Natural Parks

In sec. 12 the Act of the Czech National Council No. 114/1992 CoL. on Nature and Landscape Protection provides also for the protection of landscape character - the term meaning particularly natural, cultural and historical characteristics of a certain site or area and their protection against such activities as would reduce their natural and aesthetic values. To protect the landscape character of concentrated outstanding aesthetic and natural values the nature protection authority may establish a natural park by a generally binding legal regulation and provide the limits to such land use in the area as would result in the destruction, damage or abolishment of its state.
Natural parks under this Act correspond with the previous peace areas. Under Sec. 90 of the Act the previously estabished peace areas were automatically declared natural parks. At present the Czech Republic has over 100 natural parks of which 11 are in the territory of Prague. In the capital the significance of natural parks is far greater than in other parts of the Czech Republic. Within the administrative boundaries of the big city this Act has enabled the protection of major parts of the so far undisturbed landscape.
Natural parks should contribute to the improvement of city environment. They should act as effective protection zones of specially protected ares and, last but not least, they can be used for the recreation of city population. In their way the natural parks in Prague fuction analogously with protected landscape areas in other parts of the Czech Republic.

There are eleven natural parks in the territory of Prague.

A brief characteristic of the individual natural parks is given below.

Botič-Milíčov (Prague 10). The floodplain of the naturally meandering Botič and the Pitkovice Brook valley, comprizing the specially protected areas of Pitkovice Slope and Milíčov Wood and ponds.
Draháň-Troja (Prague 7 and 8). The Troja basin with the botanical and zoological gardens and a number of specially protected areas, such as Podboří, Zámky and Bohnice Valley.
Hostivař-Záběhlice (Prague 10). The area adjoins the Botič - Milíčov natural park. Its kernel consists in the specially protected area of Botič Meanders with preserved examples of a naturally meandering Botič course with bank vegetation. The natural park includes also the Hostivař Dam and reservoir, built in 1959 - 1963, which has become one of the most important recreation areas in Prague, particularly after the completion of the South City.
Klánovice-Počernice (Prague 9). The vast complex of Klánovice woods with several specially protected areas and adjacent Počernice Pond, also a protected area, represents a remarkable natural-science complex as well as an important recreation area.
Košíře-Motol (Prague 5). The dominant feature of this natural park is the Vidoule table mountain (a specially protected area). The adjacent woods include also the wood complex surrounding the Motol crematorium including other specially protected areas.
Modřany Clough - Cholupice (Prague 4). The centre of this natural park is the large Modřany Clough (a specially protected area), a geomorphologically remarkable formation as well as an outstanding and highly popular recreation area, supplemented with the land around Cholupice. The whole area has preserved its natural character; nothing indicates the close proximity of a big city.
Radotín Valley (Prague 5), a component part of the protected landscape area of Bohemian Karst and one of the most valuable parts of Prague from the viewpoint of natural sciences. A botanical survey has ascertained some 600 species of higher plants. The number of animal species, especially invertebrates, is even higher. The area has been devastated considerably by limestone extraction which is still in progress. On the other hand, the quarries have denuded scientifically highly valuable geological profiles with a number of fossils of Paleozoic animals.
Rokytka(Prague 9 and 10). The axis of this natural park is the course of the Rokytka, apart from the Vltava and the Berounka the biggest and the longest water course in the territory of Prague (length 36.2 km, of which 31.5 km in Prague territory). The natural park includes the Koloděje castle and game preserve as well as the specially protected area of Mýto with remarkable geomorphological phenomena (lateral erosion of the Rokytka).
Říčanka(Prague 10) along the Říčany Brook between Uhříněves and Běchovice. Also this park has preserved the character of rural landscape in which fields, meadows and ponds alternate with major and minor woods. The park includes the specially protected area of Obora in Uhříněves - a complex of floodplain woods with rich bush and plant levels.
Prokop and Daleje Valleys (Prague 5), a remarkable complex of valueable ecosystems, primarily on limestones, with a number of specially protected areas, some of which (e.g. Požáry, a national natural monument) contain highly valuable geological profiles of world significance with rich fossil finds.
Šárka-Lysolaje (Prague 6) along the Šárka Brook with a number of specially protected areas along its banks, beginning with the Wild Šárka and ending with the Podbaba Rocks. As a whole this natural park represents probably the best preserved natural area of Prague (not disturbed even by major stone quarrying operations), enabling whole-day walking tours through natural complexes at a very short distance from the city centre.

Economic exploitation and construction in natural parks is governed by the respective Decreas. The parts of natural parks which are not built-up are subjected to construction lock-out. This measure could restrict the excessive urbanization of the city area, enhanced recently by an enormous increase of the requirements of conversion of land of the most varied types into construction sites. This endeavour on the part of private land owners is understandable. On the other hand, also the needs and requirement of other inhabitants of Prague must be taken into account. Should the authorities not regulate these construction requirements, this construction fever could stop at the very boundaries of the republic, after the whole Europe has moved in. This statement is absurd, but the requirements of individual prospective builders are sometimes even more absurd.
The principal values of natural environment can be protected by a consistent observance of the natural park status on the one hand, and by the implementation of territorial systems of ecological stability on the other hand. The final target of these systems, apart from nature protection as such, is also the permanent spacial assuarance of good quality natural environment for the regeneration of psychic and physical strength of city dwellers.
A territorial system of ecological stability consists of individual elements. Their number includes primarily the biocentres - such landscape components as enable a permanent existence of species and communities of the natural genetic diversity of the landscape both by their size and by the state of ecological conditions. Another element are the biocorridors which should enable the migration of organisms by connecting the individual biocentres. While the existence of biocentres can be assured even in urban environment, the preservation of existing or the provision of new biocorridors is far more difficult. The implementation of territorial systems of ecological stability, therefore, is a long-term and extremely difficult process. However, it is in the interest of the healthy existence of us all to attain this target in the course of time.

The latest natural park in Prague is the Prokop and Dalej Valley. This complex of valuable ecosystems comprises also karst phenomena. The photo shows the Coral Caves near Klukovice.

Aerial view of Dubeč with Robožník (PP) in the foreground. The Říčany Brook forms the natural axis of the Říčanka natural park.

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