Information on the Environment in the CR (1999-2004)
A-4. Protected areas | Contents |
Table A - 4.1 to A - 4.4 Protected areas
Nature and Landscape Conservation Act 114/1992 distinguishes between 6 categories of especially protected areas. Included in the total number of protected areas are centrally managed protected areas both large and small in size. The large protected areas comprise national parks and protected landscape areas; the small protected areas comprise national wildlife preserves, wildlife preserves, national nature monuments and nature monuments.
The large protected areas:
- National parks - large areas unique on a national or international scope, whose major parts are occupied by ecosystems, either natural or little affected by human activity, in which flora, fauna and inanimate nature are of extraordinary scientific and educational significance;
- Protected landscape areas - large areas with harmoniously shaped landscape, characteristic relief, a significant proportion of natural ecosystems of forest and permanent grass stands, a sizeable proportion of tree species and as the case may be, preserved historical settlement sights.
The small protected areas (SPA) are reported in the category ”Other” which is further broken down into four sub-categories, namely:
- National nature reserves - smallish areas of extremely natural value, where their natural relief with a typical geological structure is tied with ecosystems significant on a national or international scale;
- Nature reserves - smallish areas of concentrated natural values, with ecosystems typical of and significant for the respective geographical area;
- National nature monuments - natural formations (also shaped by man together with nature) smallish in size, with deposits of minerals and/or endangered species in fragments of ecosystems, which are of environmental, scientific and/or aesthetic significance on a national and/or international scale;
- Nature monuments - like the national nature sights, but of regional significance only.