"Protection of valuable natural non-forest habitats typical of the “Orle Gniazda” Landscape Park "

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

The Krakowsko-Częstochowska Upland, also known as the Polish Jurassic Highland or Polish Jura, is one of the most valuable natural regions of Poland, known for its outstanding natural landscape and historic values. It is the largest karst area in Central Europe with an exceptionally diversified landscape and a wide variety of geological formations. Traditional farming practices, particularly livestock grazing and meadow mowing, have led to the development of unique plant communities – xerothermic grasslands and thermophilous grasslands (Habitats Directive code: 6210) supporting some 300 plant species, as well as juniper thickets growing on heather moors and calcareous grasslands (code: 5130). One of the valleys, the headwater area of the river Centuria, provides suitable habitats for the critically endangered Polish scurvy-grass (Cochlearia polonica ). In the 1980s, the rocky ridges and their vegetation were put under legal protection as part of the “Orle Gniazda” nature park. However, although some of the most valuable land has been included in the Natura 2000 network, other valuable natural habitats are still not protected. Furthermore, habitats both inside and outside the Natura 2000 sites are threatened by the expansion of woody vegetation resulting from the decline of traditional farming and livestock grazing, as well as illegal construction of homes and uncontrolled tourism and recreational activities. Invasive alien species such as Sakhalin knotweed (Reynoutria sachalinensis), constitute a major threat to the valuable rare and indigenous species of the Czestochowska Upland, occurring throughout the project area. As the LIFE project activities are to be implemented only in Natura 2000 sites, similar efforts will also be undertaken in the areas outside the protected sites, with additional funding.

OBJECTIVES

The project’s main objectives are to preserve and protect the valuable habitats of the Czestochowska Upland in four Natura 2000 sites, to form a network of landscape and natural ecological corridors; and to gain the active support of the local community of the need to protect and preserve the region’s typical natural features. Key measures will include: the restoration of grazing by sheep and goats to maintain the xerothermic and rock grasslands; the opening up of attractive tourist sites and development of tourism infrastructure; and the provision of information about the protected areas. Specific project actions include:

Actively protecting threatened xerothermic and rock grassland habitats (e.g. through the coordination and streamlining of rock climbing activities that have contributed to the devastation of rocks and degradation of their vegetation);

Closure to tourists of an ecosystem of caves that harbours six hibernating bat species;

The protection of non-forest habitats particularly threatened by the increasing trend for “wild” tourism and recreation activities;

The protection of indigenous flora through the removal of Sakhalin knotweed;

The protection of the existing population of Polish scurvy-grass in the backwater area of the river Centuria;

Monitoring of the natural communities;

An information campaign targeted at different social groups; and

Preventive measures such, including patrols of the most natural valuable areas by the parks services, police and state forests agency.

Expected results

The project expects to achieve the following quantifiable results:

The preservation and protection of some 100 ha of the most valuable xerothermic and rock grassland ecosystems located in four Natura 2000 sites;

The preservation and protection of 20 caves to prevent uncontrolled entry by visitors;

The preservation and protection of some 6.5 ha of grassland against uncontrolled rock climbing;

The removal of Sakhalin knotweed from an area of 1.5 ha;

The protection of endangered non-forest habitats from intensive human activities in the 11 most-visited core sites through the development of tourism infrastructure; and

The human-induced impact in the four most valuable Natura 2000 areas (Olsztyńsko-Mirowska, Złotopotocka, Kroczycka and Środkowojurajska) will be reduced through preventive measures such as patrols.