In the past year, the One Nature project succeeded in taking more than 1,000 different measures in 84 sites under European protection in the Czech Republic for more than CZK 19 million.

The staff of the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic concluded 100 contracts and 91 public-law agreements with owners or tenants of land in sites under European protection for a total value of CZK 19,279,953. Based on these agreements, astonishing 1,478 different measures have been implemented in the Czech Republic over an area of 848 hectares in a total of 84 sites of Community importance (SCIs) and special protection areas (SPAs).

The most extensive measures were taken in the Doupovské hory SCI where the state-owned company in charge of military forest areas (Vojenské lesy a statky) provided pruning of coniferous and deciduous trees, wire fencing and installation of permanent individual protection made of wood, as well as removal of self-seeded trees, restoration or creation of pools and wetlands, cutting with both brushcutters and heavy machinery and, last but not least, grazing of sheep and horses. All the measures, worth a total of approximately CZK 2,3 million, supported several protected species and habitats. The species included the European fire-bellied toad and the habitats included Asperulo-Fagetum beech forests, semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates and lowland hay meadows.

To improve the conditions and status of Gladiolus palustris in the Hodonínská doubrava SCI, mowing with a hand mower as well as, for example, weeding or partial mowing were carried out at a total cost of CZK 1.5 million.

In addition, for example, measures were taken in six different SCIs in different parts of the Czech Republic to support transition mires and quaking bogs. Namely, the Chotáry and Zhejral SCIs in the Žďárské Vrchy (Žďárské Hills), the Maršálka SCI in East Bohemia, the Ruda SCI in South Bohemia, the Poselský and Mariánský Pond SCI in the Kokořínsko Protected Landscape Area and the Jizerské Smrčiny SCI in the Liberec region. Measures with a total value of CZK 0.54 million included, among other things, cutting with both brushcutters and heavy machinery, removal of self-seeded vegetation, restoration and creation of pools and wetlands, including complex partitions.

Thanks to the restoration and creation of pools and wetlands and subsequent deposition of the removed sediment on the site, suitable conditions for the yellow-bellied toad have been created in the Beskydy SCI at a cost of almost CZK 1 million.

Kuňka žlutobřichá. Foto: Dušan Míček

In total, we provided management of 49 different Natura 2000 sites, including 22 species under European protection and 27 habitats. In addition to the above-mentioned Gladiolus palustris, we have succeeded in improving the conditions for the black grouse, brook lamprey, Jersey tiger, European fire-bellied toad and yellow-bellied toad, Osmoderma barnabita, Stenobothrus Eurasius, greylag goose and large white-faced darter.

The natural habitats include Luzulo-Fagetum beech forests, species-rich Nardus grasslands on siliceous substrates in mountain areas, semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates, or natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamion or Hydrocharition-type of vegetation.