Comprehensive Solution to Landscape Fragmentation in the Czech Republic – Ensuring Landscape Connectivity as a Prerequisite for Species Conservation

This project is funded by the Swiss-Czech Cooperation Programme. 

Project number: CH-V1-2
Location: Throughout the Czech Republic
Programme: Swiss-Czech Cooperation
Funding source: Second contribution from the Swiss-Czech Cooperation Programme 
Total budget: CZK 165,429,113.33 
Project duration: 1 January 2026 – 31 December 2028 
Lead project partner: Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic (AOPK ČR)
Project partners: Research Institute for Landscape, v. v. I. (VÚK); T. G. M. Water Research Institute (VÚV T. G. M.); Vltava River Basin Authority, state enterprise (PVL); ČEZ Distribuce, a.s.; EG. D., s.r.o.; ČEPS, a.s.; Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH); Biological Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, v. v. i. (HBÚ)

Project objectives and scope

The fragmentation of landscapes, habitats and populations represents a serious ecological problem in Europe, with negative impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. It is caused primarily by the development of transport and energy infrastructure, urbanisation, agricultural intensification, and the regulation of watercourses, including the construction of barriers to the migration of organisms.

In the Czech Republic, small hydropower plants and other water infrastructure also have a significant impact, disrupting river migration, reducing the genetic diversity of populations, and increasing the risk of local species extinctions.
This is a complex, long-term and dynamic problem that requires a coordinated inter-ministerial approach and is further exacerbated by ongoing climate change. Climate change further increases pressure on species to migrate and adapt.
The project builds on previous findings, updates existing approaches, introduces new methodologies, and includes practical measures to reduce landscape fragmentation.

The main objective is a comprehensive solution to landscape fragmentation in the Czech Republic in three areas:
P1 – ensuring migration connectivity for large mammals;
P2 – restoring the continuity of watercourses and enabling the migration of aquatic organisms;
P3 – reducing bird mortality on power lines through modifications and the management of safety zones.

Some planned outcomes

The project will contribute to enhancing biodiversity through specific measures aimed at reducing fragmentation in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

1. Protection and connectivity of large mammal habitats
•    Development of an AOPK ČR methodology for the ecological management of power line buffer zones.
•    Updating nature and landscape conservation standards.
•    Pilot implementation of ecological management across 30 ha of protection zones.
•    Updating the habitat layer for selected specially protected species of large mammals as a spatial analytical basis for the Czech Republic.
•    Feasibility study to improve connectivity at approximately 10 critical migration sites.

2. Protection of watercourses and migration of aquatic organisms
•    Improvement of river network connectivity and protection of aquatic ecosystems.
•    Updating methodologies and development monitoring (including eDNA).
•    Technical studies on the impacts of transverse barriers and sediment transport. 
•    Proposals for measures in selected locations (e.g., Želivka SCI). 
•    Updating data on migration barriers and proposals for improving the status of protected species.

3. Protection of wild birds on power lines
•    Implementation of measures to reduce bird mortality on power lines.
•    Securing high-risk infrastructure elements and problematic sections.
•    Development of methodologies, mapping tools and databases to identify high-risk locations.
•    Proposals for procedures to protect sensitive species (e.g., white stork).

Project activities

•    Updating the habitat layer for selected specially protected species of large mammals using remote sensing and connectivity models.
•    Identifying critical migration bottlenecks and compiling “critical site maps” with proposals for reducing fragmentation.
•    Supporting the protection of migration routes in land-use planning (revisions and legislative documentation).
•    Monitoring of aquatic organisms using modern genetic methods (eDNA, DNA barcoding). 
•    Mapping of migration barriers and small hydropower plants, including the assessment of their impact on river passability.
•    Proposing a methodology for ecological residual flows and assessment of the impact of small hydropower plants. 
•    Preparation of studies on river passability and updating the national concept for barrier removal.
•    Protection of birds on power lines, including securing high-voltage sections at risk.
•    Creation of a map of priority risk sites and a database for targeted measures.
•    Solutions for the safe nesting of white storks on low-voltage poles.
•    Pilot projects on ecological management in power line protection zones.
•    Operation of an information portal on watercourses and presentation of project outputs.
•    Organisation of national and international workshops.

Project benefits

•    Significant enhancement of biodiversity and reduction of landscape fragmentation by improving landscape connectivity and restoring ecological links.
•    Development of new methodological approaches and guidelines for nature conservation and water management.
•    Reduction of the genetic isolation of populations and support for species migration through ecological corridors in accordance with the EU Biodiversity Strategy. 
•    Contribution to the creation of an ecological network in the Carpathians in accordance with the Carpathian Convention.
•    Improving the ecological status of watercourses in accordance with the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), including their migratory passability and morphological condition.
•    Strengthening the consideration of migratory passability and the condition of watercourses in water management planning (e.g., in river basin plans).
•    Long-term usability of outputs for public administration and nature conservation.
•    Increasing professional capacity and public awareness through education, outreach and the sharing of best practices.
•    Promoting sustainable tourism, including visitor management and improved public awareness.
•    Strengthening the balance between nature conservation and recreational use of the area.