At the end of January, tenants of our shared offices in myhive Flexi Offices in Pankrác and West Flexi Offices in Stodůlky again enjoyed one of our popular networking breakfasts. We began the day with good food, and the friendly atmosphere was enhanced by the Refugium environmental association’s presentation of its activities.
Refugium is part of the Svoboda & Williams family and its long-term goal is to support and protect the biodiversity of our environment. Refugium’s project manager Eliška Kolomazníková explained to the tenants of both Offices Unlimited’s branches how a damaged site can be renewed by presenting the recent history of the wetland by the village of Maříž.
This roughly 10-hectare natural site went through a professional restoration process, to which Offices Unlimited contributed CZK 100,000. Our investment entailed the purchase of 10 so-called green credits, which we then donated to our clients. In partnership with us, they could therefore symbolically contribute to this project.
“About 7 years ago, beavers arrived at the Maříž wetland, located close to Slavonice, in a tristate area (the border of the South Bohemian Region, the South Moravian Region, and Austria). They quickly located the routes through which water flowed out of this shallow valley, and plugged them with their dams. This took care of water retention in one part of the wetland a created a new wilderness. Despite the fact that conditions greatly improved, the site is still damaged by decades of misuse,” said Kolomazníková.
Due to land development and the system of drainage ditches and underground pipes, water couldn’t be retained and the soil was polluted by agrochemical runoff and unwanted nutrients from the surrounding fields. “Meadows stopped being regularly mowed, which is something that this corner of the landscape was used to. Wetlands gradually disappeared and even beavers couldn’t help. These animals are extremely effective overseers of this site,” added Kolomazníková with a smile.
Machines had to be used. Under the guidance of experienced ecologist Filip Lysák, diggers were employed at the site for three months. They got rid of three kilometers of damaging development, removed unwanted expansive vegetation, and created half a kilometer of new meandering brooks and pools that are an ideal sanctuary, i.e. a refuge, for many endangered species.
“Already a year after this intervention, you can see the natural restoration of a functioning ecosystem and healthy environment. Several years of intense renewal work is in our future. It’s already clear, however, that the revitalization of this site was worth it,” concluded Kolomazníková.
