We introduced all the important actors in the previous article of the series on entities managing Natura 2000. The statutory management obligation is assigned to five types of entities, namely the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic (NPA), national park administrations (NP), regional authorities, military district administrations and the Ministry of Environment (MoE). Concerning the area of managed sites, the NCA really plays the main role, managing the largest area of Natura 2000 in the Czech Republic, namely 37% of the total area. This is followed by national park administrations (29%), regional authorities (26%), and the smallest share belongs to military district administrations (8%).

Sheep grazing in the Central Bohemian Highlands (České středohoří) Protected Landscape Area, regional office of the Central Bohemian Highlands Protected Landscape Area administration (NCA) (author: Kateřina Španihelová)

NATURE CONSERVATION AGENCY – “THE RIGHT HAND” OF THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT

The NCA is an organisational unit of the Government and it is responsible for the management of nature and landscape, including Natura 2000 sites, within the territories of protected landscape areas (PLAs), national nature reserves, national nature monuments and the surrounding protective zones of these specially protected areas, unless they are also national parks or military districts. The NCA also performs state administration according to the Nature and Landscape Protection Act (No. 114/1992 Coll.). The entrusted competence is ensured through 14 regional offices. In 2021, a total of 639 statements concerning the impact on Natura 2000 sites (according to section 45i of the Nature and Landscape Protection Act) were issued. The NCA also ensures the management and marking of sites of Community importance (SCIs) and special protection areas (SPAs) or concludes agreements on management methods in SPAs.

The NCA is a very important entity in the preparation and delimitation of the Natura 2000 network. In addition to the obligations arising directly from the law, the NCA has been entrusted by the Ministry of Environment with the preparation and updating of the Standard Data Form (SDF). The SDF contains information on Natura 2000 (information on the site, target features, impacts on the site, etc.). Furthermore, the NCA is responsible for the preparation of sets of recommended measures for Natura 2000 sites. The sets are prepared for each SCI and, if necessary, also for SPA. They include mainly the characteristics of the site, the target features´ statuses and requirements and also the conservation objectives. Further information on Natura 2000 sites, including their sets of recommended measures, is available on the website of the Digital Register of the Central Nature Conservation List.

An arm and white wagtail (Motacilla alba) in the Litovelské Pomoraví SPA, Olomouc regional office of the NCA (author: Jakub Korytiak)

FINANCES

The NCA (unlike the NP administrations) cannot operate profitably and is dependent on funds provided by the MoE. These funds are mainly used for the operational running of the organisation, i.e., equipment and personnel costs. In addition, the MoE provides CZK 10 million on Natura 2000 monitoring, i.e., on habitat mapping and species monitoring. Only funds from available programmes (both national and European) are used for the management of SCIs and SPAs (but also within PLAs, national nature monuments and national nature reserves).  The NCA is also involved in the administration of the Operational Programme Environment. It also provides funding from the Landscape Management Programme. It is also a financial advisory body for applicants to other landscape-management programmes. More information can be found on the new NCA subsidy website.