Na Špičáku - Protection and research
CONSERVATION, RESEARCH AND USE OF THE CAVE
The Na Špičáku Cave is part of the Na Špičáku National Nature Reserve declared in 1970 by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic with the area of 7.05 ha. Together with other underground and surface karst phenomena and their biota (e.g. with frequent occurrence of yews) they are strictly protected according to Act No. 114/1992 Coll., on Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection. Since 1991 it has been, together with other caves open to the public, in the administration and direct care of the state agency for nature conservation. According to the regimen limiting both the number and frequency of groups of visitors, the cave are now used for public and field trips. The Na Špičáku Cave are occasionally available for vocal and chamber music concerts. They are annually visited by almost 16,000 tourists.
The cave are also an important biotope for bats and horseshoe bats. In 1996 one hundred overwintering individuals of six species, among them also rare Barbastelle (Barbastella barbastellus) were found here.
The unique cave system is a subject of interest of experts from various branches. The state and changes of the cave microclimate and hydrological conditions are monitored and biospeleological research on invertebrates is performed here. Also the study and documentation of historical writings and drawings are still in progress.
Together with the Na Pomezí Caves they are one of the sites where movement of blocks of Earth is monitored by the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic within an international research programme.