In conservation biology, there is a general consensus that protected areas (PAs) are one of the most effective tools for biodiversity protection. Worldwide, the area of PAs is continually increasing. But is the effectiveness of biodiversity protection improving with it? Since many PAs only exist as "paper parks" (i.e. they exist on maps and in legislation but offer little actual protection), the answer is uncertain. Moreover, it has long been known that, not only an increase in the extent of PAs, but also the efficiency of their management is fundamentally important for effective nature conservation. Therefore, there is a wide-ranging discussion about the actual effectiveness of PAs and factors that influence it.In the course of the EU pre-accession phase, a comprehensive field mapping of natural habitats took place in the Czech Republic in years 2001−2004. The mapping results were used to designate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) as part of the Natura 2000 network.In this study, the aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of this newly created system of SACs for protection of biodiversity represented by the mapped natural habitats. The NCEI index (Nature Conservation Effectiveness Index) was applied, calculated as the total area of a particular habitat type in all SACs RESEARCH ARTICLE Launched to accelerate biodiversity conservation A peer-reviewed open-access journalVilém Pechanec et al. / Nature Conservation 24: 21-41 (2018) 22 in the Czech Republic divided by the total area of that same natural habitat in the entire Czech Republic. Habitat protection in the Czech Republic is focused primarily on the smallest types of rare habitats, many of which are classified as critically endangered. The Czech national system of SACs provides protection to a total of 4,491.68 km 2 of natural habitats. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the overall effectiveness of the SAC system in the Czech Republic, which is specifically aimed at protecting natural habitats, is low (NCEI = 0.36). Nevertheless, the critically endangered habitats receive maximum protection (NCEI = 1).

No abstract

Predicted climate change can significantly affect ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes. Possibilities of predicting climate change effects on growing conditions of crops are therefore sought for practical reasons. The aim of the present study is to contribute to the current discussions about the impact of climate change on agriculture. The case study from the Czech Republic presents methods and results of environmental modelling of the impact of predicted climatic changes on future conditions for growing grapevines. The model is based on the ecological relationship between climate and vegetation zonation of the landscape and thus belongs to the group of process biogeographic models applicable on a regional scale. The results of the presented model show significant enlargement of areas climatically suitable for growing grapes within the studied area. The results of the model relevant to the Czech Republic are in line with the previous assumptions of trends in future impacts of climate change on viticulture in Europe. However, the data resulting from the presented model, which relate to the time horizon beyond 2050, should be regarded as indicative and fraught with a high degree of uncertainty linked with the uncertainty of the input climatological prediction for this time period.

Areas subject to little anthropogenic impact and with preserved river dynamics are very rare in the floodplains of large European rivers [7][8][9]. These environmentally valuable territories are usually categorized as different forms of protected areas. Particularly due to the establishment of the Natura 2000 network of nature protection areas, the number of floodplain forests thus protected in Europe has been gradually increasing. In the context of environmental assessment of Natura 2000 sites, environmental assessment of the level of natural habitat conservation appears to be a potential decision support tool. This paper assesses the efficiency of the Natura 2000 European Network in the biodiversity conservation of Central European floodplain forest habitats on the ecosystem level of an entire river basin (Morava River basin, Czech Republic). In order to express the efficiency of natural habitat conservation, our paper uses the nature conservation efficiency index, which is calculated in the GIS environment based on an environmental analysis of data obtained through natural habitat mapping in the Czech Republic, conducted in 2001-2004 as part of the conservation objectives of Natura 2000. Environmental analysis results show that the conservation efficiency of the Natura 2000 network in territorial conservation of floodplain forests in the study area of the Morava River floodplain is approximately six times as high (NCEIEU = 0.067) as the efficiency of the Czech national network of protected areas (NCEICZ = 0.017). The paper also highlights the importance of detailed habitat mapping for environmental landscape studies.

The effectiveness of protected areas to conserve biodiversity depends on conservation management strategies and their application, usually to specific protected areas. This paper presents the results of an assessment of the conservation management strategy for a protected mountain area dominated by Norway spruce forests. The study was based on the prediction of future forest ecosystem development using a SYBILA growth simulation model. This model predicts the changes of forest stand over 25 and 50 years in the context of the conservation management strategy that is part of the broader management plan. The article presents a case study of acidophilous spruce forests below the alpine tree line in the Hruby Jesenik Mountains (Czech Republic), where the forest ecosystems are protected under the Natura 2000 European network and the Czech national system of protected areas. Conserving the character of forest habitats, especially those that are historically affected by humans, is the main target of conservation management strategies. Synthesizing the growth simulation results allows an assessment of the conservation management strategy in achieving management targets. The paper highlights the importance of growth simulation models as support tools for the assessment and creation of adaptive conservation management strategies in mountain protected areas.