Protected areas of the Czech Republic

There are six types of special protected areas distinguished by their size and importance. The types of large-scale protected areas are national park and protected landscape area; the types of small-scale protected areas are national nature reserve, nature reserve, national nature monument, and nature monument.

National park ({{langx|cs|národní park}}, abbreviated as NP) are defined as a large areas with a typical relief and geological structure and a predominant occurrence of natural or man-made ecosystems, unique and significant on a national or international scale in terms of ecology, science, education or awareness. They are established by the Czech Government. As of 2021, there were four national parks in the Czech Republic:

File:CHKO (Moravský kras).JPG

Protected landscape area (abbreviated PLA; {{langx|cs|chráněná krajinná oblast}}, abbreviated CHKO) is a large area of harmonic landscape with a typical relief, with a considerable share of natural forest and permanent grassy ecosystems, there can also be preserved human settlement monuments. They are established by the Czech Government. As of 2021 there were 26 protected landscape areas in the Czech Republic:

National nature reserve ({{langx|cs|národní přírodní rezervace}}, abbreviated NPR) is a smaller area of exceptional nature value, where a typical relief of typical geological composition is combined with ecosystems important on an international or national level. They are established by the Czech Ministry of Environment.

Nature reserve ({{langx|cs|přírodní rezervace}}, abbreviated PR) is a smaller area with concentrated nature features and ecosystems typical for a given geographical region. They are established by the appropriate Regional Government ({{langx|cs|krajský úřad}}) or Management of a National Park or Landscape Protected Area.

National Nature monument ({{langx|cs|národní přírodní památka}}, abbreviated as NPP) is a nature formation of a smaller area, usually geological or geomorphological formation, mineral or fossil collection locality or a habitat of endangered plants or animals in parts of ecosystems with a local environmental, scientific or esthetic importance. They are established by the Czech Ministry of Environment.

File:Natural monument Hroby in summer 2011 (12).JPG]]

Nature Monument ({{langx|cs|přírodní památka}}, abbreviated as PP) is a nature formation of a smaller area, usually geological or geomorphological formation, mineral or fossil collection locality or a habitat of endangered plants or animals in parts of ecosystems with an international or national environmental, scientific or esthetic importance. They are established by the appropriate Regional Government or Management of a national park or protected landscape area.

File:View of the Rabí Castle (1).JPG]]

Nature park ({{langx|cs|přírodní park}}) is usually a large area serving the protection of a landscape against activities that could decrease its natural and esthetic value. They can be established by any State Environment Protection body.

Memorable tree, group of trees or alley ({{langx|cs|památný strom, skupina stromů nebo stromořadí}}) can be established by any State Environment Protection body.

Notable landscape feature ({{langx|cs|významný krajinný prvek}}) is usually a natural, cultural or historical feature typical for a given locality or region. They can be established by any State Environment Protection body.

Specially protected species of plants and animals ({{langx|cs|Zvláště chráněné druhy rostlin a živočichů}}) are those species or subspecies which are very rare, generally endangered, scientifically or culturally important. They are listed in a Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic regulation. As of 2025, there are 505 plant species, 27 mushroom species and 309 animal species on the list.{{cite web |title=Zvláštní ochrana druhů – aktuální úprava|url=https://aopk.gov.cz/zvlastni-ochrana-druhu|publisher=Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic|language=cs|access-date=2025-02-27}}{{cite web |title=Seznam zvláště chráněných rostlin a živočichů podle § 56 odst. 1 a 2 zákona č. 114/1992 Sb., o ochraně přírody a krajiny, v platném znění|url=https://www.mzp.cz/C1257458002F0DC7/cz/zvlaste_chranene_druhy/$FILE/odoimz-seznam_ZCHD-20220318.pdf|publisher=Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic|language=cs|access-date=2025-02-27}}

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Protected areas of the Czech Republic}}

• {{cite web |title=Agency for Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection of the Czech Republic|url=http://www.ochranaprirody.cz|access-date=2007-02-16}}

• {{cite journal |last=Tickle|first=Andrew|date= May 2000|title=Regulating environmental space in socialist and post-socialist systems: nature and landscape conservation in the Czech Republic|journal =Journal of Contemporary European Studies|volume=8|issue=1|pages=57–78}}
• {{cite book |last=Hrubín|first = Josef|title=Národní parky a chráněné krajinné oblasti|series=Navštivte…|publisher=Olympia|year=2003|location=Prague|isbn=80-7033-808-3}}

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{{Europe topic|Protected areas of|UK_only=no}}

Category:Geography of the Czech Republic