Vojenske Lesy A Statky Cr, S.P. (Czech Republic)

Vojenské lesy a statky ČR, s.p. (VLS) is a purpose organization operating in the military training areas. The first mentions of the company date back to 1905, during the time of Austria-Hungary, when the military training ground was established in Milovice in Central Bohemia. The first legal norm of the Czechoslovak Republic that specifically expresses the existence of the institution that can be considered the legal predecessor of "Vojenské lesy a statky" is Government Regulation No. 206 dated September 25, 1924, which implements the law on the regulation of management in state enterprises, institutions, and facilities. Based on this, the Military Forestry Enterprise was established in Velké Leváre. However, it was still a local matter. During the 20 years of the First Republic (1918-1939), the military areas gradually expanded, and in addition to Milovice, other training areas were established in Brdy in Bohemia, Dědice in Moravia, and Malacky and Kamenica nad Cirochou in Slovakia. In 1928, the Military Forestry Enterprise was legislatively replaced by the Military Forest Enterprises, which economically provided for the expanding military areas. The biggest development occurred after World War II, when a total of 12 military areas were established between 1946 and 1953, which remained unchanged until the 1990s. For over 40 years, they operated in the military training areas (VVP). After 1989, the biggest organizational change occurred in connection with the division of the federation. Vojenské lesy a statky ČR and Vojenské lesy a majetky SR were established, and following the establishment of the Šumava National Park, the Sušice plant was abolished as of January 1, 1994, and the Horní Planá plant was significantly reduced - the forest complexes between the state border and the Vltava and Lipno lakes. In addition to the above-mentioned production organizational units of VLS, there has been a separate unit called the Project Institute (formerly the Institute for the Economic Management of Military Forests and Estates) since the post-war period, which was abolished on December 31, 2002, and transferred under the management of the state enterprise. The governing body of the entire VLS organization is the management of the state enterprise based in Prague.