Earthwatch Award Recipient Summary

Awardee: Josef Krecek, Ph.D., and Zuzana Horicka
Affiliation: Czech Technical University and Charles University, Prague
Project: Mountain Waters of Bohemia
Award: 2002 Principal Investigator of the Year

Project Synopsis
Since 1991, Dr. Josef Krecek and Zuzana Horicka have directed enthusiastic Earthwatch teams tracking the recovery of forests, lakes, and streams in the Jizera Mountains, Czech Republic, after decades of environmental degradation. Although these scenic headwaters were nominally protected, they were among the most heavily damaged by clearcutting, erosion, and acid precipitation from coal-fired plants in Poland, Czechoslovakia, and the former East Germany. Two-thirds of forests in the "Black Triangle" were damaged and dying, and fish were long gone from once pristine lakes and streams. Earthwatch teams have helped Krecek and Horicka gather data to prompt further conservation measures and speed recovery of watersheds. As a result, their teams have successfully reintroduced brook trout into reservoirs and advanced more environmentally friendly logging methods that increase biodiversity.

Award Outcomes
The Principal Investigator of the Year Award allowed Krecek and Horicka to:

· Purchase a new laptop computer


The work of Krecek and Horicka is very data-intensive and the new computer has been integral to improving their data management and presentation capacities. Following Krecek's award, he was nominated as a "European Hero" by TIME Magazine, sharing the limelight with the likes of soccer star David Beckham. Krecek and Horicka's work research was highlighted in a special issue of TIME, and prompted publicity from the Czech media about their Earthwatch-supported research and award. Now, being on the list of several journalists they are often interviewed on related environmental topics. The most rewarding part of this experience for the researchers was the recognition and positive feedback from Earthwatch volunteers.

Publications and Papers
Pending

Quotes
"For us, the most important aspect of the award is the positive feedback from our volunteers: to know that our effort in the field, and communication with them, was appreciated. The award will help in our long-term plans to study the effects of reforestation with native tree species on the hydrological regime of the Jizera headwaters," said Krecek.

"What has happened, and is happening in the Jizera Mountains is a huge natural experiment, which deserves attention and might serve as an example of rehabilitation in Central and Eastern Europe," said Horicka.