The Czech Society for Environmental Law has organised the third annual Zdeněk Madar Award competition, which aims to encourage academic interest in environmental law among university students and graduates and to recognise outstanding theses contributing to the development of this field of law.

A total of 19 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral theses from three Czech law faculties were submitted to this year’s competition. The submissions covered a broad range of environmental law topics, from fundamental principles, environmental impact assessment and public participation, through climate protection, water protection, nature and landscape conservation and animal protection, to waste management and international, European and comparative legal issues.

The academic standard of the submissions was very high. The jury particularly appreciated the diversity of topics, the authors’ independence in formulating and addressing research questions, their thorough engagement with legal sources and case law, and the growing importance of empirical and interdisciplinary research methods.

The assessment process also included an oral round, held online on 13 November 2026. Selected participants had the opportunity to present and defend the principal findings of their research in an academic discussion with members of the jury.

Having considered the submitted theses, their academic assessments and the results of the oral round, the jury decided to confer the following awards.

Bachelor’s Thesis Category

A total of 3 theses competed in the bachelor’s thesis category: 2 from the Faculty of Law of Palacký University Olomouc and 1 from the Faculty of Law of Masaryk University.

The award was presented to Mgr. Katarína VYSLOUŽILOVÁ for her bachelor’s thesis entitled Transfer of Specially Protected Species Due to Construction Activities, defended at the Faculty of Law of Masaryk University (supervisor: Mgr. Lucie Zdráhalová).

The thesis examined the legal requirements and practical implementation of the translocation of specially protected animal and plant species in connection with construction activities. The jury particularly appreciated the combination of legal analysis with the author’s own empirical research into administrative decision-making. Rather than confining herself to an examination of the legal framework, the author also investigated the specific conditions under which administrative authorities authorise translocations and their significance for the effective protection of the species concerned.

Among other matters, she identified problems relating to the selection of suitable recipient sites, the precision of the conditions imposed and subsequent monitoring of the success of translocations. The jury commended the independence of the research, its methodological approach and the practical applicability of its findings.

Master’s Thesis Category

A total of 13 theses were submitted in the master’s thesis category: 8 from the Faculty of Law of Charles University, 3 from the Faculty of Law of Palacký University Olomouc and 2 from the Faculty of Law of Masaryk University.

The master’s theses constituted an exceptionally diverse collection of high-quality academic studies. Alongside traditional doctrinal legal approaches, comparative, empirical and interdisciplinary methods featured prominently. Many of the theses offered original interpretations of existing law, critical assessments of its practical operation or recommendations for future legislative developments.

In view of this diversity and the different forms of academic contribution, the jury decided to present awards in three subcategories.

A. For Contributions to the Advancement of Environmental Law Scholarship

The award was presented to Mgr. Andrej LIZOŇ for his master’s thesis entitled Constitutionally Conforming Interpretation of Restrictions on the Participation of Environmental Associations in Administrative Proceedings, defended at the Faculty of Law of Charles University (supervisor: JUDr. Michal Sobotka, Ph.D.).

The author examined the legal position of environmental associations and their opportunities to participate in administrative proceedings following legislative changes that significantly restricted their procedural rights. The jury particularly appreciated the depth of the doctrinal legal analysis and the originality of the author’s interpretative conclusions. It considered especially valuable his efforts to identify a constitutionally conforming solution within the existing legal framework, particularly through the interpretation of Section 27(2) of the Administrative Procedure Code and Section 182(e) of the Building Act.

Rather than merely criticising legislative developments, the thesis offers specific legal arguments that can inform academic debate on the procedural rights of environmental associations. The jury also commended the author’s ability to connect constitutional principles, the Czech Republic’s international obligations and individual institutions of administrative law.

B. For Contributions to Effective Environmental Protection in Legal Practice

The award was presented to Mgr. Jakub KIRSCHNER for his master’s thesis entitled Effectiveness of Remedial Measures in the Context of Administrative Liability for Offences in Waste Management, defended at the Faculty of Law of Charles University (supervisor: JUDr. Michal Sobotka, Ph.D.).

The thesis examined the relationship between administrative penalties and the imposition of remedial measures in cases involving breaches of waste management obligations. The jury particularly appreciated the extensive original empirical research, in which the author collected and analysed data on the decision-making practices of the Czech Environmental Inspectorate and municipal authorities of municipalities with extended powers.

The research made it possible to compare how different administrative authorities use punitive and remedial instruments and the extent to which their approaches are directed towards actually remedying unlawful situations. The jury considered the identification of differences in administrative decision-making and the critical assessment of the effectiveness of remedial measures to be particularly significant contributions. The thesis clearly demonstrates the importance of empirical research in evaluating how environmental law operates in practice and provides valuable insights for administrative authorities and further academic discussion.

C. For Contributions to the Development of Environmental Law in the European, International and Comparative Context

The award was presented to Mgr. Daniella Alessandra MUÑOZ ARÉVALO for her master’s thesis entitled Should the Amazon Be a Global Common?, defended at the Faculty of Law of Palacký University Olomouc (supervisor: JUDr. Veronika Tomoszková, Ph.D.).

The author explored possible approaches to the protection of the Amazon rainforest under international law, taking into account its fundamental importance for global climate stability and the preservation of biodiversity. The jury particularly appreciated the originality of the research question, the thorough analysis of the concepts of common heritage of mankind, common concern of humankind and planetary commons, and the author’s ability to critically assess their applicability to ecosystems situated within the sovereign territory of individual states.

Of particular value is the author’s examination of the tension between the global interest in protecting the Amazon, the sovereignty of Amazonian states and the risk of environmental neocolonialism. The thesis goes beyond theoretical analysis by developing an original model of a quasi-global common, based on enhanced regional cooperation, shared conservation rules, monitoring and international financing. The jury also commended the methodological rigour of the research and the author’s willingness to critically reassess her initial research assumptions.

Doctoral Thesis Category

A total of 3 doctoral theses competed in this category: 2 from the Faculty of Law of Palacký University Olomouc and 1 from the Faculty of Law of Charles University.

The award was presented to Mgr. Karel HUNEŠ, Ph.D., for his doctoral thesis entitled Public Use and Natural Resources, defended at the Faculty of Law of Palacký University Olomouc (doctoral supervisor: JUDr. Veronika Tomoszková, Ph.D.).

The thesis provides a comprehensive legal-theoretical examination of the institution of public use of natural resources, particularly in relation to the need to balance public access to the natural environment with its effective protection. The jury particularly appreciated the systematic nature of the research, the depth of the legal reasoning and the author’s ability to connect traditional institutions of administrative law with contemporary challenges in nature conservation.

The jury considered the detailed comparison of Czech and Austrian law, the analysis of the legal position of users of natural resources and the critical assessment of the options for regulating their public use to be especially valuable. The author’s original proposals for addressing situations in which the intensity of public use threatens natural values also deserve particular attention, including his consideration of appropriate legal mechanisms for such regulation.

The thesis thus contributes not only to the development of legal theory concerning public use, but also to the identification of legal instruments capable of reconciling public access to nature with the requirements of its long-term protection.

Acknowledgements and Award Ceremony

The Czech Society for Environmental Law wishes to thank all participants in the third annual Zdeněk Madar Award competition for their submissions and for the academic work they have devoted to examining current issues in environmental law.

We wish to emphasise that all submitted theses were of an exceptionally high academic standard, and the jury’s decisions were particularly difficult in several instances. The awards should therefore not be understood as calling into question the quality of the other submissions. On the contrary, we are pleased that the competition is becoming a forum for presenting diverse and often highly original research approaches, and that a new generation of specialists is emerging from law faculties with the potential to make significant contributions to the development of environmental law.

We thank all participants for their efforts and their interest in this field of law. We warmly congratulate the award recipients and wish all participants every success in their future academic and professional endeavours.

The formal presentation of certificates and small prizes will take place on 27 November 2026 at the Old Wastewater Treatment Plant in Prague-Bubeneč, including a guided tour of the premises. All competition participants and members of the Society are warmly invited to attend.

We look forward to meeting everyone and to the next annual Zdeněk Madar Award competition.