"The border down the middle of the river divides states, but it doesn't divide ecosystems." This exact wording can be found in the contract from 1999, which lays out the cooperation of the two national parks, Thayatal and Podyjí. This is also the case with the Thaya river, which separates Austria and the Czech Republic politically over a length of 23.3 kilometres, but connects them in terms of the nature.
Protecting the shared natural space
(c) NP Thayatal
The nature on both sides is almost exactly the same when it comes to landscape, species composition and degree of human influence. That's why it's all the more important that the two national park administrations work together across borders. This became possible with the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, and thanks to the commitment of the local population, the Podyjí (1991) and Thayatal (2000) national parks were established shortly afterwards. For this reason, Austria and the Czech Republic laid the foundation for jointly protecting the unique natural and cultural heritage of the Thaya Valley.
Written commitment to cooperation
On 15 July 1999, the responsible ministers from Austria and the Czech Republic, Martin Bartenstein and Miloš Kužvart, and the Governor of Lower Austria, Erwin Pröll, signed a declaration on cross-border cooperation between the two national parks.
The cooperation in practice
Since then, it's been the committed staff from both national park administrations who put the written commitment into practice every day and constantly reinforce it. As early as when the first management plan was being planned, both sides coordinated the objectives with each other and the bilateral Thayatal Commission was established to bring the interests of the Czech and Austrian national park regions into alignment. Regular meetings between directors and staff are part of planning and implementing cross-border projects. The types of projects range from creating bilingual children's dictionaries, to organising joint excursions, to exploring the flora and fauna and constructing joint bridges.
The national parks are growing together
A bridge once stood at the old bathing place near Hardegg; the only evidence of this still remaining today is the rotting bits of wood. But that's about to change. Both national parks want to build two suspension bridges, one at the old bathing place and one in the area of the hermit's meadow. Two new looping hiking trails that will cross these bridges will allow the two conservation areas to grow even closer together.
Certifications
The quality of the cooperation between the Thayatal and Podyjí national parks is regularly controlled and certified by external auditors. Suggestions for improvement are implemented and ensure that cooperation is strengthened on an ongoing basis.
Both conservation areas have wilderness certifications and the European Diploma and are certified EUROPARC Transboundary Parcs. Cross-border cooperation between Austria and the Czech Republic is expressed as well as the importance as a protected area on a cross-European level.
The Thayatal-Podyji national parks are part of the EUROPARC Transboundary Parcs - network together with 10 other such transboundary protected areas.
ICUN - Recognition
Classification from the IUCN as a national park is something like a seal of quality for protected areas.
