The Šumava NP (established in 1991; 68,064 ha), is the largest national park in the Czech Republic, and together with the Bavarian Forest NP, a transboundary partner, constitutes the largest cross-border forested protected area in Central Europe. It is also the largest Natura 2000 site in the country; 9 bird species are protected in SPA Šumava and 21 habitats of Annex I of Habitats Directive together with 11 species of Annex II of Habitats Directive are protected in SCI Šumava.Forests together with peat bogs, glacial lakes and mountain meadows are the most important habitats in this area. This transboundary area is also home to several iconic species, such as lynx, wolf, moose, capercaillie or freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera), each of which now occurs in few viable populations in Central Europe.
We will meet on Saturday evening to get to know each other and prepare for a Sunday day field trip. On Sunday morning, we will start in the Czech-Austrian-Bavarian tri-border region, where old-growth montane spruce forests occur. Natural disturbances (windstorms, bark beetle outbreaks) strongly affected this area during the last decades and we can talk about different management concepts (non-intervention in CZ, logging in A), old-growth forests, natural regeneration of spruceforests, capercaillies etc. A border trail brings at the Pleckenstein (1374 m a.s.l.) from where from where we descend to the shore of the glacial lake (LTER site) and we will continue through montane mixed forests to the Upper Vltava Valley (large wetland complex, pearl mussel habitat). On Monday, we will talk about restoration projects and visit a restored peat bog. We will come back to Prague on Monday afternoon.
Sunday trip 19 km, natural trail + forest road
Accommodation will be provided in this hotel
(full board = breakfasts, lunches and dinners provided)
https://www.kristian1000.cz
Price: 280 EUR (7000 CZK) in double room, supplement for single room + 2000 CZK (80 EUR)
Date: Saturday, 20th August, 4 PM (16:00) - Monday, 22nd August, 4 PM (16:00)
Intructions for this trip