About this place
U spálené is a small forest nature reserve in the Olomouc district of Moravia, Czech Republic, located within the Litovelské Pomoraví Protected Landscape Area. It lies near the village of Medlov, in the Hanušovická vrchovina hills, at an elevation of 245 to 260 metres above sea level. The reserve covers 23.41 hectares and is administered by the Nature and Landscape Protection Agency of the Czech Republic (AOPK ČR), specifically through its regional office, the Litovelské Pomoraví Protected Landscape Area Administration. It is listed in the Czech register of protected areas under reference number 1699 and is classified as IUCN Category IV, meaning a habitat and species management area.
When was the reserve established?
Legal protection for this site was established on 15 June 1994. Since then, the area has been managed under a special protective regime aimed at preserving the natural character of the forest and the plant and animal life associated with it.
What does U spálené protect?
The main reason for creating the reserve is the preservation of a natural forest community known as a "bezkolencová habřina" — an oak-hornbeam forest type that develops without purple moor-grass (Molinia) in its understorey. Forest communities of this kind have become increasingly rare in the region, since most lowland and submontane forests in the Czech Republic were converted into managed monocultures in past decades. The presence of a well-developed, near-natural oak-hornbeam stand makes this patch of forest a valuable element of the local natural landscape.
Where is the reserve located?
The area lies within the Hanušovická vrchovina geographical region, inside the wider Litovelské Pomoraví Protected Landscape Area, which is known for its network of wetlands, former river branches and floodplain forests along the Morava River. The reserve's coordinates are approximately 49°45' N, 17°01' E, with the village of Medlov in the Olomouc district serving as the nearest reference point.
Who manages the site?
The reserve is overseen by the Nature and Landscape Protection Agency of the Czech Republic (AOPK ČR), through its field unit, the Administration of the Litovelské Pomoraví Protected Landscape Area. This body is responsible for monitoring the condition of the forest, carrying out any necessary conservation management, and ensuring that protection rules are respected within the site.
Frequently asked questions
How large is the U spálené reserve? The reserve covers an area of 23.41 hectares.
Since when has the area been protected? Protected status has applied since 15 June 1994.
What type of forest does the reserve protect? It protects a natural oak-hornbeam forest of the "bezkolencová habřina" type.
At what elevation is the reserve located? The reserve lies at an elevation of between 245 and 260 metres above sea level.
Who administers the reserve? It is administered by the Nature and Landscape Protection Agency of the Czech Republic through the Litovelské Pomoraví Protected Landscape Area Administration.
What IUCN category does the reserve belong to? The reserve is classified under IUCN Category IV, as a habitat and species management area.
Given its modest size and the specialised nature of the forest community it protects, U spálené is a site of interest primarily to those exploring the natural landscapes of the Litovelské Pomoraví region and the deciduous forests of central Moravia, rather than a typical mass-tourism destination.
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