10.2478/v10285-012-0046-8 Journal of Landscape Ecology (2012), Vol: 5 / No. 1. 14 CZECH APPROACH TO IMPLEMENTATION OF ECOLOGICAL NETWORK ANTONÍN BUČEK, PETR MADċRA, LUBOŠ ÚRADNÍČEK Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry, Department of Forest Botany, Dendrology and Geobiocoenology, Zemědělská 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic, email: bucek@ mendelu.cz, petrmad@mendelu.cz, uradnic@mendelu.cz Received: 25 th April 2012, Accepted: 13 th June 2012 ABSTRACT An ecological network in the landscape consists of all existing and proposed landscape segments of ecological significance that can contribute to the conservation of landscape biodiversity. The concept of creation of territorial systems of ecological stability applied in the Czech Republic corresponds to the latest landscape ecological knowledge and landscape planning procedures used abroad. Biocorridors interconnect biocentres thus enable migration, interactions and permeability of landscape for organisms. Unlike biocentres, they don’t need to provide for a permanent existence of all species of the represented communities. Thanks to the interconnection of biocentres by means of biocorridors there is an ecological network forming in the landscape. Development of the local biocorridor Vracov and the regional biocorridor VČstonice in south Moravia is presented. Key words: ecological network, biocorridor development, primary succesion INTRODUCTION An ecological network in the landscape consists of all existing and proposed landscape segments of ecological significance that can contribute to the conservation of landscape biodiversity. Cultural landscapes are often miss a sufficient amount of these stabilizing elements. The observation became a basis for the Czech concept of creation of territorial systems of ecological stability in landscape as an integrated network of interconnected patches providing at least minimal spatial conditions for conservation of biodiversity (Buček, Lacina 1992). These ecologically significant landscape segments (territorial systems of ecological stability) are by their function subdivided into biocentres, biocorridors, buffer zones and interacting elements, and by their biogeographical significance (size, degree of biodiversity, representativeness, rarity or occurrence of endangered species and communities) classified at the following levels: local, regional, supra-regional, provincial, biospherical (Buček, Lacina 1996). Territorial systems of ecological stability in landscape are proposed according to five basic criteria: diversity of potential natural ecosystems, spatial relationship of biota in the landscape, spatial parameters, current state of the landscape, socioeconomic limits and intentions (Buček, Lacina, Míchal 1996).