The Bílé Karpaty (or ‘White Carpathians’) Biosphere Reserve is an area of hills and uplands in the north-west of the Carpathian massif at the border to Slovakia. It was designated as biosphere reserve as it represents a cultural landscape with a rich biodiversity and traditional land use systems. Extensive species-rich orchid meadows (4,000 hectares), near-natural deciduous forests, old orchards and solitary fruit-trees form an integral part of the Bílé Karpaty landscape.
Description
Map
Surface : 71,500 ha
- Core area(s): N/A
- Buffer zone(s): N/A
- Transition zone(s): N/A
Location: N/A
Administrative Authorities
Ivana Jongepierová
Biosphere Reserve Coordinator
Protected Landscape Area and Biosphere Reserve Administration
Bartolomejské nám. 47
CZ-698 01 Veselí nad Moravou
Tel.: (420) 518 324 792
E-mail: ivana.jongepierova@nature.cz
Ecological Characteristics
The Bílé Karpaty (White Carpathians) BR is a low-mountainous area stretching out along the border between the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The area is particularly valuable for its species-rich grasslands, which cover over 4000 ha.
They host many orchids and other rare plant species, and attract a large number of insects. Its high level of biodiversity is ascribed to its position, enabling a blending of Carpathian and Pannonian species, in combination with long-term sustainable grassland management by the local people. Meadow orchards are a significant part of the landscape and its biodiversity.
They host a wide range of different old and local fruit cultivars. Other important habitats are old-growth beech forests and oakhornbeam forests. The area is rich in traditions and living folklore.
Socio-Economic Characteristics
Agriculture, forestry, hunting, small industries, scientific research, tourism, collecting herbs and mushrooms.
Back to Biosphere Reserves in Czech Republic
Back to Biosphere Reserves in Europe & North America
Back to World Network of Biosphere Reserves
Last updated: April 2019