Sumava National Park: response from minister
Many people who have taken action have received a reply from Tomáš Chalupa, the Minister of the Environment. Here is his translated response.
Dear ...,
I truly appreciate your trust and I would like to thank you for your e-mail. I can assure you that - just like you - I am not indifferent to the destiny
of Šumava National Park and that it is my principal objective to find a long-term solution that will be beneficial to the local inhabitants as well as to the protection of the environment.
In my opinion, the basic condition without which no constructive solution can be found is a dialogue. Therefore, my Ministry has already begun
discussions with the representatives of the local towns and regions, with MPs and senators as well as with the representatives of both largest civil initiatives, i.e. Zachraňme Šumavu and ŠumavaPro, and scientists.
I believe that the new law will be of benefit to all the parties involved. All citizens - not only selected interest groups - must be able to use the
national park.
That is the only way to preserve and improve the environment in the Šumava area and, above all, to create long-term harmony between the interconnected lives of people and nature.
Yours sincerely,
Tomáš Chalupa
Minister of the Environment
we say...
In response Friends of the Earth Czech Republic are clear that no new law is needed. Ministers should respect that Sumava is a national park of international importance recognised by various international bodies as a home to endangered plants and animals.
The forests in the park are non intervention areas (strictly protected) and we, along with other environmental organisations will continue to urge the Czech authorities to halt the logging immediately and permanently.
