Land use - National Responses (Czech Republic)

The above-mentioned unfavourable impacts may be suppressed by more considerate farming of arable land, the establishment of perennial grass stands, the establishment of territorial systems of environmental stability, renewal of ridges between land plots, groves and country lanes with accompanying vegetation, revitalisation of water systems and removal of their regulated sections (only a very small part, particularly of smaller waterways, is currently not regulated). This will lead to the revitalisation of the mosaic of landscape elements, higher water retention, improvement of groundwater resources, a higher resistance to erosion and an increase in the natural and aesthetic value of the landscape. The new development trend is currently represented by strong pressures on non-productive, recreational, sports and residential functions of the landscape, which quickly change its structure and use in the vicinity of big cities and in attractive natural areas such as national parks and protected landscape areas (construction of sports and recreational facilities, ski tracks and funiculars, second homes). Soil protection should be enhanced by the amendment to Act No. 334/1992 Coll., on the Protection of the Agricultural Land Fund (CZ version).

The obligations of the Czech Republic arise from the European Landscape Convention. The principal objective of this Convention is to ensure the protection of individual types of European landscape. Its significance consists in the fact that it imposes the duty to create and to implement, with the participation of the public and of local and regional authorities, such landscape policies that are considerate and sustainable with regard to the nature of the landscape, and to consider the nature of the landscape in the formulation of spatial development, urban planning and other ministerial or inter-ministerial policies. This is provided for in part by the system of specially protected territories.

A specific problem of the Czech Republic is represented by ’brownfield sites’ (disused land and industrial facilities), which, in addition to their economic and social contribution, may contribute to the improvement of the environment. The Ministry of the Environment clearly supports the use of brownfield sites. This trend has been visible recently with its focus on efforts to reduce the number of prepared ’greenfield sites’ only to those designated for strategic investors and to areas where the demand for free space has not yet been satisfied.