A total of eight projects aimed at promoting sustainable tourism and biodiversity in the Czech Republic have received funding of CZK 1.08 billion from the second phase of the Swiss-Czech Cooperation Programme. Their official implementation was launched on Wednesday, April 23, in Prague at a meeting between representatives of the Ministry of the Environment and the project implementers. The goal of the supported projects is to implement systemic solutions for the protection of areas of natural value and to strengthen the resilience of the Czech landscape to human activity and climate change.

The Sustainable Tourism and Enhancing Biodiversity Programme is funded by the second Swiss contribution and builds on the long-standing and high-quality cooperation between the Czech Republic and the Swiss Confederation. A total of CZK 1.08 billion has been allocated to the environment sector under the programme, of which CZK 922 million comes from the Swiss contribution and CZK 162 million from national co-financing.

Not only is the focus of the projects diverse, but so is the list of their implementers. These include central government organizations and agencies, national park administrations, regions and municipalities, public research institutions and universities, as well as private-sector entities. The broad spectrum of beneficiaries is a major strength of the programme, as it allows for the integration of strategic management, technical expertise, and detailed knowledge of local conditions and regional needs.

Under the Sustainable Tourism pillar, projects were selected that focus on systematic visitor management in areas of high natural value, particularly in light of the extreme strain placed on ecosystems by excessive tourism. The pillar focused on enhancing biodiversity supports projects aimed at reducing the impact of landscape fragmentation caused by human activity on ecosystems.

The goal is not merely the successful implementation of individual projects, but above all the creation of sustainable solutions that will bring about real and measurable change in approaches to biodiversity conservation and tourism management.

The Sustainable Tourism and Enhancing Biodiversity programme, part of the Swiss Contribution II, naturally aligns with the Czech Republic’s long-term priorities in the areas of landscape conservation, climate change adaptation, and the development of sustainable tourism that respects the region’s limits and the needs of local communities.

More information: https://mzp.gov.cz/cz/pro-media-a-verejnost/aktuality/archiv-tiskovych-zprav/svycarske-fondy-podpori-udrzitelny-0