Ranšpurk National Nature Reserve (19.2 ha, declared in 1949) can be found south of Lanžhot on the territory of the Soutok preserve. The reserve is a unique example of alluvial forest, which was left to develop spontaneously from the 1930‘s. That is why rare species of insects and wood-destroying fungus are found here.
National Nature Reserve Cahnov - Soutok (13.5 ha, declared in 1949) is situated only a few kilometers south from Ranšpurk. The location is, as in Ranšpurk, signifi cant for an alluvial primeval forest; in the 19th century, after the end of grazing, it was left to its own development. It is fi nding many rare species of insects, rare hydrophilic plants and many wood-destroying fungus.
Stibůrkov Lake Nature Reserve (28.62 ha, 1994) is a site consisting of flooded alluvial meadows, pools at the site of dead branches of the Morava River and the alluvial forest. Approximately a kilometer southeast of Tvrdonice we can fi nd this reserve. Here you can fi nd one of the last residues of preserved wetlands in the Moravia flood plain. The site is overgrowing with plant communities typical for alluvial meadows; of note is the vegetation of aquatic plants, in which white waterlilies are the most remarkable. The water here has a representation of our smallest higher plant water meal, coming just around the size of 1.5 mm. The wetlands are occupied by many species of birds, linked to this type of habitat. Marsh harriers can be found here, as well as little grebes, water-hens and penduline tits, who build typical nests from grass and animal hair,suspended on thin branches. Stibůrkov lakes are important reproduction sites of amphibians, especially frogs. Swan mussel occur here and are currently a specially protected species.
František´s Pond Nature Reserve (19.5 ha, 1994) - it can be found about two kilometers east of the border Poštorná - Reinthal. The pond surrounded by rushes and meadows with sand loving vegetation, is particularly distinguished by the occurence of rare species and wetland and aquatic plant communities. Regularly we meet with pickerel frog and large population of small fi sh – european wheaterfi sh is preserved here. The most signifi cant aquatic plant is rigid hornwort.
Skařiny Nature Reserve (13.20 ha, 1956) is an important part of the natural park Mikulčice Meadow. This reserve lies on the the blind branch of the Morava river, about three kilometers southeast of Mikulčice. Skařiny is an important ornithological site with fl ocks of rare bird species such as grey heron, common kingfi sher, white stork or penduline tit. Occasionally found here also rare species of predators such as red kite, or sea-eagle. Other common predatory birds are buzzard, horned owl or staniel. The reserve is an outstanding example of an alluvial forest with a rich herbal fl oor. We fi nd here lesser celandine, ramsons, yellow star-of-Bethlehem and rare corydalis. The locality is also rich in amphibians (especially frogs) and insects (especially beetles and butterfl ies).
Stupava Nature Reserve (53.54 ha, 1996) is located close to the river Kyjovka, northwest of Hodonín. It is composed of thermophilic oak-wood, which is a home to rare species of insects.
Špidláky Nature Reserve (20.9 ha, 1992) close to the Čejkovice, represents the last residuals of the steppe in the agricultural landscape of Podluží. It Includes three sites with the occurrence of the indigenous fl ora of the pannonian steppe and they are home to rare species of insects. It got its name from the fi eld elevation called „špidláky“, which rise from the surrounding fl at landscape.
The Natural monument Očov´s Grassland (35 ha, 1990) is located on the outskirts of Hodonín and is exceptional for reed-grass meadows with rare plants and animals, especially birds and amphibians. You can fi nd here european toads, green toads or fi re-bellied frogs. Ameliorative interventions, made in the past, have had a negative impact on the water rates of the meadows and therefore indigenous species of marsh plants are gradually disappearing.
The Natural monument Nivky za Větřákem (0.24 ha, 1993), between the villages Starý poddvorov and Mutěnice, is a small site with meadows and woods, in which rare species of plants occur.
Nature Park Mikulčický luh, lying between the Morava river and Mikulčice represents a typical alluvial forest landscape with the forest formed especally by forest oak, smooth elm, ash-tree and hornbeam. The Park is an important ornithological site and home to the well-known archeological site Mikulčické Hradiště.
