An overview on avenues does not exist in Czech Republic. Most common kind of avenues are lime trees, ashes, maples, fruit trees (especially apple, cherry and pears), oaks and horse chestnuts. Czech avenues are mainly located along II. and III. class roads and along local roads. Many avenues are also leading to palaces, castles and churches and pilgrimage places.
Bystřice pod Hostýnem, Zlin region, plane | photo: Milan Barot
Protection
1984 road authorities regulation marked the first modern negative interference to the road tree avenues. Trees on the side of I. and II. class roads were defined as a solid obstruction of road traffic and should have been removed within a few years. As a result of this regulation as well as of restrictions on planting of new trees, there has been a significant decline of the tree avenues in the Czech countryside.
Law on the Protection of Nature and Landscape has been established In the Czech Republic in 1992. By then, all species under this provision are protected against damage and destruction. Care for trees, especially their treatment and maintenance is the responsibility of the owners. A permit is needed for felling trees. Cases which do not need a permission are established in the legal order as exceptions.
The 2013 regulation the protection of trees strengthened also the protection of the tree avenues. This regulation defines the tree avenue, stipulates the obligation to protect the tree avenue as a whole unit and to ask permission to cut down every tree in the tree avenue.
However, the interpretation of these provisions of the Ministry of transport is problematic. Road law defines traffic safety as a priority. Vegetation alongside roads is seen as a solid barrier. Road technical standards, although they are all except one not mandatory and only recommendatory, impose conditions, which would virtually make the restoration plantings along II. and III. class roads impossible. These are the roads where now most of the Czech tree avenues grow.
In 2014, the new Civil Code complicated the settlement of property relations arising from renewing tree avenues in a safe distance away from the road and from neighboring land.
Arboristic standards issued by the Environmental Protection Agency of the Czech Republic in 2014 mark a benefit for maintenance and renewal of tree avenues. They provide guidance for proper planting and care of trees based on current knowledge verified in practice. Some historical tree avenues are protected under Natura 2000 as habitats of protected species and therefore, their gradual recovery is ensured.
Lubenice, Olomouc region, pear | photo: Arnika
Plantings along II. and III. class roads (data from 2003 to 2014)
- More than 160,000 trees were removed and only about 98,000 trees were planted. In the last few years, the regional road maintenance slowly started to use the subsidies to restore tree avenues.
- For planting along local roads (municipality, citizens) and planting in the open land (citizens, NGO, farmers – very rare) there are no dates available.
Contact:
Arnika
Martin Skalsky
Director of Citizens Support Centre
Telephone: +420 775 168 026
Mail: martin.skalsky@arnika.org
Marcela Klemensova
Leader of Campaign Save the trees
Telephone: +420 777 104 230
Mail: marcela.klemensova@arnika.org
Website: www.aleje.org