Description
Artificial biotopes in the Czech Republic (CR) are currently highly valuable ecosystems with a high biodiversity of species, many of which are, as endangered taxa, included in the respective Red Lists. It is important for the general public to understand that effective protection of unspoiled country in existing and emerging non-natural habitats is undoubtedly in their interest. The project will contribute to the fulfillment of objectives focused on biodiversity protection and public awareness, contained in the nature and landscape conservation concepts of the subject regions, eventually in the ecological policies of towns and cities, in the territories where the respective non-natural biotopes are located. The project aims to significantly increase the awareness of the wider general public about the importance of site conditions for biodiversity in non-natural biotopes. During the project course, biodiversity monitoring will be conducted and nature beetagg trails will be created in 31 non-natural biotopes in 8 regions. Most importantly, residents of and visitors to towns and cities around the non-natural habitats will benefit from the project. The project has no donor partner.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to fill in the missing information on non-natural biotopes in the Czech Republic. These were information on the amount of mineral resources mining, the history and present moment of mineral extraction, on the efficiency of the use of mineral resources and, above all, on the biological and ecological effects of mineral extraction. Most citizens and representatives of mining and reclamation organizations as well as representatives of public authorities have not yet been fully informed of the great importance of natural habitats for the landscape, ecosystems and biodiversity protection. These sites are extremely valuable biotopes in today's cultural landscape where the habitats of unusually high number of endangered species of fungi, plants and animals registered in the respective Red Lists are found. In the selected non-natural biotopes of the Czech Republic a new interpretative structure was created in the form of 31 nature trails with 312 stops where residents and visitors of municipalities and towns around natural habitats (who use these sites for short-term recreation and relaxation) now have the possibility to obtain comprehensive information on the history of the municipalities, mined mineral resources, biological and ecological values of non-natural habitats, their importance for the ecological stability of the landscape as well as endangered and especially protected species of macroscopic fungi, wild plants and wildlife occurring in the localities in question. Residents of municipalities and cities where mining districts are located could also use these information from nature trails if they participate in decision-making processes at local level to further exploit these sites and also in their active participation in strategic and spatial planning processes. An hourly popular lesson document on non-natural biotopes in the Czech Republic and their reclamation was recorded. A traveling exhibition with 34 roll up banners was created.
Summary of bilateral results