Sokolov post-mining ecosystems represent a unique LTER study area comprising forest and non-forest ecosystems developing after reclamation or by spontaneous revegetation on heaped overburden from brown coal mining. Several 1 ha sites are studied since 1992 (10 sites intensively and over 50 sites occasionally). Research has been focused on interactions between soil, plants and soil organisms and their role in soil formation and biogeochemical cycles restoration. Great attention has been paid to comparison of long-term development of reclaimed and non-reclaimed sites and to the effect of different tree species, types of substrates and heaping technique used during reclamation. Series of sites of known age (15–70 years) developing on similar substrate represent a great opportunity for ecological research using a chronosequence approach.

The Bohemian Forest in Central Europe is among the most acidified lake districts in the world. Deposition of sulphur and nitrogen compounds in the area rapidly increased between 1950 and 1980, and reached a maximum in mid the 1980s. Owing to long-term occasional hydrobiological research and palaeolimnological studies, we are able to document the significant changes in the lake water chemistry and biodiversity (in particular the conspicuous reduction in crustacean and/or insect species in some lakes, as well as the extinction of fish). During the 1990s, acidic deposition decreased substantially, and its current levels are comparable to the early 20th century for SO42– and NH4+, and to the mid 1960s for NO3–. The decline in acidic deposition has resulted in a partial recovery of the Bohemian Forest lakes, as well as in an improvement of the Norway spruce physiology in their catchments. Therefore, the Bohemian Forest lakes represent excellent LTER sites. Available historical data (biota since 1871) and regular monitoring (biota and chemistry since 1984) provide a valuable background for long-term ecological research of the catchment–lake ecosystems that currently focuses on (i) chemical reversal and biological recovery of the lakes, (ii) acidification effects on in-lake nutrient cycling, (iii) climatic effects on water chemistry, and (iv) catchment processes, including soil biogeochemistry and acidification impacts on vegetation (mountain spruce forests). Two of the lakes, the most acidified Čertovo Lake and the mesotrophic (phosphorus rich) Plešné Lake, have been selected for detail mass-budget studies since 1998. Hydrology, water and precipitation chemistry, soil and sediment biochemistry, litter composition, and climatic variables have been regularly monitored with the aim to evaluate cycling of nutrients (C, N, P, Si) and ecologically important metals (Al, Fe) within the catchment–lake ecosystems.

The White Carpathian (Bílé Karpaty) Mts. are important especially for their vast species-rich meadows with many rare and endangered species, often having here very large populations or remarkably isolated occurrences distant from the centres of their natural ranges. Čertoryje Nature Reserve and its buffer zone, which form the majority of the LTER site, is the largest area of this precious habitat in the White Carpathians. Meadows which were not fertilized (or even ploughed up) under socialist agriculture in the second half of the 20th century are the most valuable. These meadows are usually situated on steep slopes which were hardly accessible to the machinery and were thus often totally abandoned and gradually overgrew with expansive grasses and scrub. Their current biological diversity therefore needs resumption of the former extensive management (scrub elimination and subsequent regular mowing without fertilization). These resoration activities started here in the mid 1980s. A fine-scale monitoring of vegetation succession after management restoration at one of these plots is a component of the long-term research here since 1989. The opposite extreme of socialist agricultural management of species-rich meadows was their conversion to arable land. These fields have been gradually re-grassed since 1989. Restoration of the former species-richness is however very slow (or even impossible) and needs special restoration measures. Hence another objective of the local long-term research is the succession on re-grassed arable fields. Spatially detailed observations take place on the eastern slope of the Výzkum hill and are aimed to find out an optimalized economic method of restoring a species-rich meadow (four variants are tested). Except vegetation succession, also the development of several soil fauna coenoses (Testacea, Nematoda, Oribatida, Collembola, Enchytraeidae, Lumbricidae, Oniscidea, Diplopoda, Chilopoda, Opiliones, and Carabidae) has been studied here since 2000. Since 2009, also succession in a broader landscape context is studied, taking into account restored grasslands in a major part of the whole White Carpathian Mountains. More than one tenth of the localities from this landscape study takes place directly in the LTER site, representing about 100 hectares regrassed by a regional species-rich seed mix since 2000 and 30 hectares regrassed by a commercial clover-grass seed mix in the late nineties. The research is focused on both plants (mainly vascular plants, additionally also bryophytes) and animals (Auchenorrhyncha, Heteroptera, Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea, selected phytophagous Coleoptera).

Nearly one hundred hectares of natural spruce-fir-beech forests have survived in the former Nové Hrady domain, owing to the enlightened owner count Buquoy, who founded here the Czech oldest natural forest reserves as early as in 1838. Similarly to the Bohemian Forest (Šumava in Czech), human colonization came to remote forests of the Novohradské Mts. as late as in the 15th century and, during the 18th century, abundant glassworks caused the most intensive pressure on the forests. For centuries, ship builders visited the utmost mountains’ corners to find tall and straight fir stems suitable for ship masts. Both Žofín and Hojná Voda were declared as reserves at the same time in 1838, yet timber had been taken from these sites even in the half of the 19th century. Both sites have been left to spontaneous development since the 1880s. Remarkable disturbance in the natural forests became in January 2007 when the hurricane Kyrill blew over. Substantial southern and south-western parts of the Žofín natural forest got down. Now we can study large-disturbance dynamics, the potential of bark beetle resistance in mixed forest, and many other unanswered questions.

The Slapy reservoir is a part of the Vltava Cascade, a system of nine reservoirs together retaining 1.4 billion m3 of water. The dam of the Slapy reservoir was constructed at the 91.7 km of the Vltava River in 1949–1954 and the reservoir impounded in 1955. The dam is 60 m high and 260 m long. Reservoir volume is 270×106 m3. Just below the Slapy dam, there is the end of impoundment of the small Štěchovice reservoir (built earlier in 1938–1944). Only several small brooks enter the impoundment of the Slapy reservoir, the mean yearly flow through the Slapy reservoir is 83.8 m3 s-1 and the mean hydraulic retention time is 38.5 days. A large Lipno reservoir in the upper part of the Vltava River was built in 1952–1959. In 1961, another part of the Vltava Cascade, large Orlík reservoir was built above the Slapy reservoir and later several small reservoirs. The total catchment area of the Slapy reservoir is 12 968 km2. The Slapy reservoir is a canyon shaped water body mostly with steep banks. An electric power station, working in peak hours (morning and evening), is located in the dam. As a consequence, periodic seiches occurred, water level fluctuates, and a littoral zone with aquatic plants is not developed. The reservoir is intensely used for recreation and locally as a drinking water source. Regular investigations include major physical and chemical characteristics and pelagic biota (bacteria, protists, phytoplankton and zooplankton). The sampling point is located 8.8 km downstream of the dam in a lacustrine zone of the reservoir. Long-term research in the reservoir already yielded valuable results explaining long-term effects of anthropogenic and land use changes in the catchment, such as the construction of the upstream reservoir, agricultural practice (e.g. drainage, changes in arable land area and fertilization rate), wastewater treatment, road de-icing etc., on water chemistry and biology.

Localities Boubín and Milešice represent particularly Acidic and Fresh nutrient medium spruce-beech forests. These forest stand types are very important in the scope of both area and wood-producting stands of the Czech Republic. Especially the Boubín (Kubani) natural forest represents a very valuable and felling aloof forest stand. It was just founded as a forest research reserve. Owing to the verderer Josef John, who processed the first detailed dendrometry in the Boubín natural forest in 1847, we have got unique data sets for the time series of over 160 years. The hurricane Emma blew over the sites in March 2008 and left notable traces behind reserves' current states. The wind did not inflict large disturbances – it broke forest stands into pieces with various intensity. Both sites are fenced – especially Milešice, the site located inside a game-park, had to be necessarily protected against the deer game pressure. The Stožec-Medvědice natural forest brings a view on mountain talus forest with principal tree species sycamore maple, spruce, and elm.

Děvín is a considerable site of forest and non-forest ecosystems of the warmest part of the Czech Republic. Due to heterogeneous geomorphology, it comprises a range of habitat conditions and vegetation types. Forests cover about 3/4 of the area and they are formed mainly by oak-hornbeam wood, thermophilous oak wood, and ravine wood. The forests of Děvín were strictly managed as a coppice in the past. The oldest records are available from the late 14th century. The cutting period was as short as 7 years in the Middle Age and then gradually increased to 15–25 years during the 17th–19th centuries. A reason of the coppice management was the need of firewood. This probably led to a dominance of the large-leaved lime (Tilia platyphyllos), which stands regular cutting and quickly re-sprouts. The traditional management was abandoned in the 20th century, a nature reserve was declared in 1946, and later even a game preserve was established; the latter, however, was cancelled in the 1990s. The forest has been gradually transformed to a high forest and its age has increased to the today’s average of 70, sometimes over 120 years. The dramatic change in the management has caused a large change in ecological conditions. Light woods, hosting many species occurring in light- and warm-demanding conditions, have shifted to mesic, i.e. moister and nutrient-richer forests than ever before. A marked decrease in diversity in forest understorey has been a consequence. This trend was revealed by a comparison of nearly 200 vegetation plots from 1953–1964 with their 2002–2003 replicates, i.e. after 40 to 50 years. A similar comparison is available for soils with 34 repeated pedological profiles. The aim of the present management is to restore coppices with partial preservation of some stands in a non-intervention regime. A set of 80 permanent plots has been established in 2008 in order to monitor the consequent environmental and vegetation changes, as well as diversity of invertebrates, with a monitoring period of 5–10 years.

Three natural forest reserves – Mionší, Razula, and Salajka – represent current Carpathian fir-beech forests. They were historically influenced by a Walachian colonization that came to the Beskydy Mts. from south and affected forests by sheep grazing, litter raking, and gathering beech firewood. Although excess felling was not realized in these natural forests, species structure was affected in favour of fir during modern times. Since the 1930s, all three LTER sites have been left to spontaneous development. Beech has returned as the main species of these stands. Exceeding numbers of deer game populations, which represent main indirect human influence in these reserves, block growing out of fir seedlings considerably. Various ways of seedling protection are tested inside the sites; however, no selective interventions on advanced growth are practiced. Indispensable positive influence should play a gradual return of natural predators of deer game (lynx, wolf, and also bear) into the western Carpathians.

The site Bily Kriz (Bílý Kříž) is located in Moravian-Silesian Beskids Mountains. Ecosystem type: Managed secondary pure Norway spruce stand. Prevailing species: Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) Height of the stand: 17 m (2016) Understory: Vaccinium myrtillus L. Year of plantation: 1981 by 4 years old seedlings

LTER plot Thermophilous forests includes five regions and sixteen localities in Central Bohemia and Southern Moravia, where ecosystems of thermophilous forests, including adjacent natural treeless vegetation, have been studied for a long time. The monitoring is run jointly by the Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences (coordination R. Hédl) and the Silva Tarouca Research Institute for Landscape and Ornamental Gardening (coordination D. Adam). The main focus is on the plant community, including trees and herbs, which are monitored by using sets of permanent plots, or as continuous forest stands. Data are collected at the level of individuals (plants), plant communities (species composition and biodiversity) and ecosystem (soil, canopy, microclimate and other variables). The backbone of the monitoring system consists of nearly 500 long-term monitoring plots. These are supplemented by several dozens of short-term monitoring plots, and historical plots resurveyed only once after several decades. The monitored forest stands share similar natural conditions and management history. They cover a wide range of thermophilous forest communities, mainly thermophilous oak-hornbeam forests, various types of oak and ravine forests, occasionally beech forests and the adjacent open habitats (rocky steppes). The dominant type of management was coppicing in most sites, mainly as coppices-with-standards. The historical management was abandoned during the 19th and early 20th centuries, and the monitored ecosystems were managed with a decreasing intensity in about the past half a century. Some of the localities or their parts are subject of non-intervention regime at present. This has affected the age of the forest stands, which has increased by several times. Today, many stands are 100+ years old. All monitored localities are parts of conservation areas, often multiple combinations - national nature reserves (NNR), national nature monuments (NNM), nature reserves (NR), national park (NP), protected landscape area (PLA), EU Site of Community Importance (SCI). The main strategy of the nature conservation is the management reduction at most sites. In several cases, however, restoration of the traditional ways of forest management has been introduced in the past years. The Thermophilous forests site consists of the following five areas and sixteen localities: 1. Křivoklátsko Protected Landscape Area Monitoring of the dynamics of tree communities (including 3D scanning), vegetation including the communities of vascular plants, fungi, saproxylic beetles and soil processes. Data are available from 1976, 1999, 2004 and annually since 2004 (localities Velká Pleš and Týřov), or since 1993 (locality Červený kříž) - Velká Pleš: 10 ha of continuous forest stand monitoring, 400 microplots (20 x 20 cm) and monitoring of game impact on rocky steppes (pleše = balds). - Týřov: 400 microplots (20 x 20 cm) in xerothermic treeless habitats and in enclosures. - Červený kříž: focus on the impact of game on the diversity of plant communities. 2. Český kras Protected Landscape Area Monitoring of the dynamics of plant communities, soil and tree overstory in five-year intervals, using a network of 190 permanent plots. Microclimatic measurements in part of the plots. Data from 2005, 2009, 2014, 2019. Focus on the tree dynamics at one locality (Doutnáč). Part of the area left for spontaneous development, part subject of the traditional management restoration. Additionally, 57 historical vegetation plots resurveyed after 50 years. - Karlštejn NNR: three localities Prostřední vrch, Vysoká stráň and Doutnáč; collective area 166 ha. - Koda NNR: three localities Tobolský vrch, Za lípou and Kodská stěna, collective area 95 ha. 3. Podyjí National Park Monitoring of the dynamics of several forest ecosystem components, focusing on natural processes and the restoration of traditional management forms. Continuously measured tree stands, yearly monitoring of plant communities, invertebrates, bryophytes, snails, fungi and soil variables by using a network of plots. Data available from 2010 and 2014-onwards. A network of 50 permanent plots with five-year monitoring interval was established in 2018. - Four localities in the eastern part of the national park: Lipina, Šobes, Popice and Hnanice, collective area 309 ha. 4. Pálava Protected Landscape Area Monitoring of the dynamics of plant communities, soil and tree overstory in five-year intervals, using a network of 160 monitoring plots. Microclimatic measurements in part of the plots. Monitoring of spider, beetle and ant communities in addition to that. Data available from 2008-onwards. Next to it, about 230 historical vegetation plots resurveyed after 50-60 years, and a detailed research on the management history. - Děvín NNR: 380 ha, 85 permanent plots and about 180 resurveyed historical plots. - Milovický les: 2051 ha, 75 permanent plots a 46 resurveyed historical plots. 5. Dúbrava Monitoring of the dynamics of plant communities, soil and tree overstory in five-year intervals, using a network of 75 monitoring plots. Data from 2011, 2012 and 2017. In addition to that, 56 historical vegetation plots resurveyed after 50 years, covering a larger area. Detailed research on the management history and a paleoecological research covering the entire Holocene. - Hodonínská Dúbrava: 4820 ha, 75 permanent plots and 56 resurveyed historical plots.