Skiing in the Brdy Mountains

Clash between cross-country skiers and the VLS highlights the need for a destination management organisation

When a proper winter set in in the Příbram area at the start of the new year, snow also covered the territory of the former military training area. Understandably, many cross-country skiers made their way there. Whilst in previous years they had ‘merely’ been tolerated here, this winter – with the opening of the Brdy region now a reality – the public showed a clear interest in making full use of the Brdy forests.

When Brdy enthusiasts set off on cross-country skis into the former military training area in early January, they were amazed. As well as the beautiful countryside and a sufficiently deep snow cover, many trails suitable for cross-country skiing had been gritted. Some of the skiers saw this as a deliberate act by Vojenské lesy a statky (VLS), the organisation responsible for maintaining the trails and managing timber harvesting in the Brdy.

In today’s world, the outrage of indignant citizens can spread very quickly. And the managers of the Brdy forests found this out for themselves. First came complaints from residents on social media; then the local council got involved; and within a few days, a letter was on its way to the Minister of Defence, Martin Stropnický. A few days later, the mayor of Příbram met with Petr Švadlena, director of the Hořovice division of Vojenské lesy a statky (VLS). And this meeting gave the cross-country skiers at least part of what they wanted.

Thanks to the mayor’s initiative and the route proposals put forward by the Příbram cross-country skiers, VLS has adopted exceptional measures concerning the maintenance of forest tracks this winter, so as to meet the requirements of cross-country skiing enthusiasts to the greatest extent possible. According to the director of VLS, whilst it is not within the state-owned enterprise’s power to prepare cross-country trails to the extent proposed by the athletes for this winter, they will strive to fully open the trails for next season.

We need a destination agency
Jindřich Vařeka welcomed this development. “We are right at the very beginning. The difficulties faced by cross-country skiers, as well as other issues relating to the development of tourism in the Brdy Mountains, must be addressed effectively and, above all, strategically,” the mayor pointed out. His words were echoed by the director of VLS, who views Příbram’s initiative positively, as well as the efforts to resolve these complications. “It is no problem for VLS to adapt its activities to those interested in winter sports during the winter months,” explained the director, adding that VLS had not yet had a partner who could come up with a comprehensive proposal for cross-country skiing trails in the Brdy Mountains.

“For a systematic solution, approval and marking of cross-country skiing trails, this process must be overseen by a mediator. Whether it be a local authority, an agency or an association, it must lead the entire process – from proposing the trails, discussing the proposal with the landowner and nature conservation authorities, right through to their marking out and maintenance directly in the field,” explained Petr Švadlena, adding, “We therefore thank the mayor of Příbram for his initiative in taking charge of the matter this year.” In future, the so-called Brdy Destination Management Organisation should address such issues, but above all prevent them from arising in the first place.

Tourism activities under one roof
The importance of the Brdy Destination Management Organisation stems, amongst other things, from the way in which the Central Bohemian Region supports tourism. Destination management organisations are the primary bodies responsible for promoting tourism, at least until 2020. There are currently only six destination management organisations operating in the region; for example, in the ‘Central Bohemia – South’ tourist area (which also includes the Brdy region), the organisation Posázaví, o. p. s. is responsible for coordinating tourism.

The Brdy Destination Management Organisation should focus on the entire mountain range, and not just the territory of the former military training area. It should act as a linchpin for all bodies interested in developing the Brdy area sensitively and creating the Brdy tourist destination with a clear concept, financed through joint efforts and utilising support from grant schemes. The Brdy tourist area would thus be separated from the current Posázaví organisation, and, thanks to the new company, would receive adequate attention from local authorities, associations and organisations in the immediate vicinity.

Controlled development
In this context, the Mayor of Příbram referred to the foundational document of the emerging Brdy Destination Company, namely the so-called Interpretation Plan, which was drawn up by VLS and the Nature and Landscape Agency under the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic (details can be found in Kahan 1/2017). This is the primary document on which we must base our work. “Once the Brdy Destination Management Organisation is established, the surrounding municipalities will be able to express their views in a coordinated manner. Based on the Interpretation Plan that has already been drawn up, a new joint plan for the development of tourism in the Brdy region will be created; this must be fought for, and it will be possible to draw funding for it from the region and the Ministry for Regional Development,” explained the mayor.

Příbram welcomes any initiative leading to the development of the Brdy tourist destination. “Not only cross-country skiers, hikers or cyclists, but everyone who uses the Brdy region is welcome, provided they join the emerging destination organisation in the form of an association or society,” said the mayor. If we succeed in engaging a significant number of organisations and associations with an interest in the Brdy region, there is a good chance that, as early as next year, cross-country skiers will no longer have to wear down their skis on gravel along their favourite trails.

Stanislav D. Břeň