Environment Ministry rejects ski lift proposal for national park

The Environment Ministry has rejected plans for a controversial ski lift in Šumava National Park, which would have allowed access from the Czech side of Hraničník Peak to the commercial Hochficht ski hill in Austria. An Environment Impact Assessment study found all four variations of the project unacceptable. According to the ministry, the planned lift would have contravened Europe's nature protection system, Natura 2000, as well as Czech legislation for the protection of the environment. The planned lift consistently came under criticism from ecologists and part of the scientific community; it was supported by others, including former president Václav Klaus, and the environment minister in the last centre-right government.

Author: Jan Velinger