Enterprise element of successful Sumava NP programme to be assessed
Wild Europe’s initiative to identify local community enterprise opportunities in and around Sumava National Park is to be assessed for further development.
The initiative was originally proposed in an outline feasibility study for (non-extractive) enterprise related to wilderness areas in Sumava, which also promoted close links to the adjoining BayerischerWald National Park in Bavaria.
The Czech Environment Ministry gave its support to the initiative in 2018, with a statement from Vice Minister Vladimir Dolejsky:
“I consider elaboration of this study very important not only for the development of the National Park Sumava region, but also in terms of the future course of national parks in the Czech Republic in general”.
The initiative was shelved due to the impact of Covid. It forms the third and final element in a programme initiated by Wild Europe in 2011 to protect Sumava National Park from threats of logging and development represented by bills in the Czech Parliament.
Starting with an international petition in 2012, this involved over 400 representations to MPs, in liaison with the Czech Prime Minister and senior cabinet ministers. It lead to a comprehensive report on the economic impact of alternative options for Sumava, which concluded that protection and extension of non-intervention ‘wild’ areas would be economically as well as ecologically preferable, particularly for local communities.
Zdenka Krenova
A series of awareness raising events followed, including a 2014 Open Forum that we organised in Prague featuring former ministers, leading landholder interests and a video from His Royal Highness Prince Charles.
The outcome – a model for wider adoption
The bills to enable development in Sumava were subsequently outvoted in the Prague Parliament, and protection of wilderness areas reaffirmed.
During a post recession period when several national parks were potentially under consideration for de-designation, this outcome was felt to have wider ramifications.
It also provides a model for similar situations elsewhere that combines ecological advocacy with comparative economic analysis and enterprise implementation. A similar initiative was subsequently proposed, for example, as a solution for a potential ski resort development in the Pirin Mountain National Park of Bulgaria
