The exemption is necessary for any handling of specimens of the species, including dead specimens and parts thereof, and interventions in the habitat of specially protected species. Specially protected animals and plants are also protected dead.
Specially protected animals are protected at all stages of their development. The natural and artificial settlements used by them and their habitat are protected. It is forbidden to harmfully interfere with the natural development of specially protected animals, in particular to catch, keep them in captivity, disturb, injure or kill them. It is not allowed to collect, destroy, damage or relocate their developmental stages or settlements used by them. It is forbidden to hold, breed, transport, sell, exchange, offer for sale or exchange.
The habitat of the species is the local environment that meets the demands characteristic of plant and animal species.
Specially protected plants are protected in all their underground and above-ground parts and all developmental stages. Their habitat is also protected. It is forbidden to collect, tear, dig, damage, destroy or otherwise disturb these plants in development. They shall also be prohibited from being held, grown, transported, sold, exchanged or offered for sale or exchange. Such protection shall not apply to a specially protected plant when it grows in culture.
For species protected at national level:
For species protected at European level:
At the same time, the authorisation of the exemption must be:
You intend to engage in an activity that is subject to prohibitions resulting from species protection.
This is a prior consent, which must be requested at least 60 days in advance (ideally 90 days) before the planned implementation.
You must submit to the Nature Conservation Authority an application containing the general requirements laid down in the Code of Administrative Procedure.
You will also submit project documentation of the project, which you submit as part of the permit-granting procedure under other legislation, or other similar documentation that will make it possible to assess the subject matter of the application. That documentation shall include, in particular:
a) information on the exact location and scope of the project, the investor and the person who prepared the project documentation of the project,
b) a detailed description of the technical and technological solution, consisting in particular in a description of the character of the project, justification of the location of the project in terms of the interests protected by this Act, including an overview of the options considered and the main reasons for their selection or rejection, from the point of view of nature and landscape protection,
c) information on the date of commencement of the implementation of the project and its completion, the duration of operation and the date of possible liquidation of the project,
d) information on inputs and outputs and the resulting expected effects of the project on the surrounding nature and landscape at the time of implementation, operation and eventual liquidation of the project,
e) an opinion of the nature protection authority on the significance of the effects of concepts and projects on European significant sites or bird areas or an assessment of the effects of a project on the subject of protection or the integrity of a European important site or bird area, unless it is a direct request for such an opinion, and an assessment of the effects of the planned intervention under Parts Two, Three and Five of the Nature and Landscape Protection Act, if required under this Act;
f) technical drawings and map documentation.
In addition, you will provide the following details of the project in the application, if they are not already part of the project documentation:
a) the characteristics of the state of nature and landscape in the area concerned which are likely to be significantly affected by the project, in particular the structure and character of the landscape, its geomorphology and hydrology, ecosystems and their components, habitats of species, parts of the territory and species protected under the Nature and Landscape Conservation Act, in particular significant landscape features, territorial systems of ecological stability of the landscape, special protection areas, protection zones of special protection areas, natural parks, sites of European importance, bird areas, birds or specially protected species of flora and fauna;
b) the characteristics of possible effects and an estimate of their significance in terms of probability, duration, frequency and reversibility;
c) a proposal for measures to prevent, eliminate and reduce any significant adverse effects on nature and a description of the compensations, if possible with regard to the project;
d) enumeration and detailed explanation of the reasons for granting consent or permission for exemption in the case of an activity prohibited under the Nature and Landscape Protection Act, in accordance with this Act.
If you request a joint decision, you will also attach a single environmental opinion, if it is part of a project impact assessment under the Environmental Impact Assessment Act.
The application does not have a prescribed form, so it is written in free form.
You can send a request for derogation from the prohibitions for specially protected plant or animal species via the data box to the locally competent nature protection authority in whose territorial area you intend to implement the project. If the project is not located in any of the specially protected areas listed below, this authority is the regional authority. Contacts for individual regional authorities can be found on the Public Administration Portal.
This does not apply if it is located in one of the following territories:
National parks and their protection zones - here you apply to the National Park Administration:
Protected landscape areas - here you submit your application to the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, or to its regional office. This interactive map displays the contacts of the relevant regional workplace by clicking on the affected part of the territory.
National natural monuments, national nature reserves and their protection zones - here you apply to the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, or to its regional office. This interactive map displays the contacts of the relevant regional workplace by clicking on the affected part of the territory.
Nature reserves and natural monuments and their protection zones (outside the Protected Landscape Area – PLA) – here you submit your application to the Regional Authority. Contacts for individual regional authorities can be found on the Public Administration Portal.
Nature reserves and natural monuments and their protection zones (in the Protected Landscape Area – PLA) – here you submit your application to the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, or to its regional office. This interactive map displays the contacts of the relevant regional workplace by clicking on the affected part of the territory.
Military uyezds – here you apply to the uyezd office:
You must submit to the Nature Conservation Authority an application containing the general requirements laid down in the Code of Administrative Procedure.
You will also submit project documentation of the project, which you submit as part of the permit-granting procedure under other legislation, or other similar documentation that will make it possible to assess the subject matter of the application. That documentation shall include, in particular:
a) information on the exact location and scope of the project, the investor and the person who prepared the project documentation of the project,
b) a detailed description of the technical and technological solution, consisting in particular in a description of the character of the project, justification of the location of the project in terms of the interests protected by this Act, including an overview of the options considered and the main reasons for their selection or rejection, from the point of view of nature and landscape protection,
c) information on the date of commencement of the implementation of the project and its completion, the duration of operation and the date of possible liquidation of the project,
d) information on inputs and outputs and the resulting expected effects of the project on the surrounding nature and landscape at the time of implementation, operation and eventual liquidation of the project,
e) an opinion of the nature protection authority on the significance of the effects of concepts and projects on European significant sites or bird areas or an assessment of the effects of a project on the subject of protection or the integrity of a European important site or bird area, unless it is a direct request for such an opinion, and an assessment of the effects of the planned intervention under Parts Two, Three and Five of the Nature and Landscape Protection Act, if required under this Act;
f) technical drawings and map documentation.
In addition, you will provide the following details of the project in the application, if they are not already part of the project documentation:
a) the characteristics of the state of nature and landscape in the area concerned which are likely to be significantly affected by the project, in particular the structure and character of the landscape, its geomorphology and hydrology, ecosystems and their components, habitats of species, parts of the territory and species protected under the Nature and Landscape Conservation Act, in particular significant landscape features, territorial systems of ecological stability of the landscape, special protection areas, protection zones of special protection areas, natural parks, sites of European importance, bird areas, birds or specially protected species of flora and fauna;
b) the characteristics of possible effects and an estimate of their significance in terms of probability, duration, frequency and reversibility;
c) a proposal for measures to prevent, eliminate and reduce any significant adverse effects on nature and a description of the compensations, if possible with regard to the project;
d) enumeration and detailed explanation of the reasons for granting consent or permission for exemption in the case of an activity prohibited under the Nature and Landscape Protection Act, in accordance with this Act.
If you request a joint decision, you will also attach a single environmental opinion, if it is part of a project impact assessment under the Environmental Impact Assessment Act.
The application does not have a prescribed form, so it is written in free form.
You can submit an application for exemption from the prohibitions for specially protected species of plants or animals in person or send it by post to the locally competent nature protection authority in whose territorial area you intend to carry out the project. If the project is not located in any of the specially protected areas listed below, this authority is the regional authority. Contacts for individual regional authorities can be found on the Public Administration Portal.
This does not apply if it is located in one of the following territories:
National parks and their protection zones - here you apply to the National Park Administration:
Protected landscape areas - here you submit your application to the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, or to its regional office. This interactive map displays the contacts of the relevant regional workplace by clicking on the affected part of the territory.
National natural monuments, national nature reserves and their protection zones - here you apply to the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, or to its regional office. This interactive map displays the contacts of the relevant regional workplace by clicking on the affected part of the territory.
Nature reserves and natural monuments and their protection zones (outside the Protected Landscape Area – PLA) – here you submit your application to the Regional Authority. Contacts for individual regional authorities can be found on the Public Administration Portal.
Nature reserves and natural monuments and their protection zones (in the Protected Landscape Area – PLA) – here you submit your application to the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, or to its regional office. This interactive map displays the contacts of the relevant regional workplace by clicking on the affected part of the territory.
Military uyezds – here you apply to the uyezd office:
The protection of specially protected plant and animal species is important from a wide range of perspectives, such as:
Biodiversity maintenance: Biodiversity is like the balance of nature, where all species in the world work together to keep the population in balance and protect our planet's ecosystems.
Environmental health indicators: Endangered species can also serve as indicators of environmental health. When populations decline, it can signal underlying issues such as habitat destruction, pollution, or climate change.
Fighting climate change: Climate change is closely linked to biodiversity loss. Therefore, the protection - and restoration - of biodiversity ecosystems is essential in the fight against climate change.
Economic impacts: Protecting endangered species can also have economic impacts, for example through ecotourism.
Health benefits: Some endangered species can provide valuable resources for human populations, including potential therapeutic discoveries.
Ethical and Emotional Reasons: There is also a moral responsibility to protect endangered species.
Education and awareness: Conservation of endangered species can also contribute to scientific research and education.
Technological innovation: Protecting endangered species can lead to technological innovations in nature conservation.
Legal and policy frameworks: The protection of endangered species is often supported by legal and policy framework documents.
Thus, the protection of specially protected species of flora and fauna under the Nature and Landscape Protection Act has many benefits for society, and the carrying out of activities covered by the prohibitions resulting from species protection can therefore be permitted in very exceptional cases.
If you do not agree with the nature protection authority's decision on your application, you can appeal against the decision issued therein to a superior administrative authority through the nature protection authority that issued the decision.
Interference with the natural development of specially protected plant species without or in contravention of a valid exception risks:
Destruction of a specially protected plant of a critically or strongly endangered species or causing its death by interfering with its environment risks:
Interference with the natural development of specially protected animal species, their injury, behaviour without valid exception or in violation of it threatens:
The direct killing of a specially protected animal classified as directly endangered or causing its death by tampering with their environment or catching specially protected animals is at risk of:
The direct killing of a specially protected animal classified as critically or strongly endangered directly or causing its death by tampering with their environment or catching specially protected animals is at risk of:
In the Nature Conservation Finding Database, you can obtain approximate information on whether findings of specially protected species of plants and animals have been made in the site.
However, the database is not, nor can it be, a complete list of sites where specially protected species occur.
In case you believe that special protected species may be present on the site, you can contact the nature protection authority responsible for granting the species exemption and request prior information on the obligations within the target site.
What does it mean? Cookies are tiny data files that are used for example to remember your settings on our web, your interests and to improve the web in general. For storing different kinds of cookies we need your consent. Web will be fully funcitonal without the consent, but a little bit better with it.
When you visit our websites from domain gov.cz we use the following types of cookies. You can choose whether you consent to all of them or just a selection. You can change here your previously given consent at any time.