Protected areas of the Czech Republic

File:CHKO+NP Czechia map (2011).png

Map of protected areas of the Czech Republic: national parks (grey) and protected landscape areas (green)

File:National nature reserve Rezabinec a Rezabinecke tune in 2011 (4).JPG

Řežabinec a Řežabinecké tůně National Nature Reserve

There are several types of protected areas of the Czech Republic. The main form of landscape protection is delimitation of special protected areas. All the types of protected areas are determined by law.

Special protected areas

There are six types of special protected areas distinguished by their size and importance. The types of large-scale protected areas are national park and protected landscape area; the types of small-scale protected areas are national nature reserve, nature reserve, national nature monument, and nature monument.

National park

National park (Template:Langx, abbreviated as NP) are defined as a large areas with a typical relief and geological structure and a predominant occurrence of natural or man-made ecosystems, unique and significant on a national or international scale in terms of ecology, science, education or awareness. They are established by the Czech Government. As of 2021, there were four national parks in the Czech Republic:

Short name	Full name	Established	Area		Protective zone area
Krkonoše	Krkonošský národní park (KRNAP)	1963
Podyjí	Národní park Podyjí	1991
Šumava	Národní park Šumava	1991		*
Bohemian Switzerland	Národní park České Švýcarsko	2000
* The Šumava Protective Zone constitutes the Šumava PLA

Protected landscape area

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Entrance to Moravian Karst PLA

Protected landscape area (abbreviated PLA; Template:Langx, abbreviated CHKO) is a large area of harmonic landscape with a typical relief, with a considerable share of natural forest and permanent grassy ecosystems, there can also be preserved human settlement monuments. They are established by the Czech Government. As of 2025, there are 26 protected landscape areas in the Czech Republic:

Czech name	English translation	Established	Area
Český ráj	Bohemian Paradise	1955
Moravský kras	Moravian Karst	1956
Šumava	Bohemian Forest	1963
Jizerské hory	Jizera Mountains	1968
Jeseníky	Ash Mountains	1969
Orlické hory	Orlické Mountains	1969
Žďárské vrchy	Žďár Highlands	1970
Český kras	Bohemian Karst	1972
Labské pískovce	Elbe Sandstone Mountains	1972
Beskydy	Beskids	1973
Slavkovský les	Slavkov Forest	1974
České středohoří	Central Bohemian Uplands	1976
Kokořínsko – Máchův kraj	Kokořín Area – Mácha's Region	1976
Lužické hory	Lusatian Mountains	1976
Pálava	Pálava	1976
Křivoklátsko	Křivoklát Area	1978
Třeboňsko	Třeboň Basin	1979
Bílé Karpaty	White Carpathians	1980
Blaník	Blaník	1981
Blanský les	Blanský Forest	1989
Litovelské Pomoraví	Litovel Morava Basin	1990
Broumovsko	Broumov Area	1991
Poodří	Oder Basin	1991
Železné hory	Iron Mountains	1991
Český les	Upper Palatine Forest	2005
Brdy	Brdy	2016
Novohradské hory	Gratzen Mountains	pending
Střední Poohří	Central Ohře (Eger) Basin	pending

National nature reserve

National nature reserve (Template:Langx, abbreviated NPR) is a smaller area of exceptional nature value, where a typical relief of typical geological composition is combined with ecosystems important on an international or national level. They are established by the Czech Ministry of Environment.

Nature reserve

Nature reserve (Template:Langx, abbreviated PR) is a smaller area with concentrated nature features and ecosystems typical for a given geographical region. They are established by the appropriate Regional Government (Template:Langx) or Management of a National Park or Landscape Protected Area.

National nature monument

National Nature monument (Template:Langx, abbreviated as NPP) is a nature formation of a smaller area, usually geological or geomorphological formation, mineral or fossil collection locality or a habitat of endangered plants or animals in parts of ecosystems with a local environmental, scientific or esthetic importance. They are established by the Czech Ministry of Environment.

Nature monument

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Hroby Nature Monument in Radenín

Nature Monument (Template:Langx, abbreviated as PP) is a nature formation of a smaller area, usually geological or geomorphological formation, mineral or fossil collection locality or a habitat of endangered plants or animals in parts of ecosystems with an international or national environmental, scientific or esthetic importance. They are established by the appropriate Regional Government or Management of a national park or protected landscape area.

Other forms of landscape protection

Nature park

File:View of the Rabí Castle (1).JPG

Buděticko Nature Park with Rabí Castle

Nature park (Template:Langx) is usually a large area serving the protection of a landscape against activities that could decrease its natural and esthetic value. They can be established by any State Environment Protection body.

Memorable tree, group of trees or alley

Memorable tree, group of trees or alley (Template:Langx) can be established by any State Environment Protection body.

Notable landscape feature

Notable landscape feature (Template:Langx) is usually a natural, cultural or historical feature typical for a given locality or region. They can be established by any State Environment Protection body.

Specially protected species of plants and animals

Specially protected species of plants and animals (Template:Langx) are those species or subspecies which are very rare, generally endangered, scientifically or culturally important. They are listed in a Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic regulation. As of 2025, there are 505 plant species, 27 mushroom species and 309 animal species on the list.