English Summary

Such assessments provide basic information on the specific human settlement and landscape characteristics and demonstrate by evidence spatial and functional patterns within the area.They should establish a subsidiary background for Protected Landscape Area (PLA) administrations and other State Nature Conservancy authorities, particularly when issuing permits pursuant to Articles 12 and 44 of Act No. 114/1992 Gazette on the Protection of Nature and the Landscape, as amended later, drafting Specially Protected Area Management Plans and setting restrictions in Nature Park land use, which would destroy, damage or disturb conservation status of the respective area, structural landscape character/scenery preservation as well as framework conditions for intended interventions to landscape character/scenery before developing design or other documentation of the builders intention. For PLAs, the assessments were carried out in 1995–2008. At present, the oldest assessments are being updated. The assessments particularly support the State Nature Conservancy authorities by providing them with territorial data in nature conservation and landscape protection as a background for elaborating planning documentation. Data gained for assessments can also be used for negotiations on territorial/physical or regulatory plans and on changes in them.

The author summarises her long-term experience which is used for improving technological measures against penetrating of torrential water into the caves as well as technological facility protection in the caves (lamps, electricity wires, etc.). At the same time, she presents models of the flood extent and the flood arrival time in relation to flow rate measured in the river at limnigraphic stations situated upstream from the caves, in the more upper stretches of the river. After some delay, underground water level rises in the caves lower parts.

The article presents the concept on limits for mountain meadow loss in the SCI Krkonoše/Giant Mts. – an approach used by the Krkonoše/Giant Mts. National Park Administration and persons authorised for appropriate assessments. Concept’s main aim is to identify a priori the extent of mountain meadow loss in the SCI caused by a significant impact of a project, identified during Appropriate Assessment procedure, pursuant to Act No. 114/1992 Gazette on the Protection of Nature and the Landscape, Article 45, letters h) and i). The concept’s principles are described as well as the first experience during the spatial planning procedure. Therefore, the concept is presented for a wide discussion and possible implementation in other SCIs in the Czech Republic.

The current situation could be improved by the recently developed sustainable tourism strategy for the Mt. Praděd area. A background study analysed the area’s current status and problems raised particularly within the tourism and nature conservation and landscape protection relationship. Based on the analysis, targets, measures and indicators monitoring effects of possibly implemented steps were developed. Consequently, the strategy of the Mt. Praděd area development was elaborated, aiming at management of the area for the next decade.

The positive trend has been continuing: the current numbers can be estimated at 50 breeding pairs in the Czech Republic. Since the early 1990s, intensive conservation measures have been implemented for the avian predator. Detailed monitoring has been aiming at finding all nest sites, factors threatening the species were analyzed and extensive measures to support the Peregrines population were implemented. All the activities were in detailes documented. Therefore, their real contribution for Peregrines population recovery can be consequently assessed. Direct guarding the nests against tourists and rock climbers was highly beneficial as well as furnishing above-ground transmission power lines and electricity pylons near nest sites with protective means, effectively preventing injuring and killing of birds by electric current. Introducing a detailed registration and marking of the individual birds in captivity was also of great importance, because it has helped to substantially reduce robbing of nests. As a part of supporting the newly establishing Peregrines population, reintroductions were also carried: particularly, young reared in captivity were released into the wild. Nevertheless, effectiveness of such mea­sures has been low. Therefore, reintroductions may have influenced the Peregrines population recovery only in to a small extent in the Czech Republic. In the country, the development of the Peregrines population has been closely related to that in whole Central Europe. Conservation measures have accelerated the Peregrines remarkable comeback in the Czech Republic. Moreover, increasing in numbers of the falcon across the whole continent caused by the global ban on DDT has been a principal driver of the process.