The Czech Republic's parliament will vote this month on a bill that sets new rules for national parks. In eastern Europe's push for economic development, biodiversity is again under threat (see also P. Chylarecki and N. Selva Nature 530, 419; 2016; P. Michalak Nature 530, 419; 2016).
Šumava National Park is a unique complex of peat bogs, wetlands and primeval forests in southern Bohemia. It is a refuge for many endangered species, including the remaining few viable populations in central Europe of capercaillies (Tetrao urogallus) and freshwater pearl mussels (Margaritifera margaritifera).
The bill, a reasonable compromise for conservation, is under attack from regional politicians. They object to the proposed transparency in setting and implementing conservation rules, and seek to restrict protected core zones to 23% of the national-park area. They also want to open up large areas for logging, tourism and privatization. Their arguments are similar to those used to justify logging in Białowieża Forest on the Poland–Belarus border (see Nature 530, 393; 2016). However, if Šumava's rare species are to survive, core zones need to cover about 50% of the park (I. Dickie et al. Eur. J. Environ. Sci. 4, 5–29; 2014).
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Kindlmann, P., Křenová, Z. Protect Czech park from development. Nature 531, 448 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/531448d
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/531448d
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