PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The Hélianthème project targeted two priority habitat types of Community interest: dry grasslands on calcareous substrates (6210*) and rupicolous (living, or growing on rocks) grasslands (6110*). These habitat types are among the most species-rich and the most threatened natural habitats in Belgium. The sites targeted by the project, in the lower and middle valleys of the Meuse basin, are even more remarkable given their location at the northerly limit of the range of thermophilous communities (of high salt content). The habitats, however, were subject to many threats, resulting in the very unfavourable conservation status of the project area. The major threats were: fragmentation; lack of appropriate management; increase in level of soil fertility; climate change; lack of public awareness about biodiversity issues; lack of inter-regional collaboration; invasion by exotic species; and pressure from tourism/leisure.
OBJECTIVES
The Helianthème project aimed to restore the targeted dry grassland habitat types to a favourable conservation status within a project area encompassing 23 Natura 2000 network sites in Belgium. There were four main objectives:
RESULTS
The Hélianthème project was successfully run as a partnership between the country’s two main organisations for nature conservation, Réserves Naturelles RNOB (the coordinating beneficiary) and Natuurpunt Beheer vzw. Together, these two organisations achieved almost all their main objectives and even surpassed some specific restoration goals.
The main success was the restoration of a network of 154 ha of dry grasslands. This was achieved mainly through the application of well-known restoration and conservation techniques, such as grazing management, mowing techniques, establishment of fences, cable yarding etc. In addition among other achievements, the project team applied some innovative techniques for the control of invasive species (using a ring technique from Switzerland) to restore degraded meadows by spreading litters areas of dry grassland of good conservation status, or by using the poor layer nutrient of the topsoil removed to indirectly restore larger areas. Another important result was the creation of 19 new nature reserves. In addition, grazing was introduced on more than 130 ha – thanks to collaboration with 18 local sheep breeders, the provision of 166 hardy sheep, the construction of a shelter for sheep, and the installation of 46 km of fences.
The project contributed to the implementation of the EU Birds and Habitats directives, the EU Regulation on invasive alien species, the EU biodiversity strategy and national policy concerning Natura 2000 network site management.
Importantly, some of the restoration techniques employed are continuing to be monitored after LIFE, to measure their longer term impact. Also significant to the success of the project, were volunteers from the partner organisations, who proved invaluable to certain tasks such as collecting the hay after mowing. A regional volunteer day was organised in Mont des Pins (35 volunteers participated) and eight training sessions were organised, including one on grazing management for shepherds in protected areas.
Other notable results from restoration actions were: deforestation and brush clearing actions carried out on 112 ha, cutting of 31 ha of plantations of black pines, mowing of 40 ha, the recovery of wood waste on 82 ha, clearance of 7 ha of rocks, removal of organic matter on 5 ha of fertilised grassland, removal of invasive species on 8.5 ha, sowing on 7.5 ha of severely degraded land, waste collection at four sites of dry meadows. The coordinating beneficiary also carried out detailed mapping of all the dry grasslands restored by the project. This provided information about the perimeter of the open areas concerned, as well as the exact surface area of every habitat type restored.
Awareness-raising among local people was also carried out via various communication tools. These included the publication of four brochures about the management of the dry grasslands and the publication and distribution of several leaflets about the Natura 2000 network sites. A project video was produced about the meadows of the Montagne Saint-Pierre.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).
