• Energy Research
• 15. Life on land close
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This review article summarizes fundamental knowledge about biochar. Biochar is getting paid a lot of attention recently for its ability to enhance crop yield and mitigate climate change. Main European furnace producers for generating biochar are introduced. Relevant physicochemical and textural properties are reviewed with emphasis on a stability of biochar, pH, water holding, and nutrient retention capacity. Czech legislation, where biochar is classified as a supplementary soil substance and voluntary certification initiatives such as European Biochar Certificate (EBC) and International Biochar Initiative (IBI) are discussed. The methods of application of biochar in agriculture are described as well.

In the Czech Republic, much attention is paid to the codification of special constitutional water protection and the constitutional right to water. These efforts respond to changes such as low rainfall and more frequent droughts and to forecasts stemming from climate change models. Since 2019, four parliamentary proposals have been submitted, all motivated by the need for greater water protection and prioritization of the public interest in water protection. Two of the proposals explicitly enshrine the constitutional right to drinking water, and rights of access to water, respectively. Water is a limited natural resource and at the same time essential element for the lives of present and future generations. The reason for the use of the constitutional law level may be that it is a society-wide interest, and its constitutional entrenchment will ensure its security and support further steps of the state. Opening up the issue of water protection at the constitutional level sends a clear signal for the need for water protection, but it is not a sufficient solution in itself. Besides that, it is necessary to carefully consider what specific measures should be reflected at the constitutional level and what goals should be promoted at this level. On the one hand, the submitted parliamentary proposals reflect the requirements of the internationally recognized right to water, but, on the other hand, they raise some problematic issues which should be subjected to a wider public debate.

This paper deals with the importance of land use planning in relation to the need to address the impacts of climate change. It then examines the structure of land use planning instruments, specifically land use planning documentation and aspects of its hierarchical organization in the light of the existing and new Building Act. It reflects on the need for the preparation of some mitigation and adaptation measures in a national context. It also assesses the readiness of land and spatial planning legislation in terms of response to climate change through the goals and objectives of land use planning.

The paper demonstrates the results of a biogeographic model of climatic conditions of vegetation zones in the landscape of Czechia. The model uses climatological prediction data of the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute for the time period 2010–2100 according to the SRES A1B scenario and geobiocoenological characteristics of vegetation zonation of the landscape from the Register of biogeography. According to the model, the projected trends in climatic conditions of vegetation zones will be demonstrated by a substantial improvement in the conditions suitable for xerothermophilous Ponto-Pannonian biota in Czechia (the area of the 1st vegetation zone will increase). On the contrary, the size of the area with climatic conditions of the 6th to 8th vegetation zone will decrease. The model allows an algorithmization of specific climatic growing conditions of individual biological species.

Paper summarises new finds, total distribution and ecology of three species of Euphorbia from the subgenus Chamaesyce E. humifusa, E. maculata a E. prostrata) in the Czech Republic, where these species belong to neophytes and they started to considerably spread as a consequence of climate chage.

Thermochemical conversion of biomass produces solid residue that is further used in agriculture called biochar. Studied biochar was produced in twin-fire two-staged gasifier from waste wood biomass. Heat and electricity were produced together with biochar. Biochar samples were analysed and assessed as a soil amendment. Results were compared to legal standards and voluntary certificate limits. It was concluded that studied biochar meet all criteria for utilization as a soil amendment.