PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The Wigierski National Park is important for the many species of plants and animals it hosts, as well as for certain habitats. A large number of wetland areas, especially around lakes, river valleys and small water bodies, provide good environments for amphibians. However, amphibian populations in the Park and other Natura 2000 network sites in north-eastern Poland remain under threat from human activities and are considered to have a high risk of extinction.
OBJECTIVES
The Life/Amphibia/2012/PL project’s strategic objective was to support the conservation status of key amphibian populations in four Natura 2000 network sites in north-eastern Poland (Ostoja Wigierska, Ostoja Suwalska, Narwiańskie Bagna, and Puszcza Romincka). Specific objectives included: decreasing amphibian mortality during seasonal migrations, increasing the number of amphibian breeding places; reducing amphibians mortality associated with the so-called anthropogenic traps; and organising a monitoring network of amphibian threats near transport routes.
RESULTS
The Life/Amphibia/2012/PL project supported the conservation status of key amphibian populations in Natura 2000 network sites in north-eastern Poland. The project contributed to the enforcement of the Birds and Habitats Directives, the EU Biodiversity Strategy and national policy concerning Natura 2000 site management.
The project focused its actions on four Natura 2000 network sites. In total, the project team restored 11 overgrown ponds (7 more than planned), which are now functional all year round and providing good conditions for amphibian breeding (monitoring showed that in 10 of the 11 ponds amphibian breeding was soon confirmed). The project maintaining water conditions in the Natura 2000 sites to allow a full breeding period for the native amphibians. The beneficiary constructed six passage systems for amphibians in different locations; these comprised tunnels (44 in total), directing barriers and protective grills. The six passage systems reduced the death rate of amphibians and other small organisms crossing transport routes by 92%. Mortality was reduced by practically 100% in the case of tested technical solutions for seven types of anthropogenic threats, such as drainage constructions along roads (checked on six species of frogs, toads and newt). The beneficiary developed a database to organise monitoring data collected by volunteers (at the regional scale during the project, but it is now also available for other regions). All-year round monitoring of amphibian migrations, initiated with the support of a network of 20 partner institutions, and the project’s online database will continue to be used to plan focused conservation actions. During the project, all-year monitoring proved that migrations of juvenile individuals during the summer were equally sensitive in terms of mortality as spring and autumn migrations.
The project contributed to an increased public awareness concerning the amphibian conservation measures conducted within Wigierski National Park and the other Natura 2000 network sites through well-attended dissemination actions, including its final conference, six workshops and ten activities for children. A high level of interest in the project resulted in the printing of more copies of the Layman's Report and the educational sets for three levels of school education than originally planned. The coordinating beneficiaries also produced an additional calendar for 2017 (from project cost savings), with information on amphibians and suggestions for educational activities. The project was relevant to the enforcement of the Habitats Directive in four Natura 2000 network sites, and had a direct positive impact on the state of the populations of at least six amphibian species, including two species included in Annex II of the Habitats Directive: the European fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina) and the great crested newt (Triturus cristatus). Apart from the Habitats Directive, the project also operates in a framework of Polish legislation: the legal act of 2004 on nature conservation (Ustawa z dnia 16 kwietnia 2004 r. ochronie przyrody) and the regulation of 2014 on conservation of animal species (Rozporządzenie Ministra Środowiska z dnia 6 października 2014 r. w sprawie ochrony gatunkowej zwierząt).
This was the first project in Poland dealing with various aspects of amphibian protection: breeding sites, migration routes and anthropogenic threats. All the project’s conservation actions therefore have good demonstration value. The catalogue of technical solutions against anthropogenic threats was innovative and, after testing during the project, these solutions have a high chance of being popularised and used in other regions. The project beneficiary was awarded with a Polish Award of Innovation 2015. The project also disseminated its findings and lessons learned at the EU level, through networking meetings (during five study tours).
In terms of socio-economic impacts, thanks to the project, local communities and schools have gained a better understanding of the amphibian species, with the project publications likely to be used into the future. The project contributed to the economic development of local communities through infrastructure improvements within municipalities and increased attractiveness of tourist destinations in protected areas. The project’s socio-economic study also confirmed an increase in salaries and registered small enterprises in all five participating communities, and a decrease in unemployment in four out of five of these communities.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).
