White Carpathians - Protected Areas
DRAHY
This small-scale protected area was designated to conserve thermophilous (warmth-loving) grass-herb communities on a former pasture.
When you get to Drahy, you will notice the deep furrows and uneven terrain of the site. Knowing that the site is located on the edge of the village, you may not be surprised to learn that it has been used as a gathering place and a pasture for the common herd. The cows, sheep, and goats regularly disturbed the surface of the pasture when grazing and created many paths criss-crossing the pasture. When it rained, streams of water would follow the paths downhill, taking the soil away and creating erosion furrows, which grew deeper and deeper with time. Due to the water erosion, the soil here is full of rocks and very shallow, and the vegetation rather thin compared to common grassland elsewhere. This, however, suits some rare plant species, including the Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera), Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea), and Common Globularia (Globularia bisnagarica).
The Common Juniper (Juniperus communis) shrubs are yet another testimony to the grazing history of this site – the shrubs have survived, since their sharp needles were able to keep the grazing animals away.
Type of protected area under CZ national legislation: Nature Reserve
Managed by: the state, through Bile Karpaty (White Carpathians) Protected Landscape Area Administration
Practical site management: state financed, conducted by local farmers (sub-contracted)
Contact
Vzdělávací a informační středisko Bílé Karpaty, o.p.s.
Marie Petrů
Bartolomějské náměstí 47, 698 01 Veselí nad Moravou
Tel.:518 322 545
e-mail:visbk@bilekarpaty.cz
http://bilekarpaty.cz/vis
