PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The Miechowska Upland is situated in the northern part of Małopolska, covering an area of some 960 km². It is almost totally covered with sediments and is mostly an agricultural area (79% farmlands and 12% forests). The upland is also home to the protected habitat 'xerothermic grasslands, warm forests and shrubs'. The project area contains a total of 54 species, mainly plants.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE + Kserotermy PL project aimed to restore the xerothermic grasslands and species that they host in 12 Natura 2000 sites located in the Miechowska Upland. It also aimed to bring about a return to the extensive use of land, encourage sheep pasturage, strengthen local populations of endangered species and engage local communities. Those activities would ensure the sustainable development of the Miechowska Upland and the conservation of priority habitats. The specific objectives of the project included:
- Drawing up management plans for each of the 12 Natura 2000 network sites; Protecting the xerothermic habitats by cutting trees and shrubs, mowing and removing alien species and rubbish;
- Purchasing sheep for grazing;
- Land purchase to ensure appropriate management of five Natura 2000 network sites; Developing a tourism infrastructure;
- Monitoring the project's protection activities;
- Promoting the aims of the project through the meetings, conferences and publications.
- Restoration of extensive land use;
- Sheep grazing on xerothermic habitats;
- Tourism infrastructure (educational trails, information boards etc);
- Purchase of six valuable Natura 2000 sites; and
- The engagement of local communities in the project.
RESULTS
The LIFE + Kserotermy PL project restored and maintained the biodiversity of xerothermic habitats and their species in 12 Natura 2000 sites. This was achieved by the following:
- A nature inventory was conducted on all Natura 2000 sites covered by the project and 12 “plans of protective tasks” (PZO) were prepared and officially approved;
- All illegal rubbish dumps were cleared and 90 tons of garbage were removed from the project area;
- More than 8 ha of private land covered by the target habitats was purchased and 10 ha were leased;
- Trees and shrubs were removed from more than 34 ha of the target habitats and 22 ha were mown;
- 152 sheep and 14 goats were purchased, given to shepherds and used for grazing of more than 21 ha located within the Natura 2000 sites;
- 8 group meetings were held with local communities and up to 600 individual meetings with private landowners, and consultation points were set up at the offices of the municipalities of Miechów and Słaboszów;
- Four workshops were conducted for local teachers and sets of lesson scripts were prepared; and
- The project was promoted at all local events, harvest festivals and other festivities.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).
