Ivan Dejmal

Ivan Dejmal and Erazim Kohák in 2003

Ivan Dejmal (October 17, 1946, Ústí nad Labem – February 6, 2008, Prague) was a Czech politician and environmentalist.

Dejmal studied Agricultural University in Prague from 1965 to 1970, but he was expelled following his arrest for activity in students’ movement. He spent four years in prison on charges of "subversive activity against the Republic" (1970–1972 and 1974–1976).

He became a signatory to Charter 77 early in 1977 and soon became the head of its environmental commission, despite limited education in ecology. In 1987, Dejmal started to issue the samizdat journal Ecological Bulletin (Ekologický bulletin). In 1988, Dejmal founded the first independent ecological organization in Czechoslovakia the Ecological Society (Ekologická společnost). In December 1989, Dejmal participated in the foundation of the Confederation of Political Prisoners.

In 1989, he was an active member of the Civic Forum, he headed the ecological section. From February 1991 to July 1992, he was Czech minister of the environment.

Dejmal was supporter of several environmental NGOs - active memberSpolečnost pro trvale udržitelný život (Society for Sustainable Living), member of Honorary board of Děti Země (Children of the Earth) etc.