Czech: Czech Land use Profile 2011

The territory of the Czech Republic is characterised by rugged topography, scattered settlements and above-average forest coverage. The significantly rugged topography of the territory causes a differentiation of climatic conditions and a related variety of land-use categories within a relatively small country. Arable land is represented to an above-average extent compared to the other European countries. By the end of 2008, it covered 38 % of the territory of the Czech Republic. In general, land-use categories that are unfavourable to biological diversity, i.e. arable and transformed land, cover approximately one-half of the territory. Very unfavourable built-up areas and other areas cover about 10 % of the country.

Land use trends in the Czech Republic since 2000 show a slow decline in arable land area, which has been replaced by built-up or otherwise transformed areas (such as road infrastructure),  According to the available data, no significant proportion of land is being appropriated for more favourable land use categories (forests or pastures), and such a decline is compensated for by the transformation of arable land to these categories (forestation or planting of grass in localities that are not fit for agricultural use). Although the reduction of arable land is extremely favourable for the environmental stability of the landscape (since farming of arable land is connected with the use of agricultural chemicals and other interference with landscape functions), this positive effect is clearly outweighed by the increase of artificial and built-up areas, whose proportion and dynamic is the key indicator of anthropogenic impacts on the landscape.

The growth of these land use categories accelerated significantly after 2000 (see Fig.). Although built-up areas fluctuated and a more significant increase only occurred after 2005, the category of other spaces has had a permanently increasing tendency since 2000, and its share in total land use indicates that residential and commercial buildings have been constructed not only on ’green fields’ but also on previously built-up land (e.g. old industrial plants, storage areas, etc.). The key driving forces of this tendency have been the urbanisation process (particularly suburbanisation and urban sprawl) and the construction of transport infrastructure – see the next chapter.

Changes in landscape coverage may also be assessed in accordance with the CORINE Land Cover (CLC) database, which was elaborated on the basis of a uniform method for all EU Member States (and for some non-members, such as Norway and Turkey) by means of interpretation of remote sensing data (satellite and aerial images). This database was updated for 2000 and 2006, for which ten-year (1990–2000) and six-year (2000–2006) change maps are available.

According to the CORINE database for 2006, which monitors changes larger than five hectares that are at least 100 m wide, it can be said that the area of arable land is being reduced in favour of perennial grass stands (by 620.5 km² i.e. by approximately 2 % of the total arable land), which is the largest identified change, followed by vineyards (by 45.6 km²) and orchards. Furthermore, the results indicate that, since 2000, forest renewal has outpaced deforestation. As indicated by the speed of the growth of transformed land (which is considered urbanised land in the CLC nomenclature but which does not solely represent urban land), the significant increases in this category during the five years in question (2000-2006), i.e. about 69 km², was approximately the same as during the previous ten years (1990-2000). The highest increase in this category was recorded for construction sites (30.5 km² in 2006 as opposed to 5.6 in 2000). See here for additional information about CORINE project (CZ version).

At present, the most serious risks for the landscape include the gradual restriction of its passability, particularly due to fragmentation by linear structures and fencing, and the continuing development of the landscape. The construction of highways and expressways, modification of railway corridors and new developments lead to fragmentation of the landscape and disturbance of its function. It is a process which gradually splits the coherent natural environment into small mutually isolated localities that gradually lose their function. This process represents one of the most serious factors threatening the existence of many species.

Additional information: http://issar.cenia.cz/issar/page.php?id=1852.

The Czech Republic is characterised by significant differences in economic performance in the different regions and by the concentration of economic activities in big cities. This is a result of uneven development after 1990, when big cities became centres of political, economic and cultural activity in a gradually integrating Europe, while the development of the other regions, particularly those lacking more significant investment and cash flow, e.g. from tourism, have almost stagnated. Such a significant territorial differentiation of economic performance in the Czech Republic has subsequently affected migration of the population and work mobility.

GDP in individual regions demonstrates this very well. While in 2007, this indicator was 7085 % of the average value in the majority of the country, it exceeded 90 % in the south Moravia and central Bohemia regions. GDP in Prague is about 210 % of the average for the country as a whole and about 164 % of the average for EU27. Hence, Prague is the sole region of the Czech Republic that is significantly wealthier than the European average.

Regions with high economic performance and a sufficient number of jobs have witnessed a population increase due to migration, particularly after 2000. This was true not only of big cities but above all districts in their immediate vicinity suitable for daily commuting to work. In 2007, the highest population increase by migration was recorded in the central Bohemia region, particularly in the districts of Prague-East and Prague-West (average of 57 inhabitants per 1 000 inhabitants, i.e. 5.7 % in 2007), followed by the districts of Nymburk and Mladá Boleslav (about 25 inhabitants per 1 000 inhabitants). Other such districts include outer Brno with a migration increase of 2.5 %. In contrast, other regions (such as the entire Moravia-Silesia region and the district of Jeseník in the Olomoucký region) have seen a negative population increase due to migration, which means that people are moving away from these localities.

These migration flows have perceptibly enhanced housing development and urban sprawl in attractive regions as part of the suburbanisation process. This is typical for the current development of Prague and to a lesser extent also of Brno and other big cities. Land appropriation is connected with residential development and with the construction of commercial buildings, storage facilities and transport infrastructure serving the new urban areas. The suburbanisation process is represented either by ’greenfield’ development or may swallow existing municipalities in the vicinity of cities whose character is totally modified due to this process and which are transformed wholly or partly into suburbia (city housing zones outside the city limits,.

The suburbanisation process can be very well demonstrated by new housing construction in individual regions. In 1997–2005, an average of 2.5 flats per 1 000 inhabitants was built. The highest share of these flats was built around Prague. In this period, approximately ten flats per 1 000 inhabitants were built in the district of Prague-West and almost eight flats per 1 000 inhabitants were built in the district of Prague-East.

These socio-economic processes affect the dynamic of the landscape in two ways. On the one hand, it leads to a decline in anthropogenic activities and migration of the economically active population in more remote areas that are not attractive for agricultural, recreational or industrial purposes. On the other hand, many areas are exposed to the dynamic impact of human society, whether represented by urbanisation, farming, forestry, construction of transport networks or recreation.

The above-mentioned unfavourable impacts may be suppressed by more considerate farming of arable land, the establishment of perennial grass stands, the establishment of territorial systems of environmental stability, renewal of ridges between land plots, groves and country lanes with accompanying vegetation, revitalisation of water systems and removal of their regulated sections (only a very small part, particularly of smaller waterways, is currently not regulated). This will lead to the revitalisation of the mosaic of landscape elements, higher water retention, improvement of groundwater resources, a higher resistance to erosion and an increase in the natural and aesthetic value of the landscape. The new development trend is currently represented by strong pressures on non-productive, recreational, sports and residential functions of the landscape, which quickly change its structure and use in the vicinity of big cities and in attractive natural areas such as national parks and protected landscape areas (construction of sports and recreational facilities, ski tracks and funiculars, second homes). Soil protection should be enhanced by the amendment to Act No. 334/1992 Coll., on the Protection of the Agricultural Land Fund (CZ version).

The obligations of the Czech Republic arise from the European Landscape Convention. The principal objective of this Convention is to ensure the protection of individual types of European landscape. Its significance consists in the fact that it imposes the duty to create and to implement, with the participation of the public and of local and regional authorities, such landscape policies that are considerate and sustainable with regard to the nature of the landscape, and to consider the nature of the landscape in the formulation of spatial development, urban planning and other ministerial or inter-ministerial policies. This is provided for in part by the system of specially protected territories.

A specific problem of the Czech Republic is represented by ’brownfield sites’ (disused land and industrial facilities), which, in addition to their economic and social contribution, may contribute to the improvement of the environment. The Ministry of the Environment clearly supports the use of brownfield sites. This trend has been visible recently with its focus on efforts to reduce the number of prepared ’greenfield sites’ only to those designated for strategic investors and to areas where the demand for free space has not yet been satisfied.