Czech Republic (Šumava National Park)
Šumava National Park is situated in the South Bohemian regions of the Czech Republic. The park forms about two-thirds of a former protection known as Protected Landscape Area (PLA) of Šumava, established in 1963. In 1990, the area was designated as a UNESCO biosphere reserve, and in 1991 it was changed to national park status.
Šumava National Park, located in Southwestern Czechia bordering Germany and Austria, covers about 680km2 and is part of a larger protected landscape area of nearly 1,700km2. Managed by the Ministry of the Environment and the park administration, it balances biodiversity conservation with sustainable human activities.
The Šumava Forest is one of Central Europe’s largest, featuring natural habitats like peat bogs and glacial lakes, and hosting species such as the Eurasian lynx and western capercaillie. The park uses zoning from strict protection to cultural landscape zones to guide management. Its long-term goal is to achieve 75% non-intervention management by 2060, promoting natural regeneration and predator recovery while reducing hunting.
An unmanaged forest in the Protected Landscape Area Šumava