The UWB hosts an exhibition on healthy landscapes and projects that return water to nature

Exmoor ponies, water returning to the landscape, and a former tank training area turned wildlife refuge. From today, you can visit the Healthy Landscape exhibition on the University of West Bohemia campus, showcasing the restoration of natural processes in the landscape.

The exhibition Healthy Landscape, on loan from the Pilsen Region, presents examples of measures that help improve the condition of the Czech landscape, retain water, and restore natural processes. From 18 October to 20 November, the panels are displayed in front of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and the Faculty of Economics at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen (UWB).

At the exhibition’s opening on Monday, 20 October, Jiří Preis, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Economics at UWB, said that the faculty involves both students and teachers in landscape-related projects: “A university should not only be a place of education and research, but also of knowledge transfer to the community. Such activities offer hope for the future and for generations to come.”

Following the opening, an expert session featured regional case studies and discussions with UWB students. Eva Volfová from the Research Institute for Landscape and a guarantor of the project and landscape policy at the Ministry of the Environment, reminded that Healthy Landscape was launched five years ago to systematically restore natural processes and retain water in the landscape. “The Pilsen Region is now among the most active in this field. We focus on returning space for water and nature to the landscape and transforming agriculture and forestry, which have long placed a burden on it,” she said. Volfová also emphasized the role of landscape in mitigating the effects of climate change: “When we improve soil quality, CO₂ storage increases. The landscape has suffered much damage, and now it’s time to return that space to nature.”

Jakub Rataj from the Water Management Department of the Pilsen Regional Authority spoke about cooperation between the region and the university. “We work with the University of West Bohemia on students’ theses, Science and Technology Days, and Healthy Landscape projects,” he said, adding that the current project aims to implement as many on-the-ground measures as possible. Funding comes mainly from EU funds via the State Environmental Fund and from municipalities and project implementers.

Jan Kopp from the Department of Geography, Faculty of Economics at UWB, presented the involvement of students in mapping stakeholders engaged in landscape care and in writing bachelor’s and master’s theses focused on fostering cooperation between municipalities and institutions.

One lecture was given by Ondřej Peksa from the West Bohemian Museum, a naturalist and manager of the former military training area at Šlovický vrch near Dobřany. He described how natural processes were restored in this area, now a nature monument hosting many protected species, including the yellow-bellied toad. “Across 40 hectares, there are 550 species of vascular plants and 55 species of butterflies. It’s an area of exceptional biodiversity, especially in the context of West Bohemia,” said Peksa. He also outlined how the site became overgrown after the army’s departure, losing valuable habitats, and how change began after 2014 when the city started cooperating with experts and local organizations.

Today, Šlovický vrch combines Exmoor pony grazing with activities that sustain the landscape – from sports events to environmental education. “It’s a mosaic of habitats and approaches. To make it work, you must communicate with everyone, from conservationists to athletes and politicians. Once maintenance stops, everything falls apart,” concluded Peksa.

Finally, Zdeněk Myslík from the Czech Nature and Landscape Protection Agency (AOPK) discussed the impact of human activity—and inactivity—on the landscape, using examples from the western border region, especially the Český les area. He illustrated changes after the post-war expulsion of the German population with historical photos and maps, noting both the positive effects of the Iron Curtain, such as increased space for nature, and the negatives, including the overgrowth of valuable meadows and the construction of so-called signálky—asphalt patrol roads along the border, where vegetation-free strips were deliberately maintained.