PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Because of its location northern Karelia, which borders on the vast forest areas of Russian Karelia, forms an important propagation route for many species which occur in boreal habitat types. For example, the main stand of Diplazium sibiricum in the EU is located in this area. The project area is also home to the most southerly boreal groves in the EU. In addition, the flying squirrel (Pteromys volans), lady's slipper (Cypripedium calceolus) and wide-leaved wood reed grass (Cinna latifolia), which are species on Annex II of the Habitats Directive, are found here. The flying squirrel, which is a species living in old-growth mixed forest, has been declining, owing to clear-felling and the homogenisation of the forests resulting from forest management favouring coniferous trees. Most of Finland's white-backed woodpecker population (about 30 nesting pairs of Dendrocopos leucotus) lives in a small area in central and eastern Häme and in south Savo. In autumn the Finnish population is supplemented by woodpeckers from Russia, so northern Karelia is the first to welcome the new arrivals. However, the lack of deciduous forests with enough rotting wood makes it difficult for the white-backed woodpecker to spread.
OBJECTIVES
This LIFE-Nature project was to produce management and restoration plans for all 14 subsites. It would also carry out management work on the basis of these plans: removing spruce trees which are blocking out light and other excessively dense tree stands; increasing the number of decaying trees, blocking drainage ditches and mowing meadows over a total area of 220 hectares. The purpose was to improve the living conditions for the Annex II species and Annex I birds and the favourable conservation status of the five FFH priority natural habitat types. The project intended to make forest management guidelines for those flying squirrel and white-backed woodpecker sites outside the Natura 2000 boundaries which serve as feeding areas and/or ecological corridors between the nesting areas proper. Winter feeding would also be organised for the white-backed woodpeckers to see them through the winter. At the same time, feeding would have a direct effect on the success of individual birds' reproduction.
RESULTS
This project made a significant contribution to the conservation and management of the northern Karelian Natura 2000 areas. The main results are as follows: • Management plans/restoration plans were made for all project sites and implemented during the project. Guidelines for forestry practice outside Natura 2000 areas (feeding areas for white-backed woodpeckers/ecological corridors for flying squirrel) have been linked to legally binding forest plans. • Shading spruce was cut back and decayed wood increased in herb-rich forests (76 ha). • 46.8 ha of herb-rich forests, 32.4 ha of boreal forest and 30.7 ha white-backed woodpecker forest was either purchased, or compensation has been paid to landowners, in order to ensure their proper management. • Trees were removed from too dense stands in white-backed woodpecker forest (78 ha). • Restoration of alkaline fens and petrifying springs including Cypripedium calceolus distribution areas: in total 4.2 ha. • Annual mowing of 0.5 ha lowland hay meadow • Mapping of important feeding areas of the white-backed woodpecker outside SPAs and preparation of guidelines for forest practices benefiting woodpeckers, over a total area of 2,200 ha. The same actions were done in important ecological corridor areas for flying squirrels outside pSCIs (84 ha). The project formulated forest management guidelines for those flying squirrel and white-backed woodpecker areas outside the Natura 2000 areas which serve as feeding areas and/or ecological corridors between the nesting areas. In practise this meant that the Forest Centre contacted forest owners. If the forest owner was willing, the forest management plans of the privately-owned forest was complemented with guidelines how to manage white-backed woodpecker habitats. Otherwise, the information on key habitats etc. was kept within the Forest Centre, to be taken on board when the forest owner starts managing his forest (he or she is obliged to inform the Forest Centre in advance). The project restoration work concentrated on prime habitats. By project end, already one new white-backed woodpecker couple inhabited a restoration area. This is promising because there are only approximately 50 nesting couples in all of Finland. The restored areas form a network of “stepping stones” to eastern populations of flying squirrel and white-backed woodpecker. The restoration of herb-rich forests safeguarded the future of many endangered plant species (e.g. Diplazium sibiricum, Cinna latifolia and Cypripedium calceolus). The project developed new monitoring methods for Diplazium sibiricum and Cinna latifolia, for which the beneficiary received extra funding from the Finnish Environment Institute. Besides the full-time coordinator hired via LIFE, the project provided work for numerous local people on the basis of ad hoc contracts. In total 81,000 euros was spent on restoration work done by local entrepreneurs. Working together with the local communities created a more positive atmosphere towards Natura 2000 and nature conservation in general. The project contacted over 100 landowners, and was able to get permission to do inventories on over 350 ha of private land. After these personal contacts, many landowners appreciated the conservation value of their estates in a new way. As a result, landowners participated in the restoration work and several private conservation areas were established. Encouraged by the LIFE-project, local stakeholders started a new project in 2005 for the herb-rich forests of central Karelia (Forest Centre in partnership with Regional Environment Centre). The main aim of this project is to create ecological corridors and stepping stones between conservation areas.