Czech Republic
The Czech Republic fully endorses the celebration of IBD on the theme of
Biodiversity and Agriculture. The Czech Ministry of Environment is organizing a campaign, “
Spring for the Earth”, together with a calendar of events being organized in the Czech Republic by both by the Czech Ministry and Czech NGOs. Many of these events are closely connected with biodiversity development and environmentally friendly agriculture. The Czech Ministry of Environment will shortly issue a press release to inform the general public and the media about the events. Some important events and actions taking place are provided below.
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| The “Spring for the Earth” Campaign Logo! |
The Krusne Hory Mountains Mires
On 14 May 2008, a celebration connected with the IBD2008 and World Wetlands Day will take place in the Krusne Hory Mountains, where the 12th wetland of the international importance, “the Krusne Hory Mountains Mires“ will be declared.
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| The Krusne Hory Mountains Mires |
Conservation of the Great Bustard
Related to the theme of the IBD 2008, strong action is being taken in the Czech Republic this year to renew and conserve the population of an important and threatened bird of agricultural and pastoral landscapes, the Great Bustard (Otis tarda). The habitat of the Great Bustard is secondary and pasture grassland and open, non-intensive agricultural land. Because of the loss of habitat in countries throughout its range, as a result of land-use change, and agricultural developments and intensification, the Great Bustard has become vulnerable and threats to its survival persist. The Great Bustard is found in 16 Central and Eastern European countries. In the Czech Republic, the Great Bustard is classified as a critically endangered species.
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| The Great Bustard |
A Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of the Middle-European Population of the Great Bustard on behalf of the Czech Republic was signed this spring by the Czech Minister of Environment, Mr. Martin Bursik. The aim of the cooperation is to ensure international coordination to protect this bird species in Central Europe and to prevent the drop in its numbers and in the number of its habitats. In 2006, from mid-April, a group of six Great Bustards consisting of three males and three females was observed on one of their traditional nesting grounds in the Znojmo area. The bustard females nested and raised young. This can be considered as a great success and also the first base on the path to the renewal of the Great Bustard population in the Czech Republic.
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| The Czech Minister of Environment, Mr. Martin Bursík, signs the Memorandum of Understanding |
