The most valuable protected areas of the Krkonoše National Park, specifically the Obří důl valley, remain under close scrutiny by specialists from the Department of Spatial Sciences at the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague. The team led by Jan Komárek has been conducting remote sensing research on the valley and its forest stands for several years in collaboration with the park administration. Using a precisely defined aerial route, an unmanned drone equipped with advanced cameras monitors changes in the condition of local tree species.
**Research on Forest Stands Continues in the Most Valuable Part of the Krkonoše Mountains**
The most valuable protected areas of the Krkonoše National Park, specifically Obří důl, remain under close scrutiny by specialists from the Department of Spatial Sciences at the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague. The bark beetle research team, in collaboration with the park administration, has been conducting remote sensing surveys of the valley and its forest stands for the past seven years. Using a precisely designated aerial route, a drone equipped with a multispectral camera maps changes in local vegetation. In recent years, Norway spruces have undergone significant transformations, and the deterioration of spruce stands on the western slope of Sněžka, the highest mountain in the Czech Republic, is visibly apparent. The decline is caused not only by bark beetle infestation but also by the cumulative stress effect of drought. Soil temperature and moisture levels in Obří důl have been continuously monitored by soil sensors. Combined with remote sensing, this provides a comprehensive insight into the unique mountain ecosystem.
The combination of bark beetle infestation and drought stress accelerates forest degradation. „Given the observed trends, it is crucial to continue long-term monitoring to better understand how these ecosystems adapt and what strategies could help mitigate their decline,“ explains Jan Komárek.
Scientific activities in the Krkonoše Mountains have recently intensified thanks to the international project *EarthBridge*, which, in 2024, brought a group of international students from German, Italian, and Czech universities to Obří důl. Together, they are monitoring and addressing current environmental issues, such as the impact of climate change on the highest mountain range in the Czech Republic..
