Home Practical advisor In what situations can you contact us? Nature protection

Nature protection

What the CEI will help you with:

  • If you notice the destruction of the landscape, for example the destruction of protected areas, a memorial tree, illegal felling of trees growing outside the forest, etc., file a complaint with the CEI.
  • The Inspectorate controls the import and export of endangered species of animals and plants and their management (CITES Convention). It can confiscate illegally obtained living and non-living specimens.
  • The CEI is authorized to prevent unauthorized felling of trees and to fine this activity.
  • The CEI inspects the operation of zoos.

When you need to contact other public administration bodies

  • Weeded plots of land, which the owner does not take care of, are dealt with by the municipal office of the village with extended powers.
  • Spraying on agricultural land is dealt with by the phytosanitary administration.
  • The CEI does not register specimens, contact the Regional Office.
  • The CEI is not authorized to allow the felling of trees, the permit is issued by a nature protection authority (municipal authority).
  • Report suspected animal cruelty to the veterinary administration or the Police of the Czech Republic.
  • If mowing lawns on a public space owned by the municipality in unsuitable weather - hot, dusty - bothers you, you must contact the contracting authority, i.e. the municipal office.

What to do when…

When you want to bring back an unusual souvenir from your vacation

It must be taken into account whether it is a product from endangered species of plants or animals. A large part of such souvenirs is protected under the CITES Convention. Protected and commonly available as souvenirs are mainly various products from crocodiles, monitor lizards, boa constrictors and pythons, land and sea turtles, sea corals and so on, and from plants, for example, products from some tropical woods. Similar products can be imported into the Czech Republic only on the basis of an export permit of the country of origin and an import permit of the Czech Republic, issued on the basis of the export permit. The agenda for issuing export and import permits of the Czech Republic falls under the competence of the Ministry of the Environment. The disadvantage is the fact that obtaining these permits is administratively and time-consuming and usually unrealistic during only a short vacation abroad. It is advisable to prepare in advance for the import of a specific product protected by the CITES Convention. Before going on holiday, it is at least advisable to know which types of souvenirs can be imported into the Czech Republic and which cannot (see the CITES section for more information).

If you want to import or export an animal or plant across the border of the Czech Republic

It is necessary to check whether it is not an animal or a plant protected under international conventions (especially CITES), according to local laws or according to the laws of the Czech Republic. The import of live and dead CITES specimens is permitted only on the basis of an import permit issued by the Ministry of the Environment and an export permit issued by the exporting country. Similarly, the export can only be realized based on an export permit from the Ministry of the Environment. The same restrictions also apply to species protected by Act No. 114/1992 Coll. Applications for import or export permits are submitted to the Ministry of the Environment. The issued permits (so-called export and import permits) must be presented during customs control or attached to the transport documents. All live specimens, whether protected or not, are further subject to veterinary and phytosanitary regulations.

If you wish to purchase a CITES specimen on the internal market

You should know whether it is necessary to submit such a specimen for registration. Some species of reptiles, birds and mammals protected by the CITES Convention are subject to the mandatory registration according to Act No. 100/2004 Coll. The registration is carried out by regional authorities or the Protected Landscape Area (PLA) on the basis of permitted importation or documented breeding. If you wish to purchase a CITES specimen, which is subject to compulsory registration, on the internal market, only purchase a specimen with a valid original registration certificate. The data entered in it must agree with the purchased specimen. You are required to present the registration form within the legal deadline at the locally competent regional office or PLA, where the re-registration is recorded in it. The registration form is submitted together with other documents if requested by the nature protection authority. It is recommended to keep proof of purchase of CITES specimens in all cases (even if the species is not subject to mandatory registration). Lists of species subject to the CITES Convention and species subject to mandatory registration are part of the implementing regulation of Act No. 100/2004 Coll.