PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The Kamanos and Amalva mires in Lithuania provide habitats for a significant number of threatened and rare species. Important habitats found within the two mires include active raised bog, bog woodland and Fennoscandian deciduous swamp woods. Both sites are included in Natura 2000 as of sites of Community importance (SCIs) under the European Habitats Directive and special protection areas (SPAs) under the Birds Directive.
However, both sites have been heavily drained for forestry and agricultural uses since the 19th Century. Altered hydrology has resulted in the weakening or total loss of important peatland ecosystem functions in different locations across the sites. This deterioration has had a negative impact on climate, water quality and biodiversity.
OBJECTIVES
The WETLIFE 2 project aimed to restore important habitats within the Amalva and Kamanos wetlands in Lithuania. Its primary focus for rehabilitating the targeted habitats was the restoration of proper hydrological conditions. Such an outcome would benefit rare and endangered species as well as secure the provision of ecosystem services provided by the mire habitats.
Specifically, the project planned to implement direct restoration activities to restore the hydrology of targeted areas of bog habitat, principally by blocking drainage ditches. It aimed to improve the quality of degraded bog and to raise water levels in previously reclaimed land to restore wetland habitats. It also planned to re-establish Fennoscandian deciduous swamp woods.
Furthermore, the project aimed to restore the conditions for the natural regeneration of features typical of active raised bogs. To further support this aim, the project would encourage the development of more sustainable agricultural practices in the areas surrounding the core area of Amalva wetland. It aimed to agree land management contracts with farmers of surrounding land to facilitate the significant expansion of the bog habitats.
Finally, the project aimed to raise awareness among local stakeholders on the importance of peatland ecosystem services and their intrinsic and economic value, in order to improve public co-operation and support for the aims of the project.
RESULTS
The WETLIFE 2 project restored hydrological conditions in the parts of Natura 2000 Amalva wetland site and in Kamanos wetlandsite, while encouraging the development of more sustainable agricultural practices in the areas surrounding Amalva wetland and raising public awareness of peatland ecosystem services, their economic value and importance of mire conservation.
At the Amalva site, the following specific results were achieved:
- 6.6 km of dykes raised, restored or newly built to maintain the water level in the wetland and reduce the inflow into the adjacent territories;
- Protection of nearly 30 ha of land that would be affected by the raising of water level via the adjustment of the melioration system;
- Restored of a meadow in 6 ha of arable land in cooperation with a local farmer, along with consultations on the restoration of meadows in a pre-selected 40 ha area;
- 16 beef cattle purchased and provided to a local farmer for the maintenance of wet peat meadows;
- A section of the polder's magistral ditch cleaned and automatic equipment for measuring the level of groundwater installed to better regulate the water level;
- Cutting of trees over 140 ha to provide conditions for the recovery of habitats in open raised bogs;
- Blocking of underground drains in more than 20 ha of bog; and
- Two overflow spillways and a dam in the ditch surrounding the Amalva mire installed to maintain the water level close to that which is was before land reclamation covering 370 ha.
The cutting of trees in open bog habitats was carried over a slightly smaller area in Amalva than planned (210 ha were foreseen) due to the failure of a best practice for removing woody vegetation; repeated cutting of shoots within two years proved to be efficient only in less degraded areas, while in more degraded locations with compacted peat and abundant nutrients the method was not successful and had to be replaced with herbicide application. However, the approved management plan for the site includes the clearing and maintenance of 300 ha after the end of the project. As a result of the implemented activities, the regeneration of active raised bog is expected to occur over 775 ha in the central and southern parts of Amalva mire, while bog woodland is expected to develop over 26 ha in the south of the site.
At the Kamanos site, the following results were achieved:
- 37 km of ditches blocked in the territory of the nature reserve via the installation of almost 300 different dams; and
- 40 ha of lag zone restored by the higher water level created by the above result.
The blocking of the drainage ditches in the Kamanos Natura 2000 site is expected to benefit 670 ha of mire habitats, along with a wide range species that they host (Pluvialis apricaria, Tringa glareola, Tetrao tetrix, Dendrocopos leucotos, Dendrocopos medius).
The project organised 14 seminars and voluntary actions to raise awareness of the importance of mire ecosystems and the problems caused by their drainage. It also published an assessment of the use of peatlands in Lithuania, which cover around 10% of the country's area.
