LIFE-Nature-2005

Restoration of the Wetlands of Zahorie Lowland

prepared by: Jaromír ŠÍBL – project manager

Beneficiary and partners

State Nature Conservancy of SR

Slovak Water Management Enterprise

BROZ

Duration + budget

start: February 2005

end: December 2008

total budget: 624,000 EURO

EC contribution: 50%

Objectives

General: development of NATURA 2000 network

Specific:

improve habitat conditions of wetlands degraded by drainage

reach / maintain favourable conservation status of species and habitats targeted

public awareness on wetlands conservation / restoration

NATURA 2000

- 8 proposed Sites of Community Importance

Habitats: semi-natural pine, oak, birch and alder forests pine monucultures inland sand dunes dry grasslands and heaths wetlands meadows running waters

Species (all species recorded): higher plants - more than 500 fish - 30 amphibians - 13 reptiles - 6 birds - 48 mammals - 24

Species of Community interest (Annex II of Habitats Directive)

higher plants - 1 beetles - 6 butterflies - 3 dragonflies - 4 cyclostomes and fish - 7 amphibians - 1 mammals - 7 birds (Annex I of Birds Directive) - 48

Threats

drainage of wetlands, regulations of watercourses

unsustainable forest management (clearcuts, pine monocultures)

fish migration obstacled by weir at Rudava River

lack of management of meadows

lack of awareness

Problems - Consequences

Lack of scientific information on MTA´s biodiversity (inventories)

Unsustainable forest management (in terms of biodiversity)

- large scale clear-cuts - planting pine monocultures - increased danger of forest fires – loss of biodiversity Deterioration of water regime - drainage of wetlands,

stream regulations - interruption of fish migration routes (barriers)- loss of biodiversity - loss of retention capacity of the

landscape – increased danger of climatic extremes (drought, floods)

Actions

A.1. Management Plans for 8 project sites elaborated

deadline: 31/12/2007

status: on-going

outputs:- botanical and zoological inventories carried- GIS database developed- draft Management plans elaborated for 4 project

sites

A.2. Education and training of project personnel

deadline: 31/07/2007

status: on-going

outputs:- study visit to Czech repulic (2 persons) acomplished - study visit to Poland (11 persons) acomplished

A.3. Amendments to forest management plans for 7 project sites

deadline: 31/12/2006

status: on-going

outputs:- proposals elaborated for 3 project sites,- draft proposals elaborated for 4 project sites

C.1. Implementation of specific restoration and management measures

deadline: 31/03/2008

status: on-going

outputs:- Bahno - dead trees removed from 2,8 ha (100%)- Vanišovec - 140 m of drainage canals filled (100%)- Zelienka - 90 m of drainage canals filled (60%)- Jasenácke - 20 m of drainage canals filled (50%)- Kotlina - restoration works start in September 2006

C.2. Construction of the fish by-pass at Rudava River

deadline: 30/11/2007

status: on-going

outputs:

- the technical documentation for the construction project revised, construction budget updated

C.3. Restoration of lowland hay meadows along Rudava River

deadline: 30/09/2008

status: on-going

outputs:

- base line survey carried on the butterfly species targeted

- restoration works started at the area of 12 ha

E.1. Produce educational materials on the project for general public and for media

deadline: 31/10/2008 status: on-going

outputs:- 5 articles published, 1 press release, 3 TV and 1 radio broadcasts released- interim project website established, new website

under preparation- film/video/DVD producer selected

E.2. Workshops and public meetings

deadline: 31/10/2008 status: on-going

outputs:- 1 public meeting prepared

F.1. Project management + monitoring

status: on-going

F.2. Bookkeeping

status: on-going

F.3 Auditing

status: pending

F.4 After LIFE - Conservation Plan

status: pending

Project focus in 2006

Management Plans + Restoration Projects Forest management plans

wetland restoration - filling the drainage ditches and canals) at 4 project sites

documentation for construction permit of fish by-pass at Rudava River

restoration of degraded meadows at pSCI Rudava

Thank you for your attention !