In a significant development, the Ministry of Agriculture has finally endorsed a long-pending proposition for a land swap between state-owned forests and those owned by the Catholic Church. This decision marks a departure from previous reluctance, opening the door for the exchange of hundreds to thousands of hectares of forest land. The approval comes as a breakthrough for the Catholic Archdiocese of Prague, which has persistently sought to consolidate scattered parish forests into more cohesive units.

The initiative to exchange over twelve hundred hectares of forest land scattered across Bohemia aims to address the fragmented nature of current holdings resulting from church restitutions. Jan Balík, General Vicar of the Prague Archdiocese, underscores the need for consolidation, highlighting instances where restitutions led to nonsensical outcomes, such as incomplete parcels or disjointed boundaries.

Eva Jouklová, spokesperson for Lesy ČR, emphasizes the mutual benefits of the proposed exchange, emphasizing the importance of adherence to statutory regulations and ensuring that prices remain acceptable to the state. The pragmatic rationale behind transferring forests to a foundation lies in the advantageous tax implications, as publicly beneficial organizations are exempt from income tax obligations. This strategic maneuver is projected to result in substantial savings, estimated to be in the tens of millions of crowns, according to economist Linda Dolečková.

The Catholic Church’s extensive forest holdings, acquired during church restitutions, position it as a significant player in forest management, second only to the state. With 26,000 hectares under its stewardship, the archdiocese, parishes, and chapters manage these assets through the company AP Lesnická. By facilitating the exchange through a foundation rather than a corporate entity, the archdiocese can navigate tax liabilities more effectively, maximizing the benefits of the proposed land swap.

The approval of this land swap proposal marks a significant milestone in the ongoing dialogue between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Catholic Church, signaling a collaborative effort to optimize forest management practices and promote sustainable land use in the Czech Republic.

Article by Prague Forum