Šumava National Park head sacked

Environment Minister Richard Brabec has dismissed the head of the Šumava National Park Jiří Mánek in a drawn-out controversy over the future of the nature reserve. The head of the nature reserve was sacked shortly after producing a long-term strategy for the park’s development which failed to respect scientific recommendations for its protection. Mr. Manek himself had repeatedly come under fire from nature conservationists and environment activists for allegedly giving way to the ruthless interests of loggers and developers. A group of Czech scientists recently threatened to take legal action against the Czech Republic over its alleged failure to adequately protect the nature reserve.