Post-Conference excursions

A brief description of the main sites to be visited.

All of the bus excursions start on Friday, September 14, at 14:00 from the congress site in České Budějovice; arrivals to the same site.

Prices are quoted per person. Shared room means that you will be sharing a room with another participant.

2. Restoration of grassland ecosystems in Hungary and Slovakia

Restoration in the Morava River floodplain near Gajary, Slovakia

The largest complex of Cnidion meadows in central Europe is located in the lower part of the Morava River floodplain in Slovakia, Austria and the Czech Republic. A major part of the floodplain grasslands, covering 1913 ha, is in Slovakia. Althouth most of the grasslands have been managed as meadows for many decades, some grasslands were ploughed in the 1970-80s and managed as intensively used arable land. Therefor the decision was made to restore 140 ha of floodplain meadows. The meadows were restored by using a local seed mixture combined with the application of turf transplantation. One site was restored only by re-introduction of mowing without any seed addition.

Wetland restoration sites in the Fertő-Hanság National Park, Hungary

The extent of marshlands in the Hanság Region decreased dramatically by the second half of the 19th century due to intensive drainage. Cessation of continuous water coverage, cultivation of the land, peat mining and artificial forestation are the main environmental problems of the Hanság. The main goals of wetland restoration in Hanság are to restore marsh vegetation, and create open water surfaces to ensure nesting sites and undisturbed feeding places for waterbirds. In 2001, wetland restoration by surface water flooding started on 420 hectares in Nyirkai-Hany. Water level and movement are regulated independently within the three parts of  the area. As a result of the restoration, standing water communities, marsh and fen habitats developed providing nesting and feeding places for waterbirds. The area became a wetland of international importance as defined by the Ramsar Convention in 2005. In Osli-Hany, surface water flooding was implemented in 2011. The natural geomorphological complexity of the area persisted and supports the development of  a heterogeneous habitat complex. Lake Fövenyes is an active peat mine, where spontaneous successional stages following abandonment of mining will be introduced to the participants.

Restoration experiments near Fülöpháza in the Kiskunság National Park, Hungary

Restoration trials of the past 15 years, carried out near the Fülöpháza Sand Dune Area in the Kiskunság National Park, will be introduced to the participants. Abandonment of agricultural fields in the 1980s resulted in degraded oldfields over a large extent. The natural regeneration of an open sand grassland community, a grassland association endemic to the Pannonian biogeographical region, is often constrained by the limited dispersal of specialist species, surplus nutrients in the soil, and the presence of invasive species (e.g. Robinia pseudoacacia, Asclepias syriaca, Ambrosia artemisiifolia). Different restoration methodologies (e.g. mowing, carbon amendment, seeding, invasive control)

Visiting the Egyek-Pusztakócs LIFE project restoration sites in Hortobágy, Hungary

The main aims of the LIFE project implemented between 2004 and 2008 were to restore Pannonic alkali steppes and marshes, and Pannonic loess steppic grasslands, two Natura 2000 priority habitat types, on 750 hectares of former cropland, to manage grasslands and marshes by grazing (2500 ha), mowing (400 ha) and fire management (120 ha) to increase  habitat diversity, and to decrease human disturbance and increase the naturalness of the landscape. Parts of the several restoration sites will be introduced to the participants.
On Tue, September 18, morning, travel from Budapest to České Budějovice via Prague airport. Expected arrival to Prague Airport 18:00 and to České Budějovice at about 21:00.

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3. Restoration of limestone quarries and dry grasslands in the eastern part of the Czech Republic

Hády

The southern slope of Hády hill near Brno is known as an important locality of thermophilous fauna and flora. During the 20th century, the main part of this area was almost destroyed by large limestone quarrying. The mining was finally terminated in 1997. The subsequent restoration of the abandoned quarry supported a significant increase in biodiversity. The return of its former species richness was realised completely – the current concentration of endangered species is comparable with areas in the Natura 2000 network in the surroundings.

Bílé Karpaty

The Bílé Karpaty Protected Landscape Area is well known for its large areas of species-rich grasslands with scattered trees, which belong to the richest of their kind in Europe. However, a large area of the meadows was ploughed up in the 1970s and 1980s. Recently more than 500 hectares at 35 sites have been regrassed using regional seed mixtures. Several nature reserves, some of the regrassed sites, as well as an orchard with old and local cultivars, will be shown (Žerotín near Strážnice, Čertoryje between Kněždub and Malá Vrbka, Zahrady pod Hájem near Velká nad Veličkou).

Váté písky, Vlčí hrdlo

Vátí pisky National Nature Monument is situated near Strážnice, along a railway.  These sands were blown out from the terraces of the Morava River during the Pleistocene.  Various successional stages can be found in open places, from sites supporting only therophytes and initial stages of grasslands (Corynephorion) to more developed grasslands with Festuca vaginata and Stipa borysthenica. Management includes regular removal of self-sown trees (mainly Scots pine), soil removal and elimination of invasive species (mainly Solidago gigantea). In the vicinity of this site, in the Morava River floodplain, a restoration project was started in 2008. Spontaneous succession from arable land to a wet meadow has taken place on a 10 hectare area.

Arrival to Prague Airport at about 18:00, and to České Budejovice 21:00, Sun 16 September.

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5. Natural and historical monuments of the Czech Republic - SOLD OUT

Slavonice

Slavonice is probably the best preserved renaissance town in the country. It is protected by law as a historical monument. In the centre of the town there are two squares surrounded by houses with nicely decorated façades, mostly with typical sgrafitto. The town was founded in the 2nd half of the 13th century on the important trading route between Prague and Vienna.

Telč

One of the most famous historical towns in the country protected by Czech law as a historical monument and as a UNESCO Heritage Site. In the centre of the town there is a large square surrounded only by historical buildings with renaissance, baroque and neo-classical façades. Small streets around the square still have the atmosphere of past times. Historically valuable are also the castle, the main church and a monastery at one end of the long square. The historical town is surrounded by fishponds built in the 16th century as a part of the defense system.

Český ráj (the Czech Paradise)

Probably the most unique landscape in the whole country which is not possible to see in such a form in any other parts of the World. The sandstone landscape is deeply eroded into a fine-scale system of steep rocks with valleys and gorges between. Because the sandstone is easily eroded, the surface of the rocks is often decorated by natural ‘ornaments‘. Microclimatic contrasts are responsible for the constrasting vegetation in deep, shaded and cold valleys versus dry and sunny tops of the rocks. Many castles and fortresses were built in the area mostly in the Middle Ages exploiting the natural protection of the rocks. A trip throughout is planned. During transport to České středohoří, a volcanic hills region, a short stop in one of the best preserved villages in the northern part of the country, with still preserved large wooden houses, is planned.

Lovoš

A steep hill with probably the most diverse vegetation mosaic in the country with a steppe on the south-western slope and various types of woodland elsewhere. The habitat diversity is supported by the fact that basalt, a basic bedrock, is in contact here with acidic phonolite. One of the best panoramic views in the country is from the top of the hill (hopefully, the weather will enable us to enjoy it).

Most

A valuable historical town was demolished due to brown coal mining in the 1970s and newly built up in the ugly socialistic style. The only monument which remained from the historical town is a large late gothic church, one of the most valuable monuments of this style in the country. The large church was transported as a whole by a special railway a distance of 841m from its original location to its new position in 1975. It was the heaviest object ever transported. A visit to the splendid interior is planned including seeing a documentary movie about the transport.

Arrival to Prague airport is planned on Sun September 16, at about 18:00 and then to České Budějovice at about 22:00 with a stop for dinner on the way.

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