Ancient Steppe Reborn Near Brno: Sheep Pastures to Return to Hádecká Planina

Conservationists near Brno have launched a large-scale restoration of a historic wood-pasture landscape on Hádecká planina — an area where sheep once grazed but which has since grown over with dense forest. Work has already begun and is set to continue until 2029.

According to ecologist Jurek, specialists will carry out radical thinning across the areas earmarked for restoration, removing nearly 80 percent of the current tree cover. The goal is to replace the thick woodland with open, light-filled forest featuring a rich grassy undergrowth.

The project has been split into several phases so that the landscape doesn't change too abruptly all at once. Following the first phase, further clearing will resume this autumn. But the biggest milestone is planned for next year: all necessary permits have now been secured from the regional forestry protection authority, and after a gap of several decades, sheep will once again graze on the planina. Grazing will become a permanent part of the area's long-term management.

Opening up the oak woodland is expected to create favourable conditions for a host of rare species. More light and space in the undergrowth should help endangered plants and animals survive and thrive. Ecologists hope the project will support populations of rare orchids, the purple viper's bugloss (hadinec nachový), and the Clouded Apollo butterfly, which faces the threat of complete extinction. The renewed habitat is also expected to provide refuge for the green lizard — the largest lizard species found in Czechia.

So far, the transformation covers only around a thirteenth of the total area of Hádecká planina. The restoration project runs until 2029, with ongoing maintenance and grazing to continue in the years that follow.

Read also: Brno: what to see and where to go

Around Prague, based on reporting by ekolist.cz