Tanks and thyme : biodiversity in the former Soviet military areas in central Europe

Large areas previously occupied by Warsaw Pact forces have been vacated in Central and Eastern Europe after the political changes in 1989 and 1990. Many of these areas are potentially rich in natural resources and variety of habitats. This report identifies sites of national and international importance in four Central European countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovak Republic), makes recommendations for appropriate degrees of protection and proposes management plans for a number of key sites.