Czech village builds dune to protect endangered grass
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In Kostelní Lhota, Czechia, local authorities constructed a 100-ton sand dune to provide a habitat for the critically endangered sand fescue plant and educate the public about disappearing landscapes.
Botanists from Prague Botanical Garden coordinated the project, which involved spreading specially prepared sandy soil over an area of 100 square meters and planting dozens of sand fescue plants alongside other regional species.
The initiative serves as both a sanctuary for the vulnerable grass and an educational tool, demonstrating what a natural sandy habitat looks like. Prague Botanical Garden identified around 35 remaining sand fescue sites, but determined that only half are large enough to be viable, as many are shrinking due to encroaching vegetation. Local children will participate in maintaining the dune by preventing overgrowth, learning about conservation firsthand.
The project received approximately CZK 1.15 million in funding from Ahmad Tea, with a portion dedicated to building the dune and the rest supporting research, seed preservation, and plant propagation.
