Sites of Community Importance

It is the obligation of each EU Member State to set up the Natura 2000 network in its territory. Member State proposals are assessed in respect of adequate quality and quantity of proposed Sites of Community Importance (SCI) by the European Commission during biogeographic seminars. Subsequently, the National Lists of EU Member States are transposed into the List of Sites of Community Importance.

The biogeographic seminar for the Pannonian Region was held in 2005; it assessed the adequacy of the Czech, Slovak and Hungarian National Lists. Based on the EC requirements, the Czech Republic added 17 new SCIs and modified 18 existing SCIs (due to additions of subjects of conservation, modifications of SCI area or proposed categories of specially protected areas in which the SCIs will be declared). The Za Dyjí SCI was excluded from the National List due to the disappearance of the subject of conservation. The total number of SCI in the Czech National List thus increased from 863 to 879 SCIs. The alteration of the National List was reflected in Government Regulation no. 301/2007 Coll. (effective as of 1 December 2007), amending Government Regulation no. 132/2005 Coll., defining the National List of Sites of Community Importance.

The biogeographic seminar for the Continental Region was held in 2006. The Czech Republic is currently working on the amendment of the National List as required by the European Commission.

The List of Sites of Community Importance was updated by European Commission Resolution on 13 November 2007; it includes the Czech SCIs for the Pannonian and Continental biogeographic regions. This resolution was the official EU approval of the majority of the SCIs included in Government Regulation no. 132/2005 Coll. This information was published in the Official Journal of the EU and then the Ministry of the Environment published Communication in the Collection of Laws on 5 March 2008. In this manner, the legitimate period for securing protection of these SCIs was commenced.