# Protected areas of the Czech Republic

There are several types of protected areas of the Czech Republic. The main form of landscape protection is delimitation of special protected areas. All the types of protected areas are determined by law.

## Special protected areas

There are six types of special protected areas distinguished by their size and importance. The types of large-scale protected areas are national park and protected landscape area; the types of small-scale protected areas are national nature reserve, nature reserve, national nature monument, and nature monument.

### National park

National park (Czech: národní park, abbreviated as NP) are defined as a large areas with a typical relief and geological structure and a predominant occurrence of natural or man-made ecosystems, unique and significant on a national or international scale in terms of ecology, science, education or awareness. They are established by the Czech Government. As of 2021, there were four national parks in the Czech Republic:
| Short name | Full name | Established | Area | Area | Protective zone area | Protective zone area |
| Krkonoše | Krkonošský národní park (KRNAP) | 1963 | 363.27 km$^2$ | 140.26 sq mi | 186.42 km$^2$ | 71.98 sq mi |
| Podyjí | Národní park Podyjí | 1991 | 63 km$^2$ | 24 sq mi | 29 km$^2$ | 11 sq mi |
| Šumava | Národní park Šumava | 1991 | 685.2 km$^2$ | 264.6 sq mi | 944.8 km$^2$ | 364.8 sq mi $^*$ |
| Bohemian Switzerland | Národní park České Švýcarsko | 2000 | 79 km$^2$ | 31 sq mi | | |
| $^*$ The Šumava Protective Zone constitutes the Šumava PLA |||||||

### Protected landscape area

Protected landscape area (abbreviated PLA; Czech: chráněná krajinná oblast, abbreviated CHKO) is a large area of harmonic landscape with a typical relief, with a considerable share of natural forest and permanent grassy ecosystems, there can also be preserved human settlement monuments. They are established by the Czech Government. As of 2021 there were 26 protected landscape areas in the Czech Republic:
| Czech name | English translation | Established | Area | Area |
| Český ráj | Bohemian Paradise | 1955 | 181.52 km$^2$ | 70.09 sq mi |
| Moravský kras | Moravian Karst | 1956 | 92 km$^2$ | 36 sq mi |
| Šumava | Bohemian Forest | 1963 | 944.8 km$^2$ | 364.8 sq mi |
| Jizerské hory | Jizera Mountains | 1968 | 368 km$^2$ | 142 sq mi |
| Jeseníky | Ash Mountains | 1969 | 740 km$^2$ | 286 sq mi |
| Orlické hory | Orlické Mountains | 1969 | 200 km$^2$ | 77 sq mi |
| Žďárské vrchy | Žďár Highlands | 1970 | 715 km$^2$ | 276 sq mi |
| Český kras | Bohemian Karst | 1972 | 132 km$^2$ | 51 sq mi |
| Labské pískovce | Elbe Sandstone Mountains | 1972 | 245 km$^2$ | 95 sq mi |
| Beskydy | Beskids | 1973 | 1,196.96 km$^2$ | 462.15 sq mi |
| Slavkovský les | Slavkov Forest | 1974 | 640 km$^2$ | 247 sq mi |
| České středohoří | Central Bohemian Uplands | 1976 | 1,070 km$^2$ | 413 sq mi |
| Kokořínsko – Máchův kraj | Kokořín Area – Mácha's Region | 1976 | 410 km$^2$ | 158 sq mi |
| Lužické hory | Lusatian Mountains | 1976 | 350 km$^2$ | 135 sq mi |
| Pálava | Pálava | 1976 | 70 km$^2$ | 27 sq mi |
| Křivoklátsko | Křivoklát Area | 1978 | 630 km$^2$ | 243 sq mi |
| Třeboňsko | Třeboň Basin | 1979 | 700 km$^2$ | 270 sq mi |
| Bílé Karpaty | White Carpathians | 1980 | 71.5 km$^2$ | 27.6 sq mi |
| Blaník | Blaník | 1981 | 40 km$^2$ | 15 sq mi |
| Blanský les | Blanský Forest | 1989 | 212.35 km$^2$ | 81.99 sq mi |
| Litovelské Pomoraví | Litovel Morava Basin | 1990 | 96 km$^2$ | 37 sq mi |
| Broumovsko | Broumov Area | 1991 | 410 km$^2$ | 158 sq mi |
| Poodří | Oder Basin | 1991 | 81.5 km$^2$ | 31.5 sq mi |
| Železné hory | Iron Mountains | 1991 | 380 km$^2$ | 147 sq mi |
| Český les | Upper Palatine Forest | 2005 | 470 km$^2$ | 181 sq mi |
| Brdy | Brdy | 2016 | 345 km$^2$ | 133 sq mi |
| Novohradské hory | Gratzen Mountains | pending | 219 km$^2$ | 85 sq mi |
| Střední Poohří | Central Ohře (Eger) Basin | pending | 240 km$^2$ | 93 sq mi |

### National nature reserve

National nature reserve (Czech: národní přírodní rezervace, abbreviated NPR) is a smaller area of exceptional nature value, where a typical relief of typical geological composition is combined with ecosystems important on an international or national level. They are established by the Czech Ministry of Environment.

### Nature reserve

Nature reserve (Czech: přírodní rezervace, abbreviated PR) is a smaller area with concentrated nature features and ecosystems typical for a given geographical region. They are established by the appropriate Regional Government (Czech: krajský úřad) or Management of a National Park or Landscape Protected Area.

### National nature monument

National Nature monument (Czech: národní přírodní památka, abbreviated as NPP) is a nature formation of a smaller area, usually geological or geomorphological formation, mineral or fossil collection locality or a habitat of endangered plants or animals in parts of ecosystems with a local environmental, scientific or esthetic importance. They are established by the Czech Ministry of Environment.

### Nature monument

Nature Monument (Czech: přírodní památka, abbreviated as PP) is a nature formation of a smaller area, usually geological or geomorphological formation, mineral or fossil collection locality or a habitat of endangered plants or animals in parts of ecosystems with an international or national environmental, scientific or esthetic importance. They are established by the appropriate Regional Government or Management of a national park or protected landscape area.

## Other forms of landscape protection
### Nature park

Nature park (Czech: přírodní park) is usually a large area serving the protection of a landscape against activities that could decrease its natural and esthetic value. They can be established by any State Environment Protection body.

### Memorable tree, group of trees or alley

Memorable tree, group of trees or alley (Czech: památný strom, skupina stromů nebo stromořadí) can be established by any State Environment Protection body.

### Notable landscape feature

Notable landscape feature (Czech: významný krajinný prvek) is usually a natural, cultural or historical feature typical for a given locality or region. They can be established by any State Environment Protection body.

### Specially protected species of plants and animals

Specially protected species of plants and animals (Czech: Zvláště chráněné druhy rostlin a živočichů) are those species or subspecies which are very rare, generally endangered, scientifically or culturally important. They are listed in a Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic regulation. As of 2025, there are 505 plant species, 27 mushroom species and 309 animal species on the list.