Protected areas of the Czech Republic

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.^[1]

Large-scale protected areas of the Czech Republic: national parks (brown) and protected landscape areas (green)

Řežabinec National Nature Monument

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.^[1]

National park

National park (Czech: národní park, 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 2025, there are four national parks in the Czech Republic, with a total area of 1,190.2 square kilometres (459.5 sq mi), which is 1.50% of the Czech Republic's area.^[2]

Short name	Full name	Established	Area		Protected zone area
Krkonoše	Krkonošský národní park (KRNAP)	1963	363.27 km2	140.26 sq mi	186.42 km2	71.98 sq mi
Podyjí	Národní park Podyjí	1991	63 km2	24 sq mi	29 km2	11 sq mi
Šumava	Národní park Šumava	1991	685.2 km2	264.6 sq mi	944.8 km2	364.8 sq mi *
Bohemian Switzerland	Národní park České Švýcarsko	2000	79 km2	31 sq mi
* The Šumava Protective Zone constitutes the Šumava PLA

Protected landscape area

Entrance to Moravian Karst PLA

Protected landscape area (abbreviated PLA; Czech: chráněná krajinná oblast, 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 27 protected landscape areas in the Czech Republic, with a total area of 11,507.2 square kilometres (4,443.0 sq mi), which is 14.59% of the Czech Republic's area.^[2]

Czech name	English translation	Established	Area[3]
Český ráj	Bohemian Paradise	1955	182 km2	70.27 sq mi
Moravský kras	Moravian Karst	1956	97 km2	37 sq mi
Šumava	Bohemian Forest	1963	995 km2	384.2 sq mi
Jizerské hory	Jizera Mountains	1968	374 km2	144 sq mi
Jeseníky	Ash Mountains	1969	744 km2	287 sq mi
Orlické hory	Orlické Mountains	1969	233 km2	90 sq mi
Žďárské vrchy	Žďár Hills	1970	709 km2	274 sq mi
Český kras	Bohemian Karst	1972	132 km2	51 sq mi
Labské pískovce	Elbe Sandstone Mountains	1972	243 km2	94 sq mi
Beskydy	Beskids	1973	1,205 km2	465.25 sq mi
Slavkovský les	Slavkov Forest	1974	611 km2	236 sq mi
České středohoří	Central Bohemian Uplands	1976	1,069 km2	413 sq mi
Kokořínsko – Máchův kraj	Kokořín Area – Mácha's Region	1976	410 km2	158 sq mi
Lužické hory	Lusatian Mountains	1976	271 km2	105 sq mi
Pálava	Pálava	1976	85 km2	33 sq mi
Křivoklátsko	Křivoklát Area	1978	625 km2	241 sq mi
Třeboňsko	Třeboň Basin	1979	687 km2	265 sq mi
Bílé Karpaty	White Carpathians	1980	747 km2	288.4 sq mi
Blaník	Blaník	1981	40 km2	15 sq mi
Blanský les	Blanský Forest	1989	220 km2	84.94 sq mi
Litovelské Pomoraví	Litovel Morava Basin	1990	93 km2	36 sq mi
Broumovsko	Broumov Area	1991	432 km2	167 sq mi
Poodří	Oder Basin	1991	82 km2	31.7 sq mi
Železné hory	Iron Mountains	1991	285 km2	110 sq mi
Český les	Upper Palatine Forest	2005	466 km2	180 sq mi
Brdy	Brdy	2016	345 km2	133 sq mi
Soutok	Confluence	2025	125 km2	48 sq mi

National nature reserve

National nature reserve (Czech: národní přírodní rezervace, 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. As of 2025, there are 109 national nature reserves in the Czech Republic, with a total area of 308.3 square kilometres (119.0 sq mi), which is 0.39% of the Czech Republic's area.^[2]

Nature reserve

Nature reserve (Czech: přírodní rezervace, 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 (Czech: krajský úřad) or Management of a National Park or Landscape Protected Area. As of 2025, there are 825 nature reserves in the Czech Republic, with a total area of 443.9 square kilometres (171.4 sq mi), which is 0.56% of the Czech Republic's area.^[2]

National nature monument

National nature monument (Czech: národní přírodní památka, 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. As of 2025, there are 126 national nature monuments in the Czech Republic, with a total area of 114.1 square kilometres (44.1 sq mi), which is 0.14% of the Czech Republic's area.^[2]

Nature monument

Hroby Nature Monument in Radenín

Nature monument (Czech: přírodní památka, 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. As of 2025, there are 1623 nature monuments in the Czech Republic, with a total area of 352.4 square kilometres (136.1 sq mi), which is 0.44% of the Czech Republic's area.^[2]

Other forms of landscape protection

Nature park

Buděticko Nature Park with Rabí Castle

Nature park (Czech: přírodní park) 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 (Czech: památný strom, skupina stromů nebo stromořadí) can be established by any State Environment Protection body.

Notable landscape feature

Notable landscape feature (Czech: významný krajinný prvek) 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 (Czech: Zvláště chráněné druhy rostlin a živočichů) 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.^[4][5]