Ochrana přírody 5/2024 — 29. 10. 2024 — Summary — Tištěná verze článku v pdf
SUMMARY – Ochrana přírody 5/2024
Zatloukal V., Mašková R. & Beranová J.: Using Non-Native Woody Plants for Climate Change Adaptation Measures
As a response to current climate change, the Government of the Czech Republic approved the comprehensive National Action Plan on Adaptation to Climate Change in 2017, requiring, inter alia, “to methodically unify use of geographically non-native woody plant species being non-invasive and not hybridising with native ones, reaching maximally 20% of growth composition: these are particularly the European larch (Larix decidua) and Douglas firs (Pseudotsuga spp.)”. Climate change is among the drivers of massive abatement of the Norway spruce (Picea abies), the most common and from a point of view of timber production the most important woody plant species in the Czech Republic resulting in a long-term decline in timber production and changes in range of products. High proportion of forest soils has been disturbed by acidification and nutrition degradation mainly due to large amount of nutrients through huge biomass extraction, particularly if also brushwood and biomass, which is not a part underground timber mass and has not the diameter larger than 7 mm including the bark, are removed. Moreover, the timber production, which is a pillar of forestry depends on long-term sustainability of forest ecosystem functioning. Therefore, excessive direction towards the production should not threat the functioning. Enhancing water regime in forest soils is supported particularly by preventing new drainages and remediation of old ones despite partial losses in production, restoration of canalized watercourses and by remediation of unsuitable and unused roads, grooves and tracks. Setting the limits for use of non-native woody plant species was based on analysing forest health and threats of forests possessed by climate change, assessing possibilities of native woody plant use in adaptation of forest to climate change, selection of suitable non-native woody plant species and setting limits for their use. If climate change scenarios will accomplish themselves, large changes in woody plant species composition with signification increase in oak (Quercus spp.) proportion should be expected in the Czech Republic in 20 – 40 years. ■
Knižátková E., Šikola M., Machoňová D., Volf V. & Jetenská E.: Results of the Finished Project Aiming at Providing Specially Protected Areas with Planning Documentation
The project “Providing Planning Documentation for Sites of National Importance in the Czech Republic” that includes Outlines of Recommended Measures II (ORM II) contributed to further systematic development of the EU Natura 2000 network management in the Czech Republic. Not only there are high-quality planning documents available both for Sites of European Importance (SEI, pursuant to Act No. 114/1992 Gazette on Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection, as amended later, the term for Site of Community Importance, SCI, later Special Areas of Conservation, SAC, under the European Union’s Habitats Directive) and Bird Areas (pursuant to the above act, the term for Special Protection Area, SPA under the EU Birds Directive) as well as Management Plans for Small-size Specially Protected Areas overlapping with Natura 2000 sites fully taking into account requirement of species and natural habitats of the EU importance, but it also was for the first time more holistically examined in the sample of more than 200 sites whether the measures are successfully implemented just in the field. The results have been directly applied in immediate management of the individual sites under study. Moreover, they have also pointed out some more systemic issues requiring more comprehensive solutions. For example, more attention should be paid to sites under the so called basic conservation in the near future so that the status of the subjects of conservation will not be threatened there in the long term. The project should not be considered to be the end of such activities. The activities of the ORM II project have been directly followed and more elaborated by the One Nature IP LIFE project. ■
Bedan R., Svobodová O. & Krása A.: The Peregrine (Falco peregrinus) in the Moravský Kras/Moravian Karst
From a point of view of nature´s values and species richness, the Moravský kras/Moravian Karst (South Moravia) is of great importance. In addition to many other wild animal jewels the Peregrine (Falco peregrinus) has been again occurring there. In the past often 3 to 4 pairs had nested there. Moreover, they have disappeared from 1957, particularly due to applying DDT pesticide. In 2016, the positive change appeared. The first pair was found in the Vývěry Punkvy/Punkva River Springs National Nature Reserve (NNR): breeding was successful, because peregrines reared three young. The Peregrine´s comeback brought about necessity to deal with new issues related to attendance of the Moravský kras/Moravian Karst Protected Landscape Area (PLA) by tourists and risk of undesirable disturbance. During nesting of the first pair it was not necessary to implement any measures in the field and the breeding was kept secret because due to distantness of the nest. From the very beginning, Nature Guards were significantly involved in the above activities. They delineated the area with restricted entrance and checked and reinforced the restrictions applied. During the last nine years when peregrines have been again present in the Moravský kras/Moravian Karst, there were 19 breeding attempts. Of them 15 were successful: totally, 40 young fledged. The year 2018 was the most successful, because from both nests four young fledged. The first failed nesting was found only a year later, i.e. in 2019. Three nestlings from a nest in the Vývěry Punkvy/Punkva River Springs NNR were shortly before fledging preyed by the Eagle owl (Bubo bubo) breeding approx. 700 meters from the Peregrine´s nest. Thus, peregrines resettled the Moravský kras/Moravian Karst spontaneously and successfully. The authors believe that despite some difficulties peregrines will nest successfully there also in the future. ■
Klečková I., Kozel P., Kolář V., Tájková P., Ribeiro P., Linke D., Matos-Maraví P. & Sucháčková Bartoňová A.: Genomics in Insect Conservation: Challenges and Possible Use
Maintaining the highest genetic diversity of the species reflected by large and stable population sizes is a principal and traditional approach in conservation genetics. Genomic research can be applied in studying population structures, even at the very detailed scale. Such analyses allow to gather information on structure of the studied populations, their sizes and on barriers limiting exchange of individuals among them. Past changes in the population sizes can be estimated and researchers can also find which populations have been declining and whether the decline is a long-term trend or a fluctuation even when the fact is not at first sight clear from field observations. Thus, genomic techniques help to examine causes of decline in some insect species surviving only in isolated populations. They also allow to reveal dynamics of and connectivity among populations in the landscape that makes establishing a network of suitable habitats easier there. Last but not least, we can support declining populations or those on the brink of extinction by restocking them by individuals from suitable viable populations. At present, climate and habitats have been changing so quickly that wildlife translocation become more and more important in nature conservation. In some threatened butterfly species, assisted colonisation has been suggested. Genomics allows to estimate the number of individuals of the target species necessary for successful re-introduction. Finally, identification of unique populations supports to justify their protection, conservation and management also among land owners and land managers. Therefore, genomics shows a clear prospect in relation to proposed amendments to Act No.114/1992 Gazette on Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection because pursuant them not the individual but just populations shall be protected, conserved and managed. ■
Drbal K.: Forensic Facial Reconstruction of the Mladeč I Skull
Current research techniques not only give precision to opinions on some questions related to human evolution in Europe, but in many cases, they result in whole and principal rethinking of the questions. It was also the case of a finding from the Mladečské jeskyně/Mladeč Caves (Central Moravia). Facial reconstruction of the Mladeč I skull was selected to improve currently used techniques. In data gathering also the Naturhistorisches Muzeum/Museum of Natural History Vienna was involved: the skull was deposited there. Nevertheless, the skull itself is not complete which complicated the facial reconstruction. Fortunately, the Naturhistorisches Museum Vienna had made the online version of the Mladeč I crania available under the Creative Commons license (CC BY-NC 4.01). The model became the principal input for the facial reconstruction. Consequently, 2,753 images were generated, of tem 83 were separated for views and as a basis for the photogrammetry. A further step was reconstruction of skull´s missing parts, namely mandible (lower jaw) and teeth. In order the facial approximation to be carried out, the skull must be complete and, in view of this situation, it was necessary to conduct a reconstruction of the missing parts of the structure. Before beginning the work to recover the missing regions, some measurements were taken on the skull to be approximated, in order to locate virtual donors that would serve not only for recovery, but also for the subsequent process of facial approximation. Measurements were made of the spaces between the orbital frontomalars, between the glabella and the nasion, and between the rhinium and the most extreme lateral edge of the orbit. These data are plotted on a graph of population clusters, indicating affinities with tomographies that may be in the authors’ virtual donor collection. In the case of the Mladeč 1 skull, there was greater affinity with clusters of Asians, general Brazilians, and Brazilians of markedly African ancestry. This positioning is not definitive evidence that it is an individual from those ancestral groups, but that there is a compatibility of the eye and nose region with individuals from the clusters. ■
Mach P. & Škorpíková V.: Some Thoughts on Necessity to Change Setting Species Protection Exemptions
Legislative protection of specially protected wild plant and animal species is restrictive in the Czech Republic. It is based on protection of individuals by restricting activities negatively impacting their natural development. Formal requirements follow from provisions of Act No. 114/1992 Gazette on Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection. As amended, if an exemption is not issued in the interest of nature conservation, another public interest of the intent prevailing over the interest of nature conservation has to be clearly proved. When reviewing the decision on exemptions, meeting the above formal requirements is strongly emphasized. According to the judicature, the burden of proof of meeting them lies with the applicant. Consequently, the decision-making State Nature Conservancy authority should assess whether the arguments provided by the applicant are in this respect sufficient. Following judgements, the decision-making bodies have to look into whether public interest on the intent representing all-of-society value worth of special protection is met. By its very nature, exception from species protection is not a tool serving to solve systemic issues related to measures applied in a blanket manner and their negative consequences for nature caused by industry, transport, agriculture or forestry. Provisions to control such activities should be accepted conceptually when main executive, management and legislative bodies and of course experts participate in. ■
Lenka Šmídová, Jana Šrejberová: Energy Production from Renewable Sources and Prevailing Public Interest
During continuing activities aiming at facilitation and acceleration of building and introducing technologies for energy production from renewable sources (RS) a rebuttable legal presumption on prevailing public interest and interest of public health and safety in facilities for production, storage and transport of energy from RS was introduced into the Czech Republic´s legal system by the so-called emergency amendment to the Water Act, i.e. Act No. 182/2024 Gazette coming into force 1 July 2024. The new legislation transposes Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (Directive RED III), as amended by Directive (EU) 2023/2413 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 October 2023. Its essence is to accelerate operatively and by immediate direct applicability in the individual EU Member States the administrative procedure during preparing and permitting RS intents and thus to facilitate building and introducing technologies for production of energy from RS. In project on RS energy, namely in all phases of their implementation, rebuttable legal presumption that there is the prevailing public interest and that the projects serve for public health and safety is newly applied. Nevertheless, the in this way defined rebuttable presumption strictly applies only to procedures pursuant to the EU legislation in nature conservation. In the Czech Republic´s legislation the above procedures were reflected in Articles 5, 45i and 56 of the Act No. 114/1992 Gazette on Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection, as amended later, and in Article 23a of the Water Act. Therefore, applying the rebuttable presumption of prevailing public interest in RS energy intents is possible only in the above procedures. In procedures other than the above ones, e.g. when permitting the exemption according to Article 43 of the Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection Act the legal presumption should not be applied. ■
Zajíček P.: Na Turoldu Cave, the Largest Karst System in the Jurassic Limestones in the Czech Republic
The Na Turoldu Cave (South Moravia) itself has a total length of 1,650 metres, of which 280 metres are open to the public as a show cave. The tour takes about 40 minutes and the air temperature is 7-100C. The relative humidity is lower than in normal caves, namely 70-90%, so the underground spaces give a dry, dusty impression. The tour starts in the Stará síň/Old Hall, where the typical character of the space with massive broken boulders is already visible. The route continues in depth past areas with needle and stick-like sinter decorations to the Balvanitý dóm/Boulder Dome, which was formed at the crossing of tectonic fissures. Another steep staircase leads visitors to other lower areas. The walls and ceilings are covered with the typical Turold decoration mentioned above. The system of spaces flows smoothly into the Netopýří dóm/Bat Dome. The Na Turoldu Cave is the largest wintering ground/hibernaculum for bats in South Moravia. The most numerous species is the Lesser horseshoe bat Rhinolopus hipposideros), which winters there every year in numbers of approx. two hundred individuals. Branches from the Netopýří dóm/Bat Dome lead to the Síň konce/Hall of the End, where a small geological and mineralogical exhibition is installed, then to the Jezerní dóm/Lake Dome and finally to the Pohádková síň/Fairy Tale Hall. Visitors then take the same route back. The cave is open from April to mid-November. It is located in the 16.84 hectare Turold Nature Reserve, which is part of the Pálava/Pavlov Hills Protected Landscape Area and Biosphere Reserve. ■
Svojanovský R. & Koudelka M.: Historical Development and Current State of Map Documentation of the Javoříčko Caves
The first serious information focused on individual karst phenomena of the “North Moravian Karst” was Josef Blekta’s map from 1932. The map depicted the then known surface karst phenomena, sinkholes and ponors, especially the Zkamenělý zámek/Petrified Castle, the Zátvořice Abyss and the Svěcená díra/Sanctified Hole Cave, which had been known since time immemorial and whose spatial connection had been speculated for decades. It was then that the systematic search for caves under Špraněk Hill really began. In 1937, during a targeted search for the continuation of the well-known Svěcená díra/Sanctified Hole Cave, new areas were discovered below it. Already in May 1937, the discovery was mapped in detail by František Meisl from the town of Plumlov, a student of the Mining University in Příbram (Central Bohemia). Even in the coming difficult war period, the discovery of other spaces under Špraněk Hill continued. Bedřich, the son of the game warden and district forest officer Švec, took the initiative and with his friends from the neighbourhood discovered and explored a number of new caves in the Javoříčský kras/Javoříčko Karst. After the end of the war, there was hardly anyone left of the original actors in the area to initiate new explorations and surveys. At that time, a strong movement of young, active and enthusiastic speleologists in the Moravský kras/Moravian Karst emerged. On 1 October 1958, the Regional Institute of Homeland Studies in Olomouc, later the Regional Museum of Homeland Studies, was founded and took over the management of the Javoříčko Caves. In 1957, Jaroslava Loučková-Michovská appeared in the Javoříčko Karst and in her dissertation she evaluated the whole Javoříčský kras/Javoříčko Karst´s territory from the geomorphological point of view and from the point of view of its possible genesis. She also introduced the nomenclature of karst phenomena that has been used up to now, hypothesized about the river flows that modelled the landscape and caves in the karst, and used for the first time rose diagrams of the caves´ main directions. In 2003, in connection with the resumption of speleological activities, there was a need to review the whole system. Of course, the technological progress in cave mapping has considerably accelerated; today it is possible to use 3D scanners, photogrammetry, and GIS for synthesis of various methods. But even these have their limits in the broken terrain, and it will always depend on the inventiveness of the person who draws the result to provide a really representative view of the site and the truest possible interpretation. ■
Ouhrabka V.: Caves in Georgia
The natural wealth of Georgia includes extensive karst areas with a large number of not yet well documented caves and with great prospects for new discoveries. Many caves are freely accessible and used for adrenaline-pumping visits. Only a few caves are classical show caves open to the public. Due to their attractiveness, Georgian caves also receive an extremely high number of visitors, which raises many questions about how to better protect, conserve and manage the caves so that they can continue to be used sustainably for tourism. Currently, many karst massifs are part of existing or proposed protected areas and 24 of the most important karst features are protected as natural monuments. A number of foreign partners, including the Cave Administration of the Czech Republic since 2012, have been cooperating with the Georgian Protected Areas Agency (APA) to prepare documents for providing and improving the protection, conservation and management of the caves and increasing the effectiveness of the show cave operation. Members of the Czech Speleological Society are also involved in the research and documentation, which is a necessary basis for further decision-making about the caves. Since 2016, they have mapped and documented in detail over 10 km of corridors in several caves, including approx. 2.5 km of previously unknown parts. ■
Zajíček P.: Paclele, a Real Natural Jewel of Romania
Mud volcanoes are created in tectonically active areas and they are mostly related to natural gas and oil deposits. These are small volcano-shaped structures typically a few metres high caused by the eruption of mud and natural gases. Therefore, from a technical point of, the term “mud spring” “or “mud geyser” is more correct. The Paclele mud volcanoes are located close to Berca in the Buzău County in the East Carpathians, namely in Great Wallachia in south-eastern Romania. The occurrence of the phenomenon is linked, as in other world regions, to the highly developed diapirisim of the area; mud migrates at the surface throughout faulted flanks of the anticline, from Middle Miocene deposits at a depth of around 3,000 m. Two sites of the Berca area, namely Pâclele Mari and Pâclele Mici, can be visited there. The mud volcanoes create a strange lunar landscape, due to the absence of vegetation around the cones. The landscape that arises on the surface is a constantly changing one, new volcanoes are constantly being created while the older ones are becoming extinct one by one. The protected area cover 30 hectares there and was also declared UNESCO global geopark.
Although there are mud volcanoes mainly in Azerbaijan, but also in the United States, Italy, Iceland and New Zealand, their occurrence is not common. Therefore, they should be considered to be a rare, unique and highly remarkable natural phenomenon. ■
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Introductory photo: The Jizerka Rivulet Peat-bog National Nature Reserve - one of the sites where tailored measures in Management Plan aiming at preserving high natural values there were developed in the course of the ORM II project. Photo Dominika Machoňová