Land use - Drivers and pressures (Czech Republic)

The Czech Republic is characterised by significant differences in economic performance in the different regions and by the concentration of economic activities in big cities. This is a result of uneven development after 1990, when big cities became centres of political, economic and cultural activity in a gradually integrating Europe, while the development of the other regions, particularly those lacking more significant investment and cash flow, e.g. from tourism, have almost stagnated. Such a significant territorial differentiation of economic performance in the Czech Republic has subsequently affected migration of the population and work mobility.

GDP in individual regions demonstrates this very well. While in 2007, this indicator was 7085 % of the average value in the majority of the country, it exceeded 90 % in the south Moravia and central Bohemia regions. GDP in Prague is about 210 % of the average for the country as a whole and about 164 % of the average for EU27. Hence, Prague is the sole region of the Czech Republic that is significantly wealthier than the European average.

Regions with high economic performance and a sufficient number of jobs have witnessed a population increase due to migration, particularly after 2000. This was true not only of big cities but above all districts in their immediate vicinity suitable for daily commuting to work. In 2007, the highest population increase by migration was recorded in the central Bohemia region, particularly in the districts of Prague-East and Prague-West (average of 57 inhabitants per 1 000 inhabitants, i.e. 5.7 % in 2007), followed by the districts of Nymburk and Mladá Boleslav (about 25 inhabitants per 1 000 inhabitants). Other such districts include outer Brno with a migration increase of 2.5 %. In contrast, other regions (such as the entire Moravia-Silesia region and the district of Jeseník in the Olomoucký region) have seen a negative population increase due to migration, which means that people are moving away from these localities.

These migration flows have perceptibly enhanced housing development and urban sprawl in attractive regions as part of the suburbanisation process. This is typical for the current development of Prague and to a lesser extent also of Brno and other big cities. Land appropriation is connected with residential development and with the construction of commercial buildings, storage facilities and transport infrastructure serving the new urban areas. The suburbanisation process is represented either by ’greenfield’ development or may swallow existing municipalities in the vicinity of cities whose character is totally modified due to this process and which are transformed wholly or partly into suburbia (city housing zones outside the city limits, see Map).

The suburbanisation process can be very well demonstrated by new housing construction in individual regions. In 1997–2005, an average of 2.5 flats per 1 000 inhabitants was built. The highest share of these flats was built around Prague. In this period, approximately ten flats per 1 000 inhabitants were built in the district of Prague-West and almost eight flats per 1 000 inhabitants were built in the district of Prague-East.

These socio-economic processes affect the dynamic of the landscape in two ways. On the one hand, it leads to a decline in anthropogenic activities and migration of the economically active population in more remote areas that are not attractive for agricultural, recreational or industrial purposes. On the other hand, many areas are exposed to the dynamic impact of human society, whether represented by urbanisation, farming, forestry, construction of transport networks or recreation.

Additional information:
Suburbanisation and land use
Portal www.suburbanizace.cz (CZ version)
Environment – an environment for life? (CZ version)