Conservation and restoration of xerothermic grasslands in Poland - theory and practice

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

The vast majority of the semi-natural dry grasslands (Festuco brometalia) that occur in Poland – listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive – are conserved mainly thanks to extensive agriculture – for the most part, grazing, mowing or burning. As in other areas of Europe, such land use patterns are now less profitable. This has resulted in the loss of extensive grazing, forestation and change of use to arable lands and brought about problems such as eutrophication of the grasslands and interference from alien species linked to negative changes in abiotic (soil, climate, type of land) conditions. The chief problem is invasion of alien species and natural succession. These two processes had been increasing in intensity each year prior to the project, and the majority of Polish dry grasslands were overgrown with shrubs on almost 70% of their surface area.

OBJECTIVES

Overall project objectives of the XericGrasslandsPL LIFE project focused on improving habitat conditions and restricting succession of undesirable species on selected areas of dry grasslands by active conservation. Specific project objectives covered: the reintroduction of traditional agriculture (mainly extensive grazing) on parts of the targeted habitat, to ensure their lasting and effective conservation; enhancing biodiversity on the project sites by forming a dynamic mosaic of habitats; and creating a knowledge base for the complete and complex conservation of these dry grasslands in Poland. The project also aimed to carry out extensive conservation actions to save associated species, e.g., the extremely endangered populations of the rare plant species, viper's bugloss (Echium russicum) (Annex II of the Habitat Directive) and Stipa borysthenica. (Note, it was estimated that without active conservation these species would become extinct in Poland.) The project planned to conserve eight Natura 2000 sites, five habitats listed in Annex I of the Habitat Directive (including three priority habitats) and nine species listed in Annex II of this directive.

Project actions were to be carried out in four nature reserves and 12 protected areas. The eight Natura 2000 sites selected for the project are the most valuable Polish areas for the semi-natural dry grasslands. They are located in two regions: Lublin and Lower Odra & Warta. The dry grasslands in both regions are mainly small isolated patches (usually only a few hectares) located in the most extreme habitats in the landscape – steep slopes of river valleys and moraine hills, or limestone outcrops. Over four years, various methods of active conservation for the dry grasslands were tested and refined in specific conditions: “mobile pasturage”, creation of surrogate habitats for dry grasslands in man-made areas (creating grasslands from scratch), rehabilitation of the highly transformed patches (including the transplantation of patches of well-preserved grasslands, sowing seeds, tearing off the top layer of the soil etc.). At the same time, the project expected to help preserve and encourage local pasturing traditions and spread awareness locally of the need to conserve these important grasslands.

RESULTS

The XericGrasslandsPL LIFE project successfully verified several methods for conserving the intended habitats. Particularly noteworthy outcomes were achieved by removal of shrubs and trees and extensive grazing. Less known methods used in the project included: targeted sheep grazing, used in the case of small, highly isolated patches of grasslands (it involved transporting animals from patch to patch, throughout the growing season); restoring grasslands (including top soil removal contaminated by Robinia pseudoacacia, sowing seeds and transplanting pieces of sod); recovery of grasslands overgrown by expansive bushes using black foil lining; and various methods of dealing with invasive species (e.g. mowing several times a year, cutting trees to a height of 120 cm, plucking plants with roots etc.). Conservation Measures Plans (PZO) for four Natura 2000 sites and the Habitat Action Plan were prepared as planned, but these were not approved as legally binding documents during the project period.

Specific results included:

Conservation or improving the conservation status of ca. 225 ha of xerothermic vegetation complexes;

Preserving or enhancing biodiversity on eight Natura 2000 sites;

Removing or thinning out shrub and tree thickets on an area of 76.34 ha;

Removing 10 illegal landfills from the xerothermic grasslands areas;

Restoring 11 xerothermic grasslands with combined total area of 20.2 ha;

Reintroducing extensive grazing on 67.39 ha of xerothermic grasslands;

Preparing scientific documentation for 15 objects involved in the conservation of xerothermic grasslands;

Preparing conservation plans for four Natura 2000 sites and eight nature reserves / ecological sites;

Channelling tourist traffic to eight Natura 2000 sites;

Boosting and stabilising the population of Echium russicum;

Creating professional know-how for further complex conservation of xerothermic grasslands in Poland (Habitat Action Plan);

Raising awareness and knowledge about xerothermic grasslands and the need to conserve them in more than 15 000 interested individuals; and

Propagating information about conserving xerothermic grasslands in the Lublin, Lower Odra and Lower Warta regions.

The XericGrasslandsPL LIFE project successfully verified several methods for conserving the intended habitats. Particularly noteworthy outcomes were achieved by removal of shrubs and trees and extensive grazing. Less known methods used in the project included: targeted sheep grazing, used in the case of small, highly isolated patches of grasslands (it involved transporting animals from patch to patch, throughout the growing season); restoring grasslands (including top soil removal contaminated by Robinia pseudoacacia, sowing seeds and transplanting pieces of sod); recovery of grasslands overgrown by expansive bushes using black foil lining; and various methods of dealing with invasive species (e.g. mowing several times a year, cutting trees to a height of 120 cm, plucking plants with roots etc.). Conservation Measures Plans (PZO) for four Natura 2000 sites and the Habitat Action Plan were prepared as planned, but these were not approved as legally binding documents during the project period.

Specific results included:

Conservation or improving the conservation status of ca. 225 ha of xerothermic vegetation complexes;

Preserving or enhancing biodiversity on eight Natura 2000 sites;

Removing or thinning out shrub and tree thickets on an area of 76.34 ha;

Removing 10 illegal landfills from the xerothermic grasslands areas;

Restoring 11 xerothermic grasslands with combined total area of 20.2 ha;

Reintroducing extensive grazing on 67.39 ha of xerothermic grasslands;

Preparing scientific documentation for 15 objects involved in the conservation of xerothermic grasslands;

Preparing conservation plans for four Natura 2000 sites and eight nature reserves / ecological sites;

Channelling tourist traffic to eight Natura 2000 sites;

Boosting and stabilising the population of Echium russicum;

Creating professional know-how for further complex conservation of xerothermic grasslands in Poland (Habitat Action Plan);

Raising awareness and knowledge about xerothermic grasslands and the need to conserve them in more than 15 000 interested individuals; and

Propagating information about conserving xerothermic grasslands in the Lublin, Lower Odra and Lower Warta regions.