The natural monument "Na Plachtě" is located in the southeastern part of the city of Hradec Králové. The monument, which is unique, is situated in the proximity of an urban fabric which can represent a big threat for the natural habitat of the monument.

"Na Plachtě" there have been recorded so far some 720 species of higher plants, 69 species of moss, 107 species of fungi and 2250 species of animals which we can find in forest, meadow or wetland. Of these, around 107 are protected by Czech legislation (endangered, severely endangered and critically endangered species) and in addition 19 species have European importance. Several species of animals "Na Plachtě" have a single or one of the few occurrences within the whole of the Czech Republic.  From both a botanical and a zoological point of view, the nature monument "Na Plachtě" is considered unique, and the uniqueness is exacerbated by being in touch with the city.

Since the 1960s, there have been efforts to destroy the locality "Na Plachtě" by stopping it. There was an acute danger in times of socialist planning. And by the end of the 1980s, the construction of a sewer system for a block of flats housing estate for 19,000 people already began. The transfer of protected animals also began, but at the last minute the project was abandoned.  
After 2008, there were a number of plans to build "Na Plachtě" as a housing estate by IPB Real (ORCO Property Group), storehouses and office buildings of Kelcom International and Turck IMO. Then, in 2009, the construction company STAKO,L.t.d. devoted itself to the devastation of its lands with the occurrence of specially protected species by taking 1,300 tons of waste to amphibian wintering grounds. 

Since the 1980s, conservationists have been battling to declare a protected area “Na Plachtě”.  In 1998 “Na Plachtě” was declared protected like a natural monument “Na Plachtě” 1 and “Na Plachtě”2. The range of natural monuments “Na Plachtě” 1 and 2 was not able to provide sufficient protection of unique habitats. A simple example is amphibians, whose wintering grounds were located outside the natural monuments  “Na Plachtě” 1 a 2.  As a result, conservationists initiated the designation of the "Na Plachta" 3 natural monument as well as the protection of this expanded area in the form of a European significant site network of European protected areas, Natura 2000. They also initiated a change to the city of Hradec Králové zoning plan to transfer the use of these areas from the areas of the multi-story residential development to the areas of the greenery. 
A public campaign, including a petition, has contributed to supporting the expansion of the natural monument.  The petition was closed on 20th of November, 2009 and supported by 14,000 citizens! The petition greatly helped to announce the natural monument “Na Plachtě” 3 in 2012.  
We want this unique natural paradise to be preserved for future generations.

http://www.naplachte.cz/ohrozeni-lokality/ 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DrkgneB5PM
https://www.youtube.com/@Kopidion/videos
https://hradecky.denik.cz/zpravy_region/prirodni-unikat-na-okraji-hradce-vznikl-i-diky-vojakum-20230316.html 

DIRECT SDGs:

• (SDG 15) Land degradation due to human activity

INDIRECT SDGs:

• (SDG 11) Sustainable cities

Justification:

SDG 15 Reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
SDG 6 Ensure cities and human settlements to be sustainable for future generations.
 

1. How do human activities cause land degradation?
2. Which action can people do if they want to protect nature?
3. What is the name of the document for the European significant site network of European protected areas?

In this protected natural monument we can see wild horses and buffaloes there which returned back to this place.

Tibor Schwarz, Michaela Vachunová and Roxana Vachunová
Spolek absolventů a přátel zemědělské školy v Chrudimi z.s.