Govt extends Natura 2000 protected localities by 274 sites (Prague Daily Monitor)

The Czech government extended the network of the Czech Natura 2000 localities of European importance adding another 234 to the existing 879 ones on the proposal of Environment Minister Ladislav Miko Monday.

Another 25 localities have been extended, changes will be made at 175 of the total and 21 localities have been deleted from the list.

The building of the Natura network has now been almost completed. It covers 10 percent of the overall area of the country.

According to European Commission data, Natura 2000 localities spread on an average of 13.3 percent of the area of all EU member states.

Miko told CTK he was very much pleased with Monday's vote on his proposal, saying the inclusion of individual localities was thoroughly discussed with land owners, municipalities and other partners.

The Czech Republic pledged to build the network of localities that are cultivated with regard for the rare plant and animal species living in them when it entered the EU in 2004.

Natura 2000 is aimed to preserve biodiversity and the most valuable natural habitats in the Czech Republic.

The list contains meadows with rare plants, parts of forests, ponds, quarries as well as church attics inhabited by bats.

ČTK, Prague Daily Monitor, 6. 10. 2009, News