Lower house backs extension of Kokořín national park

The lower house of parliament on Tuesday backed a proposal to extend the current Kokořín national park by extending the protected area to take in the former disused military base at Ralsko and locality around Doks. The government proposal counts on the protected status taking effect from September and providing an important impulse to regional tourism. Opposition lawmakers from TOP 09 and the ODS parties unsuccessfully called for more debate in committee. The area has around 160 rare species and the presence of wolves was recently signalled by photos taken of one animal.