Ochrana přírody 5/2023 — 26. 10. 2023 — Summary — Tištěná verze článku v pdf
SUMMARY 52023
Hanzal V. & Anděra M.: The Mediterranean Water Shrew and Other Insectivores in the Czech Republic
Insectivores are the third most numerous group of recent mammals after rodents and bats consisting of almost 580 species: of them, more than 40 occur in Europe. African species were set out from the original order Insectivora, forming the separate order Afrosoricida. The remaining families, shrews (Soricidae), hedgehogs and moonrats (Erinaceidae), moles (Talpidae) and solenodons (Solenodontidae), are included into the new order Eulipotypohla. Its members live in a large part of the world except of South America and Australia and, of course, Antarctica. In the Czech Republic, members of three families, namely Soricidae, Erinaceidae and Talpidae, can be found. Due to a new discovery of the Greater white-toothed shrew (Crocidura russula), the insectivore fauna includes 11 species there. The current knowledge reveals that six of them occur quite generally, without clear subnational differences across the country. These are the Common shrew (Sorex araneus), Eurasian pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus), Eurasian water shrew (Neomys fodiens), Lesser white-toothed shrew (Crocidura suaveolens), European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) and the European mole (Talpa europaea). The Mediterranean water shrew, also known as the Miller´s or Southern water shrew (Neomys milleri), Bicoloured white-toothed shrew (Crocidura leucodon) as well as the Greater white-toothed shrew expand their distribution range there. On the other hand, occurrence of the Northern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus roumanicus) near the western border has been slightly retreating into midland. The authors conclude that at present there are no apparent factors/drivers substantially negatively affecting the extent of the occurrence or numbers in insectivores in the Czech Republic.
Ouhrabka V.: Karst Phenomena and Caves near the Town of Rokytnice nad Jizerou (Northern Bohemia)
Bodies of crystalline limestone to dolomites and erlans in vicinity of the town of Rokytnice nad Jizerou (northern Bohemia) are a part of the Krkonoše/Giant Mts. Karst built from carbonates of the Krkonoše/Giant Mts.-Jizera Mts. Crystalline Massif. Karst phenomena and some entrances into caves have had to be known since time immemorial. Moreover, only in the 1970s they were step-step recognised by the experts. In the early 1990s, speleologists from the Czech Speleological Society began to conduct intensive surveys within the area, which resulted in discovery of new parts of caves displaying rich cave speleothem decoration and remarkable hydrology of karst underground waters. Three main caves there, i.e. the Netopýří jeskyně/Bat Cave, Rokytnice Cave and the Ve Vilémově Cave being more than 50 meters long, are among the most important Krkonoše/Giant Mts. caves.
Hubený P.: The Šumava/Bohemian Forest Mts. Protected Landscape Area Celebrates 60 Years
It is almost unbelievable that the Šumava/Bohemian Forest Mts. Protected Landscape Area (PLA) has been celebrating sixty years in 2023. Nature conservation has been successful across such a large area: almost the total original PLA´s territory became National Park while in the rest of the area some dozens of small-size Specially Protected Areas were established. Nature is dynamic. Forests have been naturally regenerating more often and more trees survive after each logging: both species and age diversity have been increasing in forests there. Pollution of sulphur dioxide and lead has been terminated and soil and water acidification were stopped. Thus, forests have been apparently reviving there. In addition, forest coverage increased in the Šumava/Bohemian Forest Mts., partly thanks to planting, but mostly by woody plant tree self-seeding on abandoned and set-aside fallow agricultural land. Due to spreading the forest some plant species of cultural treeless habitats retreated, e.g. dwarf gentians (Gentianella spp.) or the Burnt orchid (Neotinea ustulata). Nevertheless, most of plant species survived and their conservation is implemented through regular management. After building the Vltava River Cascade, no Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) has reached the Šumava/Bohemian Forest Mts. since 1950. On the other hand, the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) was successfully re-introduced within the area and the Eurasian elk, in North America known as moose (Alces alces), Grey wolf (Canis lupus) and the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) spontaneously arrived there. Similarly, the area was repopulated by the Common raven (Corvus corax) or the Common crane (Grus grus). The PLA Administration successfully reintroduced the Ural owl (Strix uralensis) and it has been maintaining a viable population of the Freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) or the Western capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus). Despite strong decrease in numbers a Northern black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix) population has been surviving there. Large-size nature conservation and landscape protection has met their targets and goals. Despite various nature degradation and locally strong expansion of built-up areas the overwhelming part of the PLA has been under effective conservation. It would be nice if we maintain such a trend and to offer to our descendants, in addition to large wilderness areas also the landscape with all the values having been saved for sixty years: with beautiful nature, magical historic landscape scenery/character and with all native species.
Marešová P., Bernardová A., Novák J., Bešta T., Hamerský R. & Prach J.: A History of a Pool 10,000 Year Old – What Peat Hides in the Březina Nature Reserve in the České Středohoří/Central Bohemian Uplands
The Březina Nature Reserve (NR) and Site of European Importance (SEI, pursuant to Act No. 114/1992 Gazette on Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection, as amended later, the term for Site of Community Importance, SCI under the European Union’s Habitats Directive) is a unique wetland in the otherwise warm and dry České Středohoří/Central Bohemia Uplands. Its origin has not been until recently known although there were opinions that it was established by building a road. Even though the peat-bog had been preserved as an ecosystem for decades (“conserving the whole geobiocenosis” as stated in the regulation for establishing the NR in 1969) when implementing the target management within the SEI more attention begun to be paid to the particular species. Because of recent overgrowing the site by the Common reed (Phragmites australis) and of Northern crested newt (Triturus cristatus) conservation the water body was planned to be “recovered” by dredging. Paleoecological research revealed that the pool is 10,000 years old and it has also experienced the phase of development with reed in past. Pollen grains, seeds and other plant remnants show a past view of the landscape there. The valuable peaty wetland itself including its changes and sediments should be effectively conserved. It is more valuable than the Northern crested newt occurring also in recently built small fishponds in vicinity of the wetland.
Koutný J.: Skalička Side Dry Water Reservoir Phenomenon – An Issue and Opportunity
Particularly in the early 20th century, the original branching and meandering Bečva River (eastern Moravia) had been continuously changed from a point of view of water management. The riverbed was straightened and shortened to the current 61.5 kilometres, river arms and meanders were cut off or filled. Thus, water runoff was accelerated and riverbank enforcement and big weirs caused deep erosion. In 1997, the Bečva River Basin suffered from disastrous floods. At present, the Skalička Waterworks has been under preparation: its main task is to transform flood rate in the Bečva River. Despite selecting one of the proposed options, building the waterworks shall substantially negatively affect the Hustopeče – Štěrkáč Site of European Importance (SEI, pursuant to Act No. 114/1992 Gazette on Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection, as amended later, the term for Site of Community Importance, SCI under the European Union’s Habitats Directive) as well as other parts of nature there. The State Nature Conservancy stands for three approaches: (1) It is necessary and extremely desirable to making the Bečva River natural as much as possible; (2) Due to its hydrological and flow morphological and geological patterns, the Bečva River offers reaching quickly and spontaneously the natural state; and (3) preparing a huge waterworks as the Skalička Side Dry Water Reservoir with a flexible facility is, increases the need of the Bečva River and its floodplain to become natural as much as possible. If the Skalička Side Dry Water Reservoir is designed as a flood control facility there is no other way but respect the fact and to consider environmental risk as a challenge to maximally support nature within the Bečva River Basin through mitigation and compensation measures in favour of nature. The extent of making the river and its floodplain natural should be generous enough, fully reflecting the extent of the technological intervention and its future impacts on the river ecosystem.
Kárník V.: Dispute on Leaves Falling from Open Public Space to a Private Garden
The article analyses the topical civil judicature on the issue dealing with leaves falling down from a municipal alley to a private plot. In the difficult question of collision of civil and public points of view, the lower court had decided that it is possible to assign to the town to remove fallen biomass. Moreover, the appellate court judged the issue in a different way and returned the case to further procedure. The plaintiff argued that crowns of the trees significantly extend over a plot of the complainants causing falling down of huge amount of leaves, achenes and branches on the private plot of the complainants, namely on an ornamental garden, a swimming pool and in gutters of a garden cabin and of a family house for most of the year. The complainants have to permanently remove the biomass fallen down to avoid weed infestation of the garden due to high germination capacity of achenes, contamination and consequent damage to the swimming pool plant and filling the gutters. The appellate court concluded that if in such an exceptionally and untypical case courts have been continuously dealing with since 2017, there is no other solution which would in a reasonable and fair for the litigants, particularly if the tree cannot be felled, trimmed or pruned, a solution to compensate damage caused to the molested can be considered. It is to be hoped that the problematic social consequences of the above repealing the judicature will be removed during the further deciding by court and the collision of public and civil points of view of woody plant occurrence will be successfully bridged. Moreover, the dispute has been continuing burdening both the litigants.
Zajíček P.: 300 Years since the First Climbing Down the Macecha/Stepmother Abyss
The Macocha/Stepmother Abyss in the Moravský kras/Moravian Karst (South Moravia), one of the unique natural formations of Europe, has had a rich history. Until 1914, its bottom was available only from above using ropes or ladders. According to records, the first people had climbed down reaching the bottom in 1723. The exploration was conducted by Minorite monk Lazar Schopper from the city of Brno and his valet and local farmers also participated in it. The climbing down definitely is among the exceptional events in the Moravský kras/Moravian Karst history. Similarly important is a manuscript by Josef Melnický recording the event 52 years later. Unless any record confirming the earlier climbing down the abyss is found, the Lazar Schopper´s exploration has been continuing to be considered as the very first.
Petrovský O. & Pelc F.: The Ivan Dejmal Foundation for Nature Conservation 30 Years Old
The Ivan Dejmal Foundation for Nature Conservation established originally as the Foundation for the Conservation and Restoration of the Jizera Mountains has been helping to fund nature heritage conservation and management for three decades. Ivan Dejmal was the Minister of the Environment of the Czech Republic in 1991 – 1992, a signatory to Charter 77, spending four years in prison on charges of "subversive activity against the Republic in the early 1970s). Until now the Foundation has distributed directly more than CZK 32 million (EUR 1.3 million) among hundreds of small or larger projects. Because providing funds for co-financing, other larger projects totally reaching CZK 21 million (EUR 0.8 million) have been implemented. Thus, at present it is one of the largest foundations dealing with nature conservation in the Czech Republic. Among the projects implemented, these should be mentioned: (i) Saving the native gene pool of local woody plant species of the Jizerské hory/Jizera Mts. (1993-1998), Foundation´s contribution CZK 2 million (EUR 82,000); (ii) Jizerské hory/Jizera Mts. peat-bog restoration (since 2016), Foundation´s contribution of CZK 1.6 million (EUR 66,000) allowed to implement a project totalling CZK 7 million (EUR 287,000) – the Association for the Jizera and Ještěd Mountains; (iii) Saving the Sedmihorky wetlands (2019 – 2022), thanks to Foundation´s contribution of CZK 368,000 (EUR 15,100) a project totalling CZK 3.3 million (EUR 135,000) could be implemented – the Sedmihorky Wetlands Land Trust and the Society for Jizera Mountains; (iv) Planting species-rich forest in the Liberec area (since 2015), Foundation´s contribution of CZK 7.2 million (EUR 295,000) has been helping to implement a project totalling CZK 9 million (EUR 369,000) - Jan Duda.
Vlašín M.: Vertebrates in Vicinity of the Municipality of Svatá Helena, Czech Banat, Romania
The region called Czech Banat is a part of south-western Romania where Czechs begun to settle two centuries ago: despite the long distance from original homeland, they have maintained not only native language, but also many traditions and customs having been forgotten in the Czech Republic. In total, six Czech municipalities are at present there.
Vertebrate fauna in vicinity of the municipality of Svatá Helena is species rich because a karst cave system, many forests and overgrown inaccessible gorges, valleys and slopes provide tetrapod vertebrates with suitable habitats. Remarkable species include e.g. the Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni), Horned viper (Vipera ammodytes), Caspian whipsnake (Dolichophis caspius), Short-toed snake eagle (Circaetus gallicus) and the Alpine swift (Tachymarptis melba). Among mammals, rich bat fauna of the region should also be mentioned. Of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians occurring there, many are listed in the Red List of Threatened Species in Romania or protected by both Romanian and European Union´s legislation. For maintaining vertebrate species richness there, it is necessary to keep traditional measures in landscape management, particularly agricultural ones.
Zeidler M.: How to Maintain Tertiary Habitat in the Quaternary Period
Macaronesian laurel forests (natural habitat type code 9360 in Annex I to EU Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, commonly known as the Habitats Directive), also called laurisilva, is humid to hyper-humid evergreen forests formed on the Macaronesian islands (the Azores, Madeira, and the Canaries). The long-term stable environment with a unique combination of controlling environmental factors was preserved on the isolated islands. This habitat is extremely rich in flora (and fauna) species most of them being ancient and endemic. The species rich and highly endemic vegetation has been interpreted as being basically of relict character from the sub-tropical Tertiary vegetation around the archaic basin of the Tethys Ocean. However, the Macaronesian laurel forests have been intensively exploited since Europeans arrived there in the 15th century. Extensive areas of forest were clear-cut to create farmland, while forest exploitation and livestock raising have degraded and impoverished the vegetation in terms of species composition. The conservation management consists of selective cuttings to improve regeneration of exploited stands, converting forest plantations into laurel forest, eradication and control of invasive alien species, recovery of threatened species, controlling some activities, and monitoring.
Plesník J.: Global Biodiversity Framework: Wishful Thinking or Desirable Impulse?
The United Nations Biodiversity Conference (15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, COP15) ended in Montreal on 19 December 2022 with a landmark agreement to guide global action on nature through to 2030. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) is a result of four-year consultation and negotiation process. The document builds on the Convention’s previous Strategic Plans, and sets out an ambitious pathway to reach the global vision of a world living in harmony with nature by 2050. Therefore, four overarching goals to be achieved by 2050 focus on ecosystem and species health including halting human-induced species extinction, the sustainable use of biodiversity, equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources, and on implementation and finance to include closing the biodiversity finance gap of USD 700 billion per year. The 23 targets to be achieved by 2030 include 30 per cent conservation of land, sea and inland waters, 30 per cent restoration of degraded ecosystems, halving the introduction of invasive species, and USD 500 billion/year reduction in harmful subsidies. In adopting the GBF, all Parties committed to setting national targets to implement it, while all other actors have been invited to develop and communicate their own commitments. The article presents strengths and weaknesses of, opportunities and threats to the GBF itself and concludes that GBF is a key challenge towards the transformative change.