Šumava Protected Landscape Area

The Šumava Protected Landscape Area is one of the largest protected landscape zones in the Czech Republic, stretching along the country's southwestern border in the mountain range known internationally as the Bohemian Forest. It forms a ring around Šumava National Park, acting as its buffer zone, and together the two areas make up one of the most extensive forest complexes in Central Europe.

When was this area first protected?

The Protected Landscape Area was established in 1963. The designation reflected the exceptional condition of the local ecosystems — forests, peat bogs, and glacial lakes that had largely retained a natural or near-natural character. A national park had originally been considered for the site, but this was not politically feasible at the time, so the less restrictive Protected Landscape Area status was chosen instead.

How large is the protected area?

The Protected Landscape Area covers roughly 163,000 hectares, making it one of the more extensive designations of its kind in the country. Within its boundaries, alongside the national park itself, there are 89 nature reserves and natural monuments, spanning a combined area of more than 1,600 square kilometers.

What ecosystems does it contain?

The area represents ecosystems typical of a Central European mountain landscape. Forests dominate — both acidiphilous beech woodland and mountain spruce forest, which together cover nearly 84 percent of the total area. Beyond the forests, the landscape also includes glacial lakes, extensive peat bogs, and mountain meadows at various stages of natural ecological development. This mix of habitats supports numerous plant and animal species characteristic of Central European mountain regions.

Does the area hold any international recognition?

In 1990, Šumava was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, confirming the international significance of its natural environment and its role as a model for balancing environmental protection with human activity in the zones surrounding the most ecologically valuable core areas.

How does the protected area relate to the national park?

In 1991, nearly three decades after the Protected Landscape Area was created, Šumava National Park was established within its ecologically most valuable section. The surrounding Protected Landscape Area was not discontinued, however — it remains in place as a buffer zone around the park, providing a lighter form of protection for the land adjoining the region's most valuable natural core.

Frequently asked questions

Is Šumava Protected Landscape Area the same as Šumava National Park? No. The Protected Landscape Area is the larger territory surrounding the national park and functions as its buffer zone — the two designations coexist across adjoining land.

Since when has the area been protected? Formal protection as a designated landscape area has been in place since 1963.

What makes Šumava ecologically distinctive? Primarily its large share of well-preserved mountain forest, along with glacial lakes and extensive peat bogs that are uncommon at this scale elsewhere in Central Europe.

Does the area have any international designation? Yes, it has been recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1990.