What is the general situation with the ISSUE ?
One of the factors of environmental assessments is the monitoring of plant and animal species, the so-called bio-monitoring, which captures, in a comprehensive fashion, the interaction of all influences. Results of the bio-monitoring programme show a deceleration of the unfavourable trend manifested in a declining number of animal species.
A constant trend in Prague is a growth of built-up areas, particularly at the expense of agricultural land and so-called other areas.
Soil contamination analyses of long-monitored sites prove that the situation has recently stopped getting worse. ...

 What is causing the problems ?
The reason for the good biodiversity trend consists in improved air quality, but mainly in a reduced use and transfer of agricultural chemicals.
The urbanised territory of Prague witnesses a permanent conflict between nature protection and preservation interests and those of development projects. In recent years, the conflict has grown in intensity as a result of increased building and entrepreneurial activities.
High concentrations of heavy metals or toxic organic substances were identified in the central part of the city, increased contamination was found around industrial facilities. The highest contamination levels are associated with illegal waste dumps. ...

 What are the impacts of this issue ?
An unfavourable situation exists insofar as pollen-induced allergies are concerned, as the generally lower quality of the environment results in a higher percentage of the population sensitive to occurrences of allergenic substances.

 What is being done to fix the problems ?
There are 10 nature parks and 88 small-size protected areas declared in the territory of Prague. The Prague City Hall devotes a great deal of attention to the system of maintenance of green areas, recently focusing on studies of renewal of major municipal parks.  The approval of the Environmental Stability Territorial System as a binding document for drafting the Land-Use Plan represents an important step.
Increased contamination prompting a sanitisation of sites, the beginning of which is often marked by findings of contamination.
Systematic monitoring and mapping provide information for decision-making. ...

 What can an individual do to make a difference ?