Aktivita České společnosti entomologické v kauze „Zkušební plochy technického vývoje Škoda Auto a.s.: záměr umístění zkušebního polygonu do bývalého Vojenského výcvikového prostoru Mladá (střední Čechy, Česká republika)“

Abstract: The Military Training Area of Mladá (situated close to the town of Milovice, 50°14'N, 14°52'E, with the area of 58 km², 202–256 m a.s.l.) was established in 1904 and had been in use until 1990. Nowadays, it is in the state ownership. For almost a century, the area was free of any large-scale economic activities, including agrichemical impacts. Thanks to that, a mosaic of valuable woodland as well as open (forest steppe, meadow and steppe) habitats has been preserved here. From the biological point of view, it is a unique set of lowland habitats, the only one of its kind in the Czech Republic. The former Mladá MTA has been accessible only since 1991, after the withdrawal of the Soviet Army. So far, no systematic zoological research has been carried out here, with some exceptions. However, the available fragmentary data obtained during one decade give clear evidence that this area is – especially when considering its size – a supraregionally important refuge of environmentally sensitive species of animals. Of the Specially Protected Species listed in the Czech legislation, 13 critically endangered, more than 37 severely endangered and more than 53 endangered animal species have been found here. Moreover, 39 animal species belong to the „NATURA 2000 species“. Some very important faunistic findings have also been done in this area, including 4 first records for the Czech Republic and 18 for Bohemia. The Škoda Auto company, based in Mladá Boleslav and being a part of the Volkswagen concern, has been planing to construct a car-testing polygone of about 470 ha in the former Mladá MTA which would include large changes of public road network. The EIA process as well as the negotiation of „Proposed order of the change No. 1 of the land-use plan of the large territorial unit of Mladá“ till July 2002 are critically reviewed. The Czech Entomological Society has taken a negative position to the investment purpose of the Škoda company. Society's acti­vities during the process are recorded, all official documents issued by the Society dealing with the case are presented.

Key words: Czech Entomological Society, Škoda Auto company, Volkswagen concern, nature conservation versus economic interests, former Military Training Area Mladá, Czech Republic, Central Europe