The opening table gives an overview of all regions and districts of the Czech Republic. Data on areas of regions and districts as at 31 December 2004 have been derived from the Czech Office for Surveying, Mapping and Cadastre in Prague.

The size structure of municipalities (by population) was processed following the territorial self-governing arrangement in force on 31 December 2004.

Data on climate are shown in basic meteorological figures measured at meteorological stations located in the territory of the region. These data were taken over from the Czech Institute for Hydrometeorology in Prague.

ENVIRONMENT

Act No. 114/1992 Coll., on Nature and Landscape Conservation distinguishes six categories of especially protected areas:

Large protected areas:

• National parks - large areas unique on a national or international scale, whose major parts are occupied by ecosystems, either natural or affected little by human activity, where flora, fauna and inanimate nature are of extraordinary scientific and educational significance

• Protected landscape areas - large areas with harmoniously shaped landscape, characteristic relief, a significant proportion of natural ecosystems of forest and permanent grass stands, a sizeable proportion of tree species and as the case may be, preserved monuments of historical settlements

• National natural monuments – small-scale natural formations (including those formed by human activity), with deposits of minerals and habitats of endangered species in fragments of ecosystems of national or international environmental, scientific or aesthetic significance

• National nature reserves – small-scale areas of extraordinary natural value, whose natural relief with a typical geological structure is tied with ecosystems significant at national and international levels

• Natural monuments – the same criteria as for national natural monuments apply. The significance is regional only

• Natural reserves – small-scale areas of concentrated natural value with ecosystems typical of and significant for the given geographical area

Expenditures on the acquisition of fixed assets for environmental protection are all expenditures on fixed assets acquired by reporting units through purchase, own activity, free transfer, transfer under respective legislation, or change from private use to business.

Environmental protection non-investment expenditures, which arise as a result of operating activities of the enterprise, include wage costs, payments for rent, energy and other materials and supplies and payments for services whose main purpose is the prevention, treatment or elimination of pollutants and pollution or any other degradation of the environment.

Environment pollution control projects include:

• Air pollution control and climate protection
• Wastewater management
• Waste management
• Landscape and biodiversity protection
• Soil, groundwater and surface water protection and remediation
• Vibration and noise abatement (excl. workplace protection)
• Radiological protection
• Research and development
• Other environmental protection activities

The amounts of the given pollutants discharged into the air are listed in the Register of Emissions and Air Polluters (REZZO), which keeps records of the following types of polluters broken down by their thermal outputs:

• REZZO 1 (big polluters): includes stationary fuel-burning systems 5 MW or more in thermal output, plus systems operated in especially important technological processes

• REZZO 2 (medium size polluters): includes technological systems incorporating stationery fuel-burning equipment whose thermal output ranges from 0.2 to 5 MW, equipment of important technological processes, and coal mines and similar areas, where burning, evaporating or escaping of pollutants is possible

• REZZO 3 (small polluters): includes local technological systems with stationary fuel-burning equipment whose thermal output is lower than 0.2 MW, production process equipment not falling into the category of big and medium-sized polluters, areas work done can pollute the air, storage sites of fuel, raw materials, products, waste and captured emitted pollutants, and other facilities and activities polluting the air to a large extent

• REZZO 4 (mobile polluters): mobile systems equipped with air-polluting combustion or other engines. This group includes especially road and rail motor vehicles, vessels and aircraft

Waste is any movable thing its owner disposes of or intends to dispose of, which classified to a group of wastes listed in Annex No. 1 to Act No. 185/2001 Coll.

Hazardous waste is waste included in the List of Hazardous Waste given in the implementing regulation as well as any waste exhibiting one or more hazardous characteristics listed in Annex No. 2 to Act No. 185/2001 Coll.

Waste management refers to gathering, concentration, collection, purchase, sorting, transport, storing, treatment, use and disposal of waste.

The ways of waste management are divided into two groups, in compliance with the division according to the EU. They are:

• waste recovery - activities shown in Annex No. 3 to Act. No. 185/2001 Coll.
• waste disposal - activities shown in Annex No. 4 to Act. No. 185/2001 Coll.

A total of 257 profiles of the state water quality monitoring network are located within the territory of the Czech Republic along important water courses.

Pollution degree classification:

I - very clean water
II - clean water
II - polluted water
IV - heavily polluted water
V - very heavily polluted water