Summary of newsmakers of the previous day – 11.5.2006

Ecological tax is unbearably big risk

Prices for energy are today more political than economic category. If we burden it with other state subsidy, it will be very risky. (commentary).There are not good experience with state intervention into energetics in the Czech Republic. Ecological resources which were supported till this time became gradually unbearably expensive. Since 2008 the price of energy should be artificially increased by so called ecological tax. However, in fact it is dealt with a consumption tax which already now is collected from sale of fuels (in that case the European Commission requires tax adjustment at least at “minimal level”), and its imposition on electricity, natural gas and coal (as well in uniform minimal height). It will happen on base of EU Regulation No. 96 from 2003. The Czech Republic has negotiated a transitional period till 2008. The aim of imposition of ecological tax is decrease of energy consumption and pollution of environment.

Beaver belongs no longer among critically endangered species

According to estimations about one hundred beaver live in Hodonín region. The fact that the beaver return slowly in Czech nature is reflected in a change of public notice according to which this species does not belong among critically but only heavily endangered ones. The number of beavers was monitored in winter this year by conservationists in area between the water work Nové Mlýny and the forest district Soutok in surrounding of the rivers Morava and Dyje in Břeclav and Hodonín region. Foresters complains about beavers outbreak due to fretted trees; fishermen don’t like that the beaver damages water sheet, and conservationists get upset that beavers damages tree species, for example in large castle park in Lednice. However, environmentalists argue that the situation is not so serious.

Czech forests still suffer, scientists warn

Czech forests still fade away. According a group of significant scientists and experts it’s a high time to start to do something with it. There are no regular acid rains as in 70’s and 80’s.However, health of forests still does not improve, rather vice versa. Czech forests belong among the most “ill” in Europe. Over seventy percent of needle trees and about one third of broad leaved trees older than sixty years lost more than one quarter of needles or leaves. So called defoliation (loss of needles or leaves) is the basic parameter in investigation of forests health. A group of significant Czech scientists and other experts believe that forests fade away because of current improper forest management. Forests are weak, little resistant to harmful pollutants; they worse resist to extreme weather, diseases and pests. Therefore the scientists suggested concrete steps to recover them.

Easier termination of agricultural activity

Rules for preterm termination of agricultural activity (PTAA) should be easier since next year. At the same time also a problem of taxation in farm transfer is solved. As Hugo Roldán from the press department of Ministry of Agriculture reported, he Ministry did not expect a big interest in this form of support and presupposed smoother course of support liquidation. Roldán also stated that the program for preterm termination of agricultural activity has still many bugs about which farmers as well as workers of state administration are concerned. Therefore the Ministry counts that since next year when the program works in frame of a new European Agricultural Rural Development Fund (EARDF) rules for proving support will be easier.