Project area

CZ0624104 – Devín (406 ha)

On the highest peak of the Pálava Mountains is the European-significant locality of Děvín. It is a limestone massif with the peaks of Děvín, Děvičky Kotel and the deep saddle of Soutěska. This complex is a dominant element rising with an elevation of about 390 meters from the surrounding picturesque Pálava landscape, which is formed by a colorful mosaic of forest complexes, agriculturally used areas with a predominance of vineyards, floodplain biotopes around the Dyje River and historical settlements. The territory forms a unique mosaic of communities on the limestone cliff. Biotopes are represented by rocky steppes, sunny grasslands, thermophilic shrubs and Pannonian oak forests with a number of rare species of plants and animals. Děvín is considered a locality with a very high species diversity. Here we will encounter a number of protected plant species (Lumnitzer's carnation, large-flowered hairy plant, large-flowered pasque flower, low iris, sand iris, Austrian goat's-foot, large-flowered sandwort, whole-leaved elderberry) and animals (Pannonian sandwort, brown-flowered moorhen, smoke-colored ash, green lizard, crested hoopoe and rock wallabies). In addition to traditional conservation problems such as overgrowth with shrubs or invasive species, the site is troubled by increased visitor numbers and mouflon animals, which destroy valuable grasslands by moving on steep slopes. Care of the site is focused on cutting out shrubs and restoring grazing. A current problem on the southern slopes of Děvín is the spread of the non-native dyer's borate. Boryt is well established on disturbed areas of slopes, which is why it thrives in the vicinity of mouflon trails, where the animals support it through nutrients in their droppings and by spreading its seeds on their fur. The plant is laboriously eliminated every year by hand-pulling it in a relatively short period of time between flowering (when it is easily recognizable thanks to its distinctive yellow flowers) and seeding, in order to gradually exhaust the seed bank from previous years. In Děvín, the intervention against boryt has been systematically implemented since 2016 with the generous help of volunteers.

CZ0620147 – Miroslav Hills (31 ha)

The site is located at the southernmost tip of the Bobravská vrchovina, at the point where it transitions into the Dyjskosvratecký úval plain. It is not a single area, but several isolated hills south of the town of Miroslav. Individual hills and mounds lie on conglomerate bedrock. In some places, we can even come across rocky outcrops and small quarries. The hills were once used for grazing cattle, which is why their forest-free character has been preserved for a long time, and now they represent islands of preserved, natural biotopes in the local landscape. Sub-Pannonian steppe grasslands can be found on individual islands. The varied relief is also a suitable space for valuable communities of ephemeral vegetation (annual plants with a very fast life cycle that live only a few weeks) and succulents (plants that can collect water in their bodies, which allows them to survive very long periods of drought). The critically endangered plant Thessalian grass is also associated with these habitats. Grasslands are made up of several species of fescue and sedge (Ivan's, common, and hairy). Two species of sedges can be found here – meadow and large-flowered. Three-toed saxifrage and round-headed garlic occur in rocky habitats. Thanks to long-term protection, the site has become a refuge for ancient weeds, such as black-footed booger and large-fruited sedge. Miroslavské hills were the last known place of occurrence of annual dry flower in the Czech Republic. An interesting animal kingdom is a colony of common ground squirrels. The area depends on systematic maintenance, which consists of a combination of mowing, grazing, and cutting out bushes. It is still threatened by the invasion of the black locust, which overgrows valuable areas, therefore one of the main goals is the gradual elimination of all its outbreaks.

CZ0624130 – Moravian Karst (6,485 ha)

The Moravian Karst is a vast area with karst phenomena, which begins on the northern edge of Brno and continues to the town of Sloup. Practically the entire area lies on Devonian limestone. Here we can find karst caves, abysses, promontories, sinkholes, depressions and dives. There are narrowly cut valleys, so-called gullies, which have a specific microclimate. On the slopes, sunny locations and forest glades, communities with dry grasslands have been preserved, to which rare species of plants and animals are attached (gentian cross, willow spurge, wood anemone). The subject of protection of the Moravian Karst Nature Reserve is both valuable biotopes, such as Pannonian rock grasslands, sub-Pannonian steppe grasslands, calcareous screes, caves, Central European limestone beech forests, mixed ash-alder floodplain forests, and protected species of plants and animals, such as the common slipper, red-bellied toad, large-flowered pasqueflower or a group of bats (eyelashed bat, black bat, big-eared bat, large bat). Other interesting species include irises (variegated, grassy), red-headed sedge, brown-bellied orchid, smoky ash, marsh blue, black-and-white fireweed, green lizard, crested hoopoe and peregrine falcon. The project area is located in the western part of the town of Jedovnice. These are the original boundaries that are located above the Jedovnický stream. The unofficial name of the site is Nad Floriánkem or Floriánek for short (the name of the original pond). The sloping slope has a southern exposure, the altitude is 447 to 481 meters. The area of the site is over 6 hectares. In the past, there were small fields and pastures here. In the grassier parts and on the borders, the occurrence of rare plants such as German gentian or sticky chickweed was recorded. Currently, there are grasslands, small fields, shrubs and orchards. The most valuable habitat is dry grasslands with the presence of grooved fescue, ovate thyme and southern Austrian mullein. Sheep grazing is being introduced in the area as part of the LIFE project, which is occasionally supplemented by mowing. Where there is a higher presence of problematic scrub reed, mowing is carried out more intensively. Other interventions include the reduction of shrubs and the interconnection of pastures.

CZ0624060 – Pouzdřanská steppe-Kolby (177 ha)

The steppe part of the site lies northeast of the village of Pouzdřany on the mostly sunny southern slopes and the summit plateau of Pouzdřany Hill (formerly Hutberg – Klobouk). The forest part of Kolba is above the steppe itself. The Pouzdřany steppe is a representative example of steppe and forest-steppe sites and one of the most biologically valuable areas not only in South Moravia, but also in the entire Czech Republic. On the southern slope there are communities of Pannonian loess grasslands, which have been preserved thanks to many centuries of grazing and mowing. The terraces created indicate that in the past the non-forest part of the area was used mainly as vineyards and orchards. The plateau was used as a field a few decades ago. Significant factors that have influenced the steppe in the long term were fires and colonies of wild rabbits. The site is undergoing an invasion of non-native plant species. The most important is the acacia, which in the past created several interconnected stands on the steppes, most of which have already been removed. Other tree species are the common myrobalan plum, the royal walnut, and locally also the holly-leaved mahogany. Recently, there has been a spotty occurrence of the glandular pajasan. The problem is the bald licorice, which was grown in small fields in the past and is now spreading uncontrollably into valuable steppe habitats. The very dangerous silkworm is appearing in the area, which is ranked among the most risky invasive plants in Europe. Care of the area here should be systematic and mosaic. It is necessary to carry out rotational grazing (alternating grazing of individual parts) and gradually graze the entire site over the course of three to five years. Where grazing will not take place in a given year, it is necessary to mow at least once every two years. It is important to deal with shrubs primarily by maintaining stable edges of stands so that they do not spread into space. It is important to eliminate invasive plants annually using appropriate mechanical-chemical methods.

CZ0624020 – Stránská skála (15.5 ha)

The European significant locality and national natural monument Stránská skála is a popular peak in Brno, which is also accessible by public transport. It is an imaginary echo of the Moravian Karst (its border is two kilometers to the north). The territory lies on limestone rock. It is an isolated outcrop of Jurassic limestone, which is an unmissable element in the surrounding relatively flat landscape. On the steep slopes and rocky outcrops, specific vegetation of sub-Pannonian steppe grasslands, broad-leaved dry grasslands, plants living in the crevices of calcareous rocks and scree, sedge grasslands and rock flora with gray fescue has formed. Among the characteristic plant species we can name the large-flowered pasqueflower, the three-toed saxifrage, the military orchid and the low iris. Insects include the praying mantis, fruit swallowtail and fennel swallowtail. Karst phenomena occur underground to a small extent; an example is three inaccessible caves. Paleontological findings and remains of human activity from the time of prehistoric mammoth hunters were found in them at the beginning of the 20th century. In the past, stone was quarried in the northern part and underground galleries were excavated here. The underground spaces are a wintering ground for bats, such as the little bat. The site includes a deforested hill reaching an altitude of 310 meters with numerous rock walls and slopes of varying inclination and orientation and an adjacent two-story quarry, which is a remnant of local limestone mining that took place from the end of the 12th century to 1925. This limestone can be found as a building material in the walls of the city of Brno and in sacral buildings in the area. The area is devastated by unruly visitors, whether through excessive trampling, littering or destruction of rock outcrops. The restoration of the site consists of removing unwanted woody vegetation with the aim of returning the area to its original forest-free character. Management will be supplemented by grazing and mosaic mowing.

CZ0624043 – Table Mountain (77 ha)

The name of the European significant site refers to the plateau on the top of the hill. Stolová hora is part of the limestone ridge of the Pavlovské vrchy. The slopes are relatively steep and the entire massif rises to a level of 459 meters above sea level. The naming of the area is a bit confusing here, the hill is called Stolová hora as well as the EVL, which, however, also includes the national nature reserve called Tabulová. The site is rich in various rock, limestone formations. There are also karst phenomena - caves and sinkholes. There are seven caves in total, the largest of which is the Propasťovitá cave, 25 m long and 20 m deep. Part of the protected area is the limestone ridge Růžový vrch (436 m above sea level), which is located on the northern side of the Stolová hora massif and on the top of which stands the ruins of a medieval castle - Sirotčí hrádek. Other important evidence of human activity are the abandoned limestone quarries in the southern and western parts. The most valuable biotopes are the sedge meadows, rocky outcrops and herbaceous borders. The rock vegetation is made up of rare grey fescue. The area is renowned for the occurrence of rare species of plants and animals, such as the large-flowered pasque flower, the sandy rock iris, the Austrian goat's-foot trefoil, the Ethiopian sage, the comfrey butterfly or the unique species of the deep-sea earthworm, up to half a meter long. The problem of the area is the scrub, which is spreading to the most valuable places. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out scrub reduction, mowing and grazing. Grazing, which has been carried out here for centuries, has a large share in the formation of the area. In recent years, sheep have been grazing in the oak forest on the northern side of Table Mountain and horses are grazing on the summit plateau. Like many other Pálava localities, this area suffers from excessive tourism. In the past, the plateau and the edges of Table Mountain were used for hang gliding, and more recently for paragliding, which has been legalized here since 2010 with the demarcation of the launch area and landing areas. At the same time, cycling is widely spread here, which causes increased erosion on and off marked paths.

CZ0214050 – Žehuň Region (358 ha)

The European significant locality and national natural monument Stránská skála is a popular peak in Brno, which is also accessible by public transport. It is an imaginary echo of the Moravian Karst (its border is two kilometers to the north). The territory lies on limestone rock. It is an isolated outcrop of Jurassic limestone, which is an unmissable element in the surrounding relatively flat landscape. On the steep slopes and rocky outcrops, specific vegetation of sub-Pannonian steppe grasslands, broad-leaved dry grasslands, plants living in the crevices of calcareous rocks and scree, sedge grasslands and rock flora with gray fescue has formed. Among the characteristic plant species we can name the large-flowered pasqueflower, the three-toed saxifrage, the military orchid and the low iris. Insects include the praying mantis, fruit swallowtail and fennel swallowtail. Karst phenomena occur underground to a small extent; an example is three inaccessible caves. Paleontological findings and remains of human activity from the time of prehistoric mammoth hunters were found in them at the beginning of the 20th century. In the past, stone was quarried in the northern part and underground galleries were excavated here. The underground spaces are a wintering ground for bats, such as the little bat. The site includes a deforested hill reaching an altitude of 310 meters with numerous rock walls and slopes of varying inclination and orientation and an adjacent two-story quarry, which is a remnant of local limestone mining that took place from the end of the 12th century to 1925. This limestone can be found as a building material in the walls of the city of Brno and in sacral buildings in the area. The area is devastated by unruly visitors, whether through excessive trampling, littering or destruction of rock outcrops. The restoration of the site consists of removing unwanted woody vegetation with the aim of returning the area to its original forest-free character. Management will be supplemented by grazing and mosaic mowing.

Our Partners

Our Partners