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 (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.
| 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
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.
| Czech name | English translation | Established | Area | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.
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.
Nature monument
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.
Other forms of landscape protection
Nature park
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.
wikipedia, wiki, encyclopedia, book, library, article, read, free download, Information about Protected areas of the Czech Republic, What is Protected areas of the Czech Republic? What does Protected areas of the Czech Republic mean?