Šumava logging rally held in Prague

Both the opponents and the supporters of logging of bark beetle-infested trees in the Šumava National Park staged a rally in front of the Environment Ministry in Prague on Friday. Around a hundred people demanded an immediate end of logging in the park. They also called on the environment minister to remove the park’s director, Jan Stránský, from his post, and asked for a public debate on the issue. Some 20 people, who live in villages around the park, also showed up in front of the ministry to show support for the park’s management. Police said no clashes took place between the two groups.