Biosphere Reserve Lower Morava
The UNESCO World Organization for Education, Science and Culture establishes in each state a Biosphere Reserve (BR) as an examples of a balanced relationship between human activities in the landscape and the natural environment. In 2007 there were more than 500 in the world, including six in the Czech Republic. Lower Morava was declared a Biosphere Reserve in 2003 and represents diverse and rich fl ora and fauna found nowhere else in our country. Along with possessing great historical and cultural value, Lower Morava possesses areas that are a unique part of nature. We have to mention large complexes of unique alluvial forests and meadows on the lower river fl ows of Kyjovka, Dyje and Morava. Part of the Biosphere Reserve is also the harmonic landscape of the Lednice-Valtice area, which extends to Podluží as well.
Natura 2000 is a network of sites in the Member States of the European Union, which are being preserved with all animals and plant species. Next to conservation of species, biodiversity and improvement of natural habitats, its aim is to create a line between the interests of nature conservation and friendly management in their respective localities. The areas that should become part of this system are proposed by individual member states and the proposal itself is preceded by a long process of information gathering, mapping of sites and species, and management consultation. Natura 2000 consists of two basic categories. The fi rst of these is the so-called bird areas; and the second is other major european locations. Bird areas are areas that meet special criteria for the life and reproduction of birds. Usually it refers to breeding grounds. Declarations of signifi - cant european sites in turn serves to preserve and recover natural habitats, which consist of rare species of fauna or fl ora. In the area of Podluží and Hodonín there are several Natura 2000 sites.
Bird area Soutok - Tvrdonicko is a fl oodplain complex characterized by a network of water channels, wetlands, periodically fl ooded alluvial meadows, forests and solo oaks. This diverse amount of natural habitats offers ideal conditions for the life and reproduction of many bird species. Among the most important species you can fi nd here are white-neck fl ycatchers, middle spotted woodpecker, common kingfi sher, grey-headed woodpecker; or among raptors, honey buzzards, red kites, black kites, imperial eagles or sakers. The area is an important rest stop and meeting place for water and migrant birds.
Bird area Hovoransko - Čejkovicko it is situated among the villages Čejkovice, Hovorany and Vrbice and is characterized by dispersed greenery and dense bushes lining the fi elds, the forest edges and river banks. On this small area traditional farming is preserved, which helps to maintain an appropriate environment for the occurrence of many species of birds, the most signifi cant of which is ortolen, that build breeding grounds only here. Other important species of birds are syrian woodpeckers, inhabiting the old orchards, and barred warblers living in bushes along the fi eld roads.
The signifi cant European site Niva Dyje Niva is a very valuable stretch of the river Dyje with the natural character of run, with a typical occurrence of numerous meanders and dead branches and with a preservation of a large complex of alluvial forests and meadows. In riverfl ood-plains occur many rare animal species such as fi re-bellied frogs, petite fi sh bitterlings or a species of bat called the lesser horseshoe bat. An object of protection is also the degree of native insect species, for example sawyer or fl at bark beetle.
The signifi cant European site Soutok- Podluží it is the largest complex of alluvial forests, meadows and wetlands at the lower reaches of the rivers Morava and Dyje. In the conditions of the Czech Republic it is a unique area with predominant hardwood meadows. Typical for this area are drier unfl ooded residues of old river terraces and sand dunes, so called „hrúda“, which rise above the surrounding terrain and differ from the surroundings in both biological and soil conditions. The continental fl ooded meadows are an important element. The complex network of forest and meadows is penetrated by series of water channels with plentiful aquatic vegetation and numerous endangered species of plants. The site also offers a number of endangered and protected animal species, including the Danubian newt, European otter or European beaver.
The signifi cant European site Hodonín ´s Doubrava a complex of exceptionally diverse alluvial forests, defi ned by hypothetical triangles with the tops in Mutěnice, Hodonín and Dubňany. The Forests are characterized by a high proportion of thermophilous oak stands growing in the sand. You come across protected species of plants, such as mud gladiolus, iris or spinifex. You‘ll fi nd here also rare animal species, for example, barbastelle, fi re-bellied frog; and protected species of insects such as the stag beetle and footman moth.
The signifi cant European site Očov this area is expansive, with several hundreds of hectares of alluvial forest with soft, hard and fl ooded meadows with endangered and rare plants such as square garlic, black sedge or low violet. It is situated in the location between Hodonín and the Morava river,in the deforested agricultural landscape. We fi nd here even the small bitterling, whose reproduction is completely linked to the presence of swan mussel, which within it inseminates the fi sh eggs and the initial growth of fry starts.
The signifi cant European site Čejkovické Špidláky this site is characterized by steppe grasslands with a rich representation of thermophilic species of grasses, among which we fi nd a number of especially endangered and protected plant species. Here grows, as in one of only three other places in our country, South Moravian wormwood and we discover here also alpine kale, which is interesting for its method of dissemination of seeds and for this is called steppe runner. After fadeaway the entire plant breaks off, the wind carries it through the countryside, while the seeds are gradually released. The steppe character of this location site is suitable for the rare ground-beetle, which is also present.
