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WCC 2016 Res 034 - Progress Report

General information
IUCN Constituencies implementing this Resolution
IUCN Members: 
Ceský svaz ochráncu prírody ( ÚVR CSOP ) / Czech Republic
Ministerstvo zivotního prostredí / Czech Republic
Bund Naturschutz in Bayern / Germany
Pro Natura / Friends of the Earth Switzerland / Switzerland
IUCN Commissions: 
FB17E09E-5094-E611-97F4-005056BA6623
IUCN Secretariat: 
No
Other non-IUCN related organisations: 
Hnuti DUHA, Friends of the Earth Czech Republic, Scientists for Sumava Platform (Czech Republic), Sumava National Park Authority & Council, Municipalities with territory inside NP Sumava.
Implémentation
Indicate which actions have been carried out to implement this Resolution : 
Policy influencing/advocacy
Scientific/technical activities
Describe the results/achievements of the actions taken: 
Strengthened alignment of the Czech nature conservation legislation with IUCN Protected Area Management Categories. The Czech Union for Nature Conservation (ÚVR CSOP) and Pro Natura / Friends of the Earth Switzerland were leading on a campaign combining advocacy with public awareness raising to ensure that the primary objective of conservation in national parks is to protect undisturbed natural processes in the long-term is part of the new rules for Czech national parks, set out in the revised Nature and Landscape Conservation Act, and that they apply to at least 50% of the territory. No timeline has been set out for achieving this target, however, and the law provides for a 15-year moratorium on any amendment of zoning in Czech national park after an initial revision.

Following the amendments of the law, the Czech Ministry of the Environment (MoE) has developed a new by-law regulating the content and process for developing management plans for protected areas. IUCN Members mentioned above, in partnership with local NGOs and scientific community, ensured that the final and official version of the by-law provides that management plans declare the IUCN Category of the protected area concerned and therefore set out management objectives accordingly.

Another by-law, concerning the methodology on management zoning for national park, was also enacted following the adoption of the amended Nature and Landscape Conservation Act. It provides for classification of forest stands based on their naturalness as originally developed for the purposes of research and monitoring in commercial forestry. This methodology differs from that applied in Natura 2000 habitat mapping by being based on the current state of forest stands, rather than their desired end-state. In the past this has led to fragmentation and degradation of forest stands in the nature zone in Šumava NP. Despite the advocacy of the IUCN members mentioned above and their partners, Hnuti DUHA and Friends of the Earth Czech Republic, this deficiency in the by-law was not mended and is expected to have negative consequences for management of national parks in the Czech Republic.
Scientific/Technical activities. Based on the research conducted by Hnuti DUHA and scientific community in the country, the IUCN members mentioned above submitted to the Czech Ministry of Environment and local stakeholders a proposal to extend the non-intervention nature zone in Šumava NP to 53% of its total territory. The development of the proposal included field activities, preparation of revised maps, and their verification on the ground, photographic documentation, etc. The proposal was supported by a number of mayors of the municipalities that straddle the borders of the park.
What challenges/obstacles have been encountered in the implementation of this Resolution and how were they overcome : 
The main obstacle has been political pressure on the Ministry of Environment against the interest of nature protection. To overcome it, the IUCN members mentioned above have lobbied the Ministry and, when necessary, the Cabinet Office, to respect their prior commitments and the resolution, albeit with mixed results.
Briefly describe what future actions are needed for the implementation of this Resolution: 
The IUCN members mentioned above will continue to coordinate their cooperation with the scientific community in both educating the public and providing technical expertise needed for sound decision making. They will also publish a study to update the management zoning of Šumava NP and continue to discuss it with relevant stakeholders.

They will advocate for the application of the new management zoning of Šumava NP and in accordance with the resolution. The Sumava NP Authority is preparing a proposal for the new zonation of the NP, following from the amended Nature Protection Act and its implementing regulation. Once complete, they will review it and use the public consultation process to lobby the authority and Ministry of the Environment to conform to the resolution.
Are these actions planned for yet: 
Yes
Status of implementation
Status of implementation for this Resolution: 
On-going: implementation consisting of repetitive, recurrent action (attending meetings, reporting, etc.)
Additional information