PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Almost the entire project area is located on a plain called ‘Dravska ravan’ in northeast Slovenia. The Drava River is a designated Natura 2000 site and is home to eight habitat types and more than 10 protected fauna species listed in Annex I and Annex II of the Habitats Directive. However, the natural habitats and dependent species have been deteriorating for decades. The main reason for this has been the construction of hydro-power plants in the 1960s and 70s, which caused enormous changes in the natural dynamics of the river. Allied to human pressure from uncontrolled recreational activities, winter hunting and greater public access to the most sensitive areas, this had led to the widespread decline and even regional extinction of bird populations associated with riverine habitats.
OBJECTIVES
The LIVEDRAVA project aimed to preserve and enlarge populations of species listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive (birds typical for lowland rivers) and Annex II of the Habitats Directive (fish and beetles) by managing alluvial forest habitats (Habitats Directive Annex I) along the Lower Drava River in Slovenia. The project also aimed to improve cooperation between the most important stakeholders along the river and to inform the public about the natural value of these Natura 2000 sites. Specific objectives included: transforming 61 ha of former wastewater basins into a wetland as a stopover site for migrating birds; declaring site as Nature Reserve; establishing a grazing system for wetland management; improving the status of 15 ha of alluvial forests; removing illegally-built fishing and hunting platforms; restoring three side arms of the Drava River for fish species; creating an artificial island; managing gravel bars for little ringed plover (Charadrius dubius); and modifying river banks to enable breeding of kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) and sand martin (Riparia riparia)
RESULTS
The LIVEDRAVA project achieved its objectives to help conserve and enlarge populations of species listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive (birds typical of lowland rivers) and Annex II of the Habitats Directive (fish and beetles) by managing alluvial forest habitats (Habitats Directive Annex I) along the Lower Drava River in Slovenia. At the end of the project, monitoring revealed an increased number of breeding pairs of common tern (Sterna hirundo) and black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus), and increased breeding populations of little ringed plover (Charadrius dubius), common sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) and sand martin (Riparia riparia), at Lake Ptuj, Lake Ormož, the Ormož Basins and on river gravel bars in the Drava River. This success was due to project actions that improved habitat conditions, such as the creation of artificial islands for bird breeding, vertical sandy river banks for nesting sites, and bare gravel bars as well as improved management of the sites. The breeding islands were successfully used for breeding by terns. Common tern breeding pairs increased form 100 (2004-12) to 128 (2013-17), and black headed gull increased from 343 (2004-12) to 707 (2013-17). The new breeding banks were used by kingfishers and sand martins. Five new breeding pairs of kingfishers were recorded (a 25% population increase), while the sand martin population increased by 200%. The project restored three river arms of the River Drava. This created a greater diversity of habitats for fish and led to increased populations of target fish species, along with a new Natura 2000 fish species being recorded for Slovenia. Specifically, 29 fish species were recorded during fish monitoring. Though mudminnow (Umbra krameri) was not confirmed during the monitoring, all the other target fish species - spined loach (Cobitis taenia), asp (Aspius aspius) and bitterling (Rhodeus sericeus amarus) were recorded and their ecological conditions improved after the river restoration. The project team restored the Ormož Basins (former wastewater basins) as wetland, created several islets and a permanent water influx. The water inflow to the Ormož Basins from Lake Ormožwas increased from 30 l/s to 200 l/s to raise the water level in the basins, after additional water pipes were laid. Large flocks of water birds now use the area as stopover site. The Ormož Basins was declared a Nature Reserve in 2017. Two land parcels were purchased for conservation and one leased. Long-term conservation management agreements, with support from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, were made for these and other areas to ensure appropriate grazing and forest management (e.g. no logging areas) that favours the presence of saproxylic beetle species, including two target species (Osmoderma eremita and Cucujus cinnaberinus). Water buffaloes were introduced to Slovenia to demonstrate their use for wetlands management by grazing. The project improved cooperation between the water management and conservation sectors, and between stakeholders along the river, particularly farmers. Among its other environmental benefits, the project stopped illegal hunting in the Ormož Lake by removing hunting and fishing platforms. This helped wintering population of water birds to recover: from around 2 400 individuals in the 2012/2015 to more than 10 000 in 2017. Modifications to river embankments helped restore natural river dynamics, an important step for future conservation projects. Visitor facilities were established at Ormož Basin Nature Reserve, and an observation tower erected at Ptuj Lake that is attracting many visitors. Awareness was raised concerning the natural values of the Natura 2000 sites and the importance of nature conservation. A socio-economic study revealed how the project has engaged many local people, for example, as subcontractors or to provide guided tours. The project team helped an eco-social farm “Korenika”, which is marketing a conservation-branded elder tea and is exploring the potential of producing organic mozzarella from buffalos grazing wetland areas. The project directly addressed a range of EU policies, including the Biodiversity Strategy 2020, the Habitats Directive, the Water Framework Directive, and the Floods Directive. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan/After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section
