B - Convention on Biological Diversity

242. Various in-situ conservation aspects are not adequately interconnected in the legislation at other sectorslevel and also by related laws and legislative standards in nature conservation (e.g., gaps are apparent both inthe Criminal Code in demonstrating intent and in misdemeanour proceedings).3. In spite of the relatively large system of Specially Protected Areas, no comprehensive assessment of itsrepresentativeness and the quality of the objects of protection in relation to the habitat occurrence and numberhas been carried out. In addition to Specially Protected Area management, representing typical habitat andwildlife species of the particular biogeographical unit or habitat type, there are undoubtedly areas that requirespecifi c management measures to be applied to achieve the conservation objective. However, at the present time,no general system has been introduced for planning and assessing the national system of Specially ProtectedAreas, monitoring changes in the object of conservation, biodiversity identification and monitoring in SpeciallyProtected Areas and proposing indicators of the effectiveness of Specially Protected Areas for achieving theconservation objectives (see the Monitoring and Indicators chapter).4. In economically utilized areas, i.e. in the vast majority of protected areas in Central Europe, it isadvantageous to implement ecosystem and holistic approach to the natural resource management, integratingsectoral policies and biodiversity conservation. Implementation of the ecosystem approach principles requiressubstantial re-evaluation and improvement of the existing instruments. The ecosystem approach is currentlyonly theoretically recognized as a basic instrument in wildlife species and habitat management. The aspect alsoincludes transboundary cooperation in management of protected areas.5. Information on Specially Protected Areas is collected in the Central Nature Conservancy Register. In spite ofthe fact that individual surveys of protected areas are published, there is a lack of regular assessment reports,primarily because no standard criteria and indicators have been introduced for such a process incl. and theireffectiveness in biodiversity conservation assessment.6. Although conditions have been gradually improving in communication with land owners and NGOs, gapscontinue to exist in including the local population in discussions on the objectives of protection of a territoryand species in a given area. Difficulties are also encountered in inclusion of the private sector in biodiversityconservation. On the whole, communication and public discussion on the conditions, objectives and effectivenessof protected areas is inadequate.7. The benefits raised and generated from Specially Protected Areas and the necessary investments formaintaining the benefits are not unambiguously defined. The benefi ts include both direct economic gains andalso non-utilitarian and cultural values. They require differentiation between the role of the owner and of theother stakeholders, who have a justified interest in areas that are important from the standpoint of biodiversity.Simultaneously, there is no assessment of the existing or necessary capacity for effective biodiversity conservationin the Specially Protected Area system.8. The ecosystem management and restoration in the landscape outside the Specially Protected Areas, i.e., innon-reserved landscape is not considered to be a priority in the framework of sectoral policies. Biodiversity in thenon-reserved landscape does not have sufficient species representation, although the numbers in some speciesmay exhibit substantial increase. Processes in the current cultural landscape have exhibited slow positivechanges in biodiversity (agriculture, forestry, water management, etc.). Landscape management measures andthe effectiveness of ecological networks are not regularly assessed and thus, there is a lack of feedback on theeffectiveness of expended investments.9. There is insufficient utilization of the non-reserved landscape tool through spatial planning. The establishmentof limits on land-use in relation to biodiversity conservation has not been suffi ciently elaborated and furtherdeveloped.