
Forest grazing starts at Želivka SCI to restore Minuartia smejkalii habitat
After almost two years of efforts, conservationists of ČOP Vlašim obtained all the necessary permits and started with forest grazing of sheep in the SCI Želivka to restore the habitats of critically endangeres Minuartia Smejkalii.

Endemic sandwort returning back to nature
Botanical Institute and ČSOP Vlašim planted 1500 seedlings of the critically endangered Sandwort at the project site in the SCI Želivka making a crucial step to save the endemic species Minuartia smejkalii.

Population of Minuartia growing as a result of the project interventions
Management interventions carried out at the Želivka SCI so far resulted in 138 new bunches of Minuartia smejkalii sprouted at the project sites.

Plants from Hrnčíře population planted on rocks in gardens
Last year not enough sandworts had sprouted so the rocks we prepared for the Hrnčíře population were left without plants. Now we managed to gorw sufficient number of sandworts so they could be planted on the rocks.

Information about Rescue planting in private gardens published in The Nature Conservation Forum
The article about the new program Rescue planting in private gardens was published in the journal The Nature Conservation Forum. In the article you can learn, how this program works in Switzerland and how we will adapt it for the circumstances of the Czech Republic.
On-line version is available here. (in Czech)
The whole journal is available here (in Czech)

Artwork and literary competition in the occasion of the Earth Day
The artwork and literary competition is aimed on the topic Nature in the Czech Republic – NATURA 2000. The works should focus on endangered plant and animal species or natural habitats in the Czech Republic protected through the Natura 2000 network and on various methods for their protection (e.g. management interventions on localities).
The deadline is 6/4/2018.

Minuartia plants in the Botanical garden already started to be flowering
Thanks to untraditionally warm winter Minuartia plants that were transplated to the Botanical Garden of the Science Faculty of Prague’s Charles University (Botanical Garden UK) within the program of Rescue planting, already started to be flowering.
More information are here.

The report about the Minuartia smejkalii rescue effort was broadcasted in the Czech Television – program CT:D
The report on the rescue effort of Minuartia smejkalii in the Christian Kindergarten and Primary School Archa in Petroupim was broadcast in the Czech Television News - program CT:D “Zprávičky” (Little News).
You can see the report here - timing 2:47 - 3:20.

Pupils of the Christian Kindergarten and Primary School Archa in Petroupim rescue Minuartia smejkalii
Pupils of the Christian Kindergarten and Primary School Archa in Petroupim with their families planted plants of Minuartia smejkalii into the built-up rockery in their school garden within the School Ceremony of Stands. They have joined the network of growers within developing program of “Rescue planting in private gardens”. In the following years, pupils will monitor the growth of plants and collect the seeds that will serve in the future to return the species to nature in the event of its extinction.
You can view the report here.

Minuartia plants flourish well on the rocks in private gardens
Even though it is already mid-December, Minuartia plants planted in the rockeries within the program of “Rescue Planting in private gardens” are still growing nicely and they flourish well. The photos were taken at school garden of Primary School and Kindergarten Archa in Petroupim.