PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The LIFE Beskydy project area includes several habitats types that are listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive, including, species-rich Nardus grasslands on silicious substrates in mountain areas (and sub-mountain areas in continental Europe) (Annex I Habitats Directive habitat type 6230):. This habitat is found in the Natura 2000 site Beskydy, which covers an area of 647.6 ha the third largest area of this habitat type in all Natura 2000 sites in the Czech Republic. Nardus grasslands faces a range of threats, including eutrophication and the abandonment of traditional land management practices such as grazing and mowing. Eutrophication leads to an increase in nutrient favoured grasses and a decline in the prevalence of plants that are typical of this habitat, while the cessation of traditional land management practices leads to a gradual succession to forest vegetation. While a range of LIFE projects have already been implemented in the Carpathians, none have focused specifically on Nardus grasslands, which are now in urgent need of conservation.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE Beskydy project aimed to improve the conservation status and management of Nardus grasslands in the Beskydy Natura 2000 site.
Specifically, the project aimed to:
RESULTS
The LIFE Beskydy project team carried out improvements to the quality of Nardus grasslands in the Natura 2000 site Beskydy on 50.1 hectares of land, a larger area than foreseen, and prepared the land for recurring management. The project actions cutting woody sprouts, shrubs and trees, harrowing, special mulching, grazing and mowing increased plant species diversity on 64% of the target area, while the diversity of butterfly species was improved on 46%, with two threatened species, large blue (Phengaris arion) and silver-spotted skipper (Hesperia comma) found at the sites. Furthermore, dominant plant species were suppressed.
A series of tests to determine the best timing and frequency of special mulching and harrowing as a means of Nardus grassland restoration were also carried out. The results of these tests formed the basis for the development of management plans for the grasslands that were then officially approved.
The project team focused moreover on raising the awareness of landowners who are responsible for 20% of the managed area, double the area foreseen. The coordinating beneficiary learnt that in-person meetings with landowners,rather than e-mails or phone calls, on a regular basis is vital for ensuring their involvement, cooperation or at least consent. Additionally, the project team submitted to national authorities valuable analytical data and suggestions for improving agricultural subsidy schemes for the Nardus grasslands, including those related to the Rural Development Programme 2021-2027. The team advocated higher subsidies for the grasslands management to account for the difficult environmental conditions, while also joining lobbying efforts to remove damaging traditional mulching practices from agri-environmental schemes. The project demonstrated the technically and financially viability of alternative management regimes that are replicable elsewhere, especially the Carpathian Mountains.
Finally, the project carried out dissemination activities, including the publication of interactive calendars, the development of a card game, the creation of information panels in the shape of sheep and the production of posters and comics.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).
