Territorial System of Ecological Stability as a regional example for Green Infrastructure planning in the Czech Republic

Abstract

The concept of Green Infrastructure (GI) is still relatively new in the Czech Republic. When looking at the definition of GI, one can recognise a relationship with the Czech Territorial System of Ecological Stability (TSES), which is defined as “an interconnected system of natural as well as modified semi-natural ecosystems keeping the natural balance”. TSES is a designed system and is an integral part of territorial plans. This article focuses on TSES and its relationship to GI, how it is implemented in a Czech case study representing intensively used agricultural region in South Moravia, what the main obstacles are to its implementation and how TSES can contribute to the connectivity of the landscape. Our results show that nearly two thirds of the planned TSES in the case study area already exist to some degree. There is a difference between the number and the area of existing TSES elements: the area of existing elements shows higher relative values than the number. This is mainly due to bio-centres that exist in large forest complexes and their pre-set minimal parameters. Creation of TSES elements increases connectivity of GI, especially those characterised as core areas and bridges

Keywords

• Green Infrastructure
• Territorial System of Ecological Stability
• Connectivity
• Czech Republic
• South Moravia