support urban green areas or to halt decline in pollinators and to increase their population sizes. Thus, the proposed legislation, sometimes also called the European Nature Restoration Law should implement one of the key targets of the European Green Deal, i.e. the commitment defined in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 that in reversing biodiversity loss and nature restoration the EU should lead the world by example and by action. The Strategy makes the commitment that at least 30% of the land including inland waters and 30% of the sea should be legally protected in the EU, of them at least one third should be strictly protected including all the EU’s remaining primary and old-growth forests.

Kušnírová T. & Šikola M.: The Natura 2000 Network Will Again Expand in the Czech Republic
The Czech Natura 2000 network has not yet been declared as sufficient by the European Commission mainly due to the failure to designate several Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) with the justification of other interests in the area. In 2018–2021, bilateral meetings with the European Commission took place and the scope of the completion was agreed upon. It focuses on the addition of target features to 32 existing SCIs. The Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic charged the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic to prepare the proposal. The amendments will also deal with operational changes – accuracy improvement in delineation of more than 130 SCIs and excluding problematic target species due to their absence at the site, or excluding the entire non-functional SCIs. In about 1/3 of the cases, substitute site is considered. Due to the monitoring efforts, it was also possible to propose sites for the Round notothylas (Notothylas orbicularis), which has not been yet protected by any SCI across the country. In the first half of 2022, the proposal was pre-negotiated with the affected stakeholders and submitted to the Ministry of the Environment, which will further develop it into a legislative document for the official amendment procedure that should be completed in 2023, taking into account the schedule agreed with the European Commission.

Pešout P. et al.: A Proposal for Revising Threatened Species Protection in the Czech Republic 
In the Czech Republic, principles of current special species protection come from the second half of the 1980s. They entered into practice by Act No. 114/1992 Gazette on Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection, as amended later and since that time they – except small adjustments due to transposing and implementing the European Union legislation before joining the EU- have not been changed. Moreover, knowledge has been significantly improved during the thirty past years and the state of nature and the landscape has also significantly shifted across the whole country´s territory. Long-term negative effects are currently amplified and multiplied by climate change impacts. It is clear that species protection tools have been in many aspects outdated and their effectivity has been insufficient. We are not able to halt species richness/diversity decline and loss and to effectively protect, conserve or manage habitats of the individual species as a basic precondition of their survival. A lot of necessary changes can be reach only by those in metho-dologies and approaches in performing State/Public Administration and setting out economic/financial tools without changes in legislation. Nevertheless effective protection and providing the most threatened species with management need new legislation dealing with special species protection, conservation and management. The proposal of new legislation or revising special species protection is based on the following five key principles: (1) Prioritization in threatened species management separated from that in their legal protection; (2) Introducing prioritization in natural habitat management; (3) Special species protection based on their habitat conservation; (4) Introducing classification of Specially Protected Species reflecting the extent of the species protection; and (5) Using the Specially Protected Species category only in species where it is meaningful.

Focusing on the Public

Froněk J. & Šrailová E.: The First Pocket School Forest in the Czech Republic
Although the year 2021 was among the most difficult ones, it favoured outdoor or open-air actions for the public. During the Arbour Day, i.e. October 20, 2021, near the Jan Werich Elementary School in Prague, Řepy Quarter one of them was orga-nized to put activities of people involved in good use. In the course of two days, the first “Pocket School Forest” was planted following the example of the project “Tiny Forest” implemented by Indian engineer Shubhendu Sharma and subsequent experience raised in the Netherlands. TEREZA Education Centre Prague with other partners and participants arranged planting a new grove covering the same area as a tennis court which will present nature to schoolchildren and vice versa. Schoolchildren not only contributed to the planting, but also prepared soil there and helped to select suitable woody plant species. The whole project is based on conviction that relationship with nature is in the best way maintained and enhanced just outdoor, in greenery as well as on confidence that the project shall inspire also other schools. 

Hana Hofmeisterová: The Český kras/Bohemian Karst for the General Public
The Český kras/Bohemian Karst is a very popular tourist destination. Its location in a densely populated area close to Prague with rail connection following the Berounka River simply predetermines such visits. Therefore, with the Karlštejn Castle being of European cultural importance the area has become just a magnet for visitors. In the 1970s and 1980s tramps, ramblers and weekend cottagers dominated among weekend visitors. At present, these are mostly families with children coming by train and hiking, biking and often by car. In addition to bikes, they come also e.g. with roller-skate and climbing gear. During weather-friendly Saturday afternoon where many people go into nature the Protected Landscape Area (PLA) changes literally into a sports ground for the whole region. There are many other future plans from the Český kras/Bohemian Karst PLA Administration on how to raise awareness of nature among the general public in a reasonable way, where to put new signboards, interactive elements or a whole educational path/trail. Using data gathered by automated visitor counters installed in 2021 it has been known where efforts from the State Nature Conservancy should be targeted. 

Jarmila Kostiuková: Patronages of the Scout Institute – Involvement of Scouts (and not only them) in Nature Conservation
Patronages are a project of the Scout Institute, in which groups of children and youth are involved in active nature conservation and landscape restoration. The scout unit/school class takes care of some naturally valuable site in its surroundings - by the approval of the site´s manager and also under the supervision of an expert/guide. Field interventions take place twice a year and the professional guide helps with planning, implementation and with environmental and experiential education of children. Sites suitable for the field measures are selected in cooperation with the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, National Park Administrations and regional authorities. Patronages currently operate in the territory of the Capital City of Prague and in eight other regions of the Czech Republic; so far more than 55 scout units and school classes have participated in them. The children involved in the programme form a lasting relationship with the site, learn a lot of interesting issues about nature and inspire others with their activities.

Judová J.: A Round Trip Game for Visitors at the Occasion of Fifty Years of the Labské pískovce/Elbe Sandstones Protected Landscape Area
The České Švýcarsko/Bohemian Switzerland National Park (NP) Administration developed for visitors to the Labské pískovce/Elbe Sandstones region (northern Bohemia) at the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Labské pískovce/Elbe Sandstones Protected Landscape Area (PLA) a game presenting some parts of the above Specially Protected Area and to learn about its natural and cultural attractions. The game aims at motivating participants for visiting the area which has been worthily protected as the PLA for fifty years, but at the same time to focus their attention to other sites than the more and more often visited central part of the NP with famous destinations, e.g. Pravčice/Prenischtor Rock Gate, the Kamenice River Gorges/Glens and the Jertřichovice Lookouts. The main output of the project will be a methodology for interested persons for receiving the “České Švýcar-sko/Bohemian Switzerland NP School” certificate. For pupils of the above schools, the NP Administration issued thematic workbooks in 2021 and a new educational programme as well as a worksheet on the České Švý-carsko/Bohemian Switzerland National Park have been under preparation. 

Drbal K.: New Visitor Centre in the Chýnov Cave
After some years of efforts the Chýnov Cave (Tábor region, South Bohemia) has had a new visitor centre significantly complemented the visitor infrastructure there. The first part of the centre displays a copy of a historic industrial locomotive shed from the former Schwar-zenberg´s quarry. This is not an accidental caprice. Discovery of the Chýnov Cave was closely related to just limestone mining at Pacova hora Hill and without such mining the unique natural phenomenon has never been discovered. Mining and processing local limestones have been finished and no features, except two buildings and a pit have left there. The second part of the centre is hidden bellow the terrain level at a site of the former rural quarry and it is more extensive than the above building of the industrial locomotive shed. At the same time, at the former site there is an entrance into “underground” space. The investor of the building the centre was the Cave Administration of the Czech Republic using the European Union funds, namely the European Fund for Regional Development and the Operational Programme Environment (OPE). 

Moravec J. & Žaitlíková L.: Golden Leaf Compe-tition a Half a Century Old
On 20 – 25 June 2022, a national round of the anniversary 50th year of natural science competition called the Golden Leaf was held. Really only a few contests for youth can show such a respectable age. The Golden Leaf is a competition for child groups from elementary schools interested in nature and its conservation. The activities within the Golden Leaf are organised by the Czech Union for Nature Conservation. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic is a co-organizer: thus, participation in the competition is recommended to elementary schools across the country. The competition consists of basic, regional and national rounds and voluntary tasks. The national round is a real, not formal grand finale of annual competition. It is a five-day event for winners of the regional rounds and a winner of partial competition, i.e. voluntary tasks, held at various places in the Czech Republic late June. About 3,000 children participate in the competition every year.

Vítek O.: Monitoring of Visitation in Areas Managed by the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic
Since 2009 the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic (NCA CR) has been systema-tically monitoring visitation of the selected sites in Specially Protected Areas managed by itself. The results can be broadly used not only in nature conservation and landscape protection practice in the field, but they also are interesting for the NCA CR´s partners. As length of the time series has been increasing the monitoring outputs become more accurate and more reliable conclusions can be drawn from them. Patterns found in Specially Protected Area visitation are important particularly for assessment of various intentions related to visitor attendance, e.g. various races. Moreover, they are remarkable also for planning Nature Guard activities and provide a valuable background for planning communication, education and public awareness (CEPA) including building and maintenance of visitor infrastructure (footbridges, wooden plank paths, banisters, railings, but also e.g. barriers). 

Vačkářová D.: The National Platform on Ecosystem Services in International Context of Nature Conservation and Restoration 
A founding meeting of the National Platform on Ecosystem Services was held within the framework of the integrated LIFE project One Nature in Prague in October 2022. Its establishment reflects a long-term development in ecosystem service assessment both in the Czech Republic and abroad. At present we witness shifts in nature conservation goals and ways which has been increasingly including ecosystem services, nature´s contributions to people and in a broader context nature´s values. The Convention on Biological Diversity´s Strategic Vision speaks on living in harmony with nature by 2050, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 on bringing nature back into our lives. Therefore, the National Platform on Ecosystem Services´ goal is to support science-policy interface dialogue in the field of ecosystem services. Assessment of ecosystems and services they provide is defined as a social process through which the findings of science concerning the causes of ecosystem change, their consequences for human well-being, and the management and policy options are evaluated (Allison & Brown 2017). The approach requires a coordinated discussion among scientists, politicians, decision-makers and other key stakeholders.

From the History of Nature Conservation

Linhart Z. & Patzelt Z.: Twenty Years since Establishing the České Švýcarsko/Bohemian Switzerland, PBC
As a logical step after designating the České Švýcarsko/Bohemian Switzerland a National Park, the České Švýcarsko/Bohemian Switzerland, a public benefit corporation was established in 2001. As it has been confirmed for the past 20 years, the organisation plays one of key roles in České Švýcarsko/Bohemain Switzerland´s modern history and its seat, the town of Krásná Lípa due to, inter alia, the PBC blossomed out beyond recognition within that period. In many aspects, the organization provides an example for other regions and it has often been followed, e.g. in streamlining and combining activities of both the State Nature Conservancy and non-profit sector in nature conservation and destination management in tourism, building the House of the České Švýcarsko/Bohemian Switzerland with exhibitions and displays serving to visitors to the region and for communication, education and public awareness activities or in establishing the České Švýcarsko/Bohemian Switzerland Destination Fund regularly supplied by stakeholders and financing joint tourism projects within the region. 

Zajíček P.: 120 Years since the Karel Absolon´s First Expedition to the Macocha/Stepmother Abyss
The Macocha/Stepmother Abyss (the Moravský kras/Moravian Karst, central Moravia) has been attracting adventurers, curious guys and researchers for centuries. By 1914, the bottom of the sinkhole was accessible only by ropes or rope ladders. According to historical sources, the first people had roped down to the Macocha/Stepmother Abyss only in the 18th century. During the 19th century, there were more and more explorations there. Before making the abyss accessible, the most explorations to the bottom of the abyss had been carried out by Karel Absolon, scientist, explorer and researcher. His expedition in 1901 brought valuable findings and provided further explorations by lessons learnt. Thus, an important phase of research and surveys on the Macocha/Stepmother Abyss, one of the most important karst phenomenon not only in the Czech Republic, begun. 

Plesník J.: Biological Diversity Lost Both its Godfather and Patron during Two Days 
On December 25, 2021, conservation biologist Thomas Lovejoy passed away at the age of 80. In many obituaries he was referred to as “godfather of biodiversity” for all of his work in the field. Moreover Lovejoy actually coined the term “biological diversity in the early 1980s. In addition he also did a ton of work studying the connections between the climate crisis and biodiversity as well as between the current coronavirus pandemic and the global loss of biological diversity caused by destruction of nature. Thomas Loveloy devoted his life to studying the natural world which led to unprecedented environmental advocacy.

Edward O. Wilson, a US naturalist known to some as the “modern-day” Darwin died on December 26, 2021. Throughout his decades-long career, he established two new scientific disciplines (island biogeography and sociobiology, the study of genetic basis of the social behaviour of all animals, including humans). In 1978, he published On Human Nature which discusses the role of biology in the evolution of human culture and won a Pulitzer Prize. Wilson´s highly original book Biophilia was the first to use the term to mean human empathy for the natural world. In 1988 Wilson edited the BioDiversity volume, based on the proceedings of the first US national conference on the subject, which also introduced the term biodiversity into the language. Another book Half-Earth advanced the idea that plummeting biodiversity could be mitigated by reserving a full half of the planet for nonhuman species. 

Petr Moucha: On the Establishment of the Český kras/Bohemian Karst Protected Landscape Area
In April 1972 when the Český kras/Bohemian Karst Protected Landscape Area was established, a some decades lasting way towards protection and conservation of the rare area not far from the western border of the Great Prague, i.e. the Prague agglomeration was successfully crowned. The first proposals for protecting the area´s most valuable parts had appeared from Jan Svatopluk Procházka as early as in the 1920s. At the same time formal protection of from a point of view botany most valuable parts of the Karlštejn area was introduced and Jaroslav Petrbok promoted the idea to call the area the Český kras/Bohemian Karst. Immediately after World War II, intensive efforts to protect the area were continuing even by a proposal to establish the Karlštejn Region National Park there (Jaromír Klika). The PLA was declared on April 12, 1972. Moreover, some muni-cipalities rejected to respect nature conservation conditions and requirements. Covering less than 130 km2, the Český kras/Bohemian Karst is of one the smallest PLAs in the Czech Republic. Nevertheless geological structure and composition of the PLA´s is really unique and the PLA is the largest limestone area in the Czech Republic.

Pešout P.: Hundred-year History of Nature Conservation Legislation in the Czech Republic 
Thirty year anniversary of the current Act on Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection is enhanced by an even older anniversary. In 2022, a century has passed since submitting the very first proposal for nature conservation act by the Member of the National Assembly pf Czechoslovakia Jaroslav V. Stejskal. In the article, the author in detail deals with development in nature conservation legislation during the whole period. Even at the turn of the 20th century, first efforts to introduce systematic legislation-based nature conservation had appeared in what is now the Czech Republic. They were not interrupted by the World War II and just in 1945, Rudolf Maximovič elected as a revolutionary leader of the Department of Forest Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture submitted an outline of act on nature conservation in Czechoslovakia. Moreover, an act on Czech nature conservation was endorsed as late as on August 1, 1956: the law had been in place up to June 1, 1992 when Act No. 114/1992 Gazette on Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection came into force.

Zajíček P.: One Hundred Years since Connecting the Sloup and Šošůvka Caves
The Sloup-Šošůvka Caves (the Moravský kras/Moravian Karst, South Moravia) is the longest show cave in the Czech Republic. At the same time, they are a part of the longest cave system in the country. The Sloup Caves and the Šošůvka Caves had been isolated in the past and each of them has totally different history. When by that time two isolated visitor routes in each of them were restored, they were connected each other approx. one hundred years ago. Probably in 1922, a short connection was bored there: thus, the caves were definitively connected. Therefore, after finishing the restoration and connecting the caves visitors could step by step look through the Sloup Caves as well as the Šošůvka Caves during the single one long route. At present, the Sloup-Šošůvka Caves are managed by the Cave Administration of the Czech Republic that has during the past decades implemented a lot of restorations and innovations there. 

Hromas J.: 75 Years since Discovery of the Bozkov Dolomite Caves
When a cave hole had appeared in front of quarrymen in a small quarry close to the village of Bozkov (northern Bohemia) in 1947, experts did not believe that this a way towards a cave system. In 1957 after successful entering among caving´s blocks, the Cave of Surprise with the first stalagmite/stalactite decoration was discovered. After mapping and study on geological structures, geophysical methods were applied there during speleological survey. Through test pits dug at sites with geophysical anomalies, the New Caves with underground lakes were found. The Bozkov Dolomite Caves consist of two separated systems of corridors and halls, namely the Old and New Caves. In total, they are 1,118 meters long and their height range is 43 meters, thus being the oldest dolomite caves in the Czech Republic. They harbour an absolutely unique stalagmite/stalactite decoration as well as wall molding. Caves are penetrated by a quite small body of calcareous dolomite closed in metamorphic rock formation of the Krkonoše/Jizera Mts. bedrock, mostly phyllites and green slates/schists. The Bozkov Dolomite Caves were created by long-term effect of stagnant, considerably aggressive waters which penetrated in tectonically disrupted dolomite from adjacent rocks. Just the position in “acid” rocks allowed dissolving the resistant dolomite, in addition at some sites having been strengthened by insoluble silica. The Jezerní dóm/Lake Dome reaching the dimension of 24 x 12 meters with the largest underground lake in Bohemia dominates the whole system space. 

International Nature Conservation

Plesník J., Ucová S., Kameniecká B., Makal B. & Čolobentičová L.: International Trade in Endan-gered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora in the Czech Republic, European Union and in the World
Illegal or unsustainable wildlife trade affects numerous species, ecosystems and human societies. Its scale is immense and has been increasing because exploiting wildlife by selling it, their parts or products, is one of the most profi-table activities in the world. Since July 1975, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has been aiming at ensuring that the international trade in animals and plants does not threaten their survival in the wild by providing a framework to be followed by each Party. Globally, the top commercial categories for wildlife traded legally under CITES are mammal and reptile skins, live primates, birds and corals, orchids including hybrids and cacti. The European Union continues to be an important market for international wildlife trade. Live ornamental plants are the commodity imported into the EU in the highest quantities, predominantly consisting of snowdrops (Galanthus spp.), cacti, cyclamen (Cyclamen spp.) and orchids, all of which were predominantly artificially propagated; reptile skins are the animal commodities imported at relatively high levels there. Prominent exports from the EU by volume include live artificially propagated plants, mainly cacti, orchid hybrids and snowdrops. Due to its geographical location and long-term tradition in highly developed planting and breeding particularly exotic wildlife in captivity, the Czech Republic is an important player in international trade in flora and fauna. Live reptiles, corals and parrots, reptile skins and mammal trophies are among the most often imported taxa, while live birds, mainly parrots and falcons, primates and dart-poison frogs (Dendrobatidae) are most frequently exported from the country. 

Jan Plesník: Is „New“ Conservation Really New? 
Although discussions about the aims and methods of conservation probably date back as far as conservation itself, the ‘new conservation’ debate as such was sparked by Peter Kareiva and Michelle Marvier in 2012 Central to the ‘new conservation’ position is a shift towards viewing conservation as being about protecting, conserving and managing nature in order to improve human well-being (especially that of the poor, anthropocentric approach), rather than for biodiversity’s own sake (biocentric approach). ‘New conservationists’ believe that win-win situations in which people benefit from conservation can often be achieved by promoting economic growth and partnering with corporations. New conservation advocates have been criticised for doing away with nature’s intrinsic value. In other words, it claims that conservation needs to emphasise nature’s instrumental value to people because this better promotes support for conservation compared to arguments based solely on the rights of species to exist. Despite the fact “new” conservation putting together various relatively non-standard approaches to specific aspects of nature conservation and management was generally rejected as a concept or paradigm by conservation community, some issues, e.g. stressing relationship between nature conservation and human well-being and health or non-equilibrium paradigm, have been accepted by scientists, conservationists and decision-makers. In any case, the debate on future conservation has been extremely important in respect to transformative change, a fundamental, system-wide reorganization across technological, economic and social factors, including paradigms, goals and values, more and more often proposed as one of the solutions for post-COVID-19 world development. 

Miko L. & Plesník J.: The Presidency of the Czech Republic in the Council of the European Union Has been near at Hand
The Czech Republic will take over its already second presidency in the Council of European Union on July 1, 2022. In the Council of the EU government ministers from each EU country meet to discuss, amend and adopt laws, and coordinate policies. The ministers have the authority to commit their governments to the actions agreed on in the meetings. The country holding the presi-dency sets the agenda and priorities of the Council and chairs meetings of the different Council configurations and the Council's preparatory bodies, which include, inter alia, working parties dealing with very specific subjects. The Working Party on International Environment Issues (WPIEI) prepares EU positions for international negotiations related to environmental and climate change issues. It works in subgroups: for nature conservation, those on biodiversity, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and whaling arei important. he Czech Republic´s presidency shall have to face the fact that many meetings of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) have been postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic, some of them for two years, and both the date and venue of them have not been known yet: this is the case particularly of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), namely its 15th meeting of Conference of Parties to adopt a new global framework on biodiversity conservation.

Pelc F., Pešout P. & Ambrozek L.: Nature Conservation in Uganda 
Uganda, located in East Africa, is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. The fact has been significantly influencing nature and the landscape there. Moreover, extraordinarily valuable wilderness fragments have been maintained across the country. In addition, the low-income country displays high biological diversity, parti-cularly species richness: e.g., a half African avifauna occurs there. The Uganda Wildlife Authority manages 10 National Parks including the famous Murchinson Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Kidepo Valley, Rwenzori and Bwindi Impenetrable NP and 
11 Game Reserves. Biological diversity has been threatened there by land-use changes, i.e. natural and semi-natural habitat conversion into farmland and current or planned mineral extraction, particularly oil production: unfortunately deposits of the strategic raw material overlaps with the country´s most valuable protected areas. Among Czech naturalists involved in research and nature conservation in Uganda Petr Verner and Jan Jeník dealing with the Uganda kob (Kobus kob thomasi) in the Toro-Semliki Game Reserve in the late 1970s and early 1980s and Josef Vágner who was capturing particularly big mammals in Karamoja region for the Zoo/Safari Park Dvůr Králové nad Labem in the early 1970s should be mentioned. 

Plesník J. & Pelc F.: Protected Areas in the World: Current State and Perspectives 
Protected areas (PAs), regarded today as a cornerstone of nature conservation have been established since the early 19th century and they are considered to be a key response to global biodiversity declines and the associated threate-ning processes. As a result of the exponential growth both in PAs number and total coverage at the global level having been accelerating parti-cularly since the 1960s, as of 15 July 2021, according to the World Database on Protected Areas there are 271,140 PAs covering 15.8 % of land and 8.1% of coastal waters and the ocean on Earth. In view of expanding human land use, increasing climate change and unmet conservation targets, area-based conservation requires efficiency and effectiveness more than ever. Protected area coverage is a measure easy to apply and to understand for policy-makers but does not account for biodiversity, ecosystem 
services and social equity within and around protected areas, nor for the connectivity between them. Thus, there is concern that focusing solely on the percent area coverage of the global biodiversity conservation targets could be at the detriment of achieving the quality elements of the target Therefore, management and governance effectiveness needs to be considered in the context of conservation targets at all times. Methods to evaluate management effectiveness are manifold due to the diversity of protected area designations, their management and conservation targets. While many PAs show positive outcomes, strikingly compared with matched unprotected areas, PAs have on average not reduced a biodiversity decline over the past 15 years. Although effectiveness has been assessed only in a small proportion of PA worldwide, most of them seem to be not effective and there have been too many paper parks on the planet. The authors recommend to pay more attention to PA quality, not only quantity and to enhance PA management wherever possible. 

Drbal K.: 6th October – International Geodiversity Day
Recognizing the importance of geoscience in solving major challenges that humanity is facing today, UNESCO’s General Conference proclaimed 6 October as International Geodiversity Day (IGD) on 22 November 2021. The proposal was supported by 193 Member States and based on an input submitted by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and other scientific organisations. The IGD aims at raising awareness of the relationship between abiotic part of nature and all life forms among the general public. It is supposed that not only expert/technical bodies and institutions but also research institutes and universities will be involved in various activities related to the IGD. The Cave Administration of the Czech Republic has prepared a public awareness campaign presenting caves as a natural part of the abiotic environment. At the same time natural values of the Czech Republic, importance of cave and karst protection and conservation, historical significance of caves for humans, outputs of cave monitoring and surveys and principles of managing the natural phenomena have been highlighted. 

Plesník J.: The United States Will Have a New Recovering Wildlife Act
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) is the primary law in the United States for protecting imperiled species and it has been considered to be one of the most comprehensive legislation for the preservation of endangered species enacted by any nation. The purpose of the ESA are two-fold: to prevent extinction and to recover species to the point where the law´s protection is not needed. It therefore protects species and through the critical habitats the ecosystems upon which they depend. In addition, a species under the act can be a true taxonomic species, a subspecies, or in the case of vertebrates, a distinct population segment, i.e. the evolutionary significant unit. Moreover, the ESA´s power can be reduced by administration through cutting the finance allocated for its implementation. Therefore, the Recovering America´s Wildlife Act (RAWA) which would create an annual fund of more than USD 1.3 billion, given to states, territories and tribal nations for wildlife conservation was passed by the U.S. House in June 2022. At least 15 % of RAWA funding must be spent on species that are listed under the ESA. The RAWA also addresses climate change by building more resilient ecosystems and boosts the outdoor economy. The bipartisan RAWA will be the most significant investment in wildlife conservation in a generation.   

Mantle G.: 60 Years of Nature Conservation and Restoration in Wiltshire, the United Kingdom
In late July 2022 representatives of the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic visited the United Kingdom, namely Wiltshire Wildlife Trust (WWT). The WWT was set up in 1962 and many of the founding members were landowners and farmers who were alarmed by the industrialisation of agriculture and the widespread use of pesticides. The first area purchased in 1970 was a small meadow in the upper reaches of the River Thames, where there remained an abundance of the Snake’s head fritillaries (Fritillaria meleagris), with over half the plants having white flowers rather than the typical purple colour. The WWT has since created 42 nature reserves, covering over 1,200 hwectares, representing some of the best wildlife habitat found in the county. Each nature reserve has free public access. Since 2000, knowledge gathe-red in the Bílé Karpaty/White Carpathians Mts. repeatedly visited by Wildlife Trusts leaders was awe-inspiring for all the Wildlife Trusts in the U.K. In addition to successful meadow restoration, in the past 20 years, the Trust’s water team have tackled 110 projects, restoring over 60 kilometres of rivers.

Exceptional Incident

Patzelt Z.: An Off-the-scale and Turning Fire in the České Švýcarsko/Bohemian Switzerland National Park 
On Sunday 24 July 2022 a fire started in the České Švýcarsko/Bohemian Switzerland National Park (northern Bohemia) which due to its extent has been going down in history of not only the National Park. On an area covering more than 1,000 hectares, the fire was particularly developed at sites with Norway spruce (Picea abies) monocultures having been damaged by the European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus). Moreover, valuable little tiny bush communities on rock edges as well as forest growths with natural species composition were also negatively affected. The real extent of the damage will be revealed only in the future. In the village of Mezná three houses were fully burnt. The fire outbreak had been preceded by dry and hot weather with record temperatures reaching up to 360 C. When the article is written, more than one thousand firefighters have been pit out fire source just the 16th day of their efforts. It has been too early to assess all the issues. Nevertheless, even now it is clear that the event should be a turning point in an approach to forest management in the whole Czech Republic: it is necessary in forests to come back to natural species composition with prevailing broad-leaved deciduous woody plants.