PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
South of Bratislava, the Danube forms the largest inland river delta in Europe. Here, at the border with Hungary, its floodplain landscape comprises a wide range of shifting interdependent habitats: forests, river channels and alluvial aquifers. The dynamics of river hydrology, geomorphology, vegetation and ecological gradients between aquatic and terrestrial habitats have resulted in a unique environment. The area was designated a Ramsar site in 1993 and qualifies as a Natura 2000 area for its floodplain forests (the alluvial alder, willow formations and the mixed oak-elm-ash stands). This species-rich area (more than 100 mollusc species and 1 800 beetle species!) is also home to the black stork (Ciconia nigra), the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) and several species of bat.
Like most rivers in Europe, the Danube floodplain has been drastically altered. The building of the Gabcikovo dam and canal strongly affected this inland river delta. Forest management as pursued in the 1990s was not sustainable and did not take the potential natural forest into consideration. Finally, pollution, eutrophication and increasing intensification of the nearby agricultural environment were also having a negative effect on fauna and flora.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of the project is to preserve the remaining natural floodplain forests in the Slovak part of the Danube inland delta and to introduce sound, sustainable forest management practices to the area.
The first step towards this will be the elaboration of a Sustainable Forest Management Framework Strategy for the whole floodplain area, based on field inventories and database information. This will enable the forest authority to update and adapt its forest management plans. Additionally, local breeds of native tree species will be selected to build up an in-situ source of indigenous genetic material.
The project aims to carry out model forest management as a practical demonstration, with measures for the control and elimination of invasive plant species, the promotion of natural regeneration and selective tree cutting. Finally, education and training of personnel from the forest and nature conservation administration will help the most important stakeholders to apply sustainable forestry and to protect the threatened habitat types and species of this unique landscape.
RESULTS
After overcoming initial problems with land purchases, the tasks were successfully implemented without serious problems. The project has achieved its objectives and expected results for all project actions.
The improved conservation status of forest habitats has had a positive impact on a number of Annex II species, including Cerambyx cerdo, Lucanus cervus, Osmoderma eremita, Myotis myotis, Barbastella barbastellus, Myotis dasycneme and Myotis bechsteini. It has also benefitted a number of species listed in the annexes of the Birds Directive, such as Dryocopus martius, Dendrocopos syriacus, Dendrocopos medius, Ciconia nigra, Haliaeetus albicilla, Milvus milvus, Milvus migrans and many others.
The Sustainable Forest Management Framework Strategy was finalised and new forest management plans were elaborated and approved for LHC Rusovce, Samorin, Gabcikovo and Calovo. These plans cover the whole project site area (12 450 ha), include principal requirements for conservation and management of the Annex I habitats - residual alluvial forests (91 E0*) and mixed oak-elm-ash forests (91 F0).
The Gajc nature reserve was enlarged from 0.84 to 62.72 ha and a new 76.7 ha nature reserve, Stary haj, was designated. Proposals to designate two further areas (Foras and Gabcikovske luhy) as nature reserves and one (Pecniansky les) as a protected site were submitted to the competent authorities, along with proposals to enlarge the existing nature reserves at Ostrovne lucky and Cicovske mrtve rameno. The total area of the new proposed protected areas is 1 935.68 ha, substantially exceeding the original project plan of 549 ha.
As foreseen in the project proposal, data have been gathered on the suitability of various tree species for afforestation. Seeds and fruits of selected native species were collected and planted in State Forests' nursery in 2005 and 2006. State Forests also implemented actions to increase species diversity by planting autochthonous tree species into monocultures of hybrid poplars.
BROZ has leased and purchased 329.94 ha of land for nature conservation purposes, exceeding the target of 240 ha.
An area of 431 ha has been targeted for the removal of non-native invasive tree species. Removal of invasive tree species has been also incorporated in the official forest management plan, covering a much wider area than foreseen.
Dissemination activities included producing stickers, posters, postcards, information panels and a website (in Slovak and English) and organising field excursions and training seminars.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report (see "Read more" section).