About this place
Na Oklice is a small but ecologically significant nature reserve set on a gently sloping, south-facing hillside near the village of Milíčov in the Jihlava District, within the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic. The reserve sits in the spring catchment of the Milíčovský stream, at an elevation ranging from 640 to 668 metres above sea level, and covers a total area of 32.27 hectares. It was formally declared a protected nature reserve in 1997.
What makes this site special?
The reserve was established to protect a rare complex of slope spring peatlands — wetland habitats fed directly by groundwater emerging on a hillside, rather than by a river or lake. What sets Na Oklice apart is that its water regime has remained essentially undisturbed by human activity. This is unusual: across Central Europe, most comparable peatland sites have been altered by drainage, agricultural land-use changes, or infrastructure development. Because the natural hydrology here has been preserved so well, Na Oklice is considered one of the highest-quality peatland localities in the entire Vysočina Region.
Where exactly is it located?
The reserve lies southwest of the Na Oklice homestead, from which it takes its name, within the spring area of the Milíčovský stream close to the village of Milíčov. Administratively, it falls under the Jihlava District in the Vysočina Region. The site is managed by the Regional Authority of the Vysočina Region (Krajský úřad Kraje Vysočina), meaning oversight is handled at the regional rather than national level.
Why does the undisturbed water regime matter?
Slope spring peatlands are among the most sensitive wetland habitats, since their survival depends on a constant, uninterrupted supply of groundwater. Any disruption to the surrounding hydrology — such as road construction, drainage ditches, or changes in nearby land management — can permanently damage the delicate balance that sustains these ecosystems. Because Na Oklice has escaped this kind of interference, it functions as a benchmark site: a reference point for scientists and conservationists assessing the condition of other, more heavily altered peatlands across the region.
How large is the protected area?
At 32.27 hectares, the reserve is modest in size, yet large enough to encompass the entire core peatland complex together with its spring zone. The elevation range within the reserve, from 640 to 668 metres, reflects the gentle slope on which the peatland has developed. This gradual incline supports a slow but steady movement of groundwater downhill, which in turn maintains the consistently saturated conditions the peatland habitat requires.
Frequently asked questions
When was Na Oklice given protected status? The area was declared a nature reserve in 1997.
What type of habitat does the reserve protect? It protects a complex of slope spring peatlands developed on a gentle, south-facing hillside in the spring catchment of the Milíčovský stream.
Where is the reserve located? Southwest of the Na Oklice homestead, near the village of Milíčov, in the Jihlava District of the Vysočina Region, Czech Republic, at an elevation of 640–668 metres.
How big is the protected area? The reserve covers 32.27 hectares.
Who manages the site? It is managed by the Regional Authority of the Vysočina Region.
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