PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
A range of peat bog habitat types in two Natura 2000 network sites in the Lubelskie and Podkarpackie provinces of eastern Poland – Lasy Janowskie and Uroczyska Lasów Janowskich – require protection under the Habitats Directive. These habitats and the species they contain are under threat as a result of the expansion of invasive trees and shrubs, leading to a loss of biodiversity and the drainage of the land.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of the LIFE for Janowskie Forest project was to provide comprehensive protection for the most valuable peat bog patches in a range of habitat types (e.g. active raised bogs and transition mires, quaking bogs, and depressions on peat substrates of the Rhynchosporion) in the Natura 2000 sites, Lasy Janowskie and Uroczyska Lasów Janowskich. The project aimed to halt the loss of biodiversity in these habitats as well as to raise and maintain groundwater levels in several habitats, such as bog woodlands where patches are at risk of dewatering and drying as a result of drainage ditches constructed in recent decades. Measures would be taken to preserve the habitats of animals and plants threatened with extinction, including capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), pasqueflower (Pulsatilla patens), northern crested newt (Triturus cristatus) and European fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina). The project also aimed to promote conservation methods in commercial forestry operations, foster community support for the idea of environmental protection, develop sustainable tourism in Natura 2000 sites and resolve human conflict with beaver (Castor fiber) conservation.
RESULTS
The Life - Lasy Janowskie PL project halted the loss of biodiversity in the most valuable peat bog patches in two Natura 2000 sites in Poland, ‘Lasy Janowskie’ and ‘Uroczyska Lasów Janowskich’, in the Janowskie Forest area.
The project team effectively raised and maintained water level in several EU Habitats Directive habitat types, including ‘Active raised bogs’ (7110), ‘Transition mires and quaking bogs’ (7140), ‘Depressions on peat substrates of the Rhynchosporion’ (7150), and ‘Bog woodland’ (91D0). In ‘Bog woodland’, in particular, patches were at risk of dewatering and drying as a result of drainage ditches constructed in previous decades.
Another achievement of the project was increased tree stand stability in ‘Bog woodland’ and ‘Galio-Carpinetum oak-hornbeam forests’ (9170) habitats. Measures were taken to preserve the habitats of animals and plants threatened with extinction, including capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), pasqueflower (Pulsatilla patens), northern crested newt (Triturus cristatus) and European fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina). The project promoted conservation methods in commercial forestry operations; fostered community support for the idea of environmental protection; and developed sustainable tourism in the two Natura 2000 sites.
The project team:
- Improved the conservation status of peatland habitats (7110, 7140 and 7150) on 94 ha, including the maintenance of species closely related to peat bogs such as sundew (Drosera rotundifolia, Drosera intermedia) and the moorland clouded yellow butterfly (Colias palaeno);
- Improved the conservation status of pasqueflower in 7 areas;
- Stopped or significantly reduced the outflow of water from peat bogs, and the process of peat decay on an area of about 150 ha, through the construction of 33 sluice gates, thereby improving the conservation status of ‘Bog woodland’ and conditions for capercaillie in the Janowskie Forests;
- Improved the conservation status of ‘Bog woodland’ and ‘Galio-Carpinetum oak-hornbeam forests’ on 30 ha;
- Resolved human conflict with beaver (Castor fiber) conservation, by purchasing 30 ha of land regularly flooded as a result of the beavers' activity;
- Restored two water reservoirs to maintain habitats for species associated with aquatic ecosystems, including birds and amphibians;
- Engaged 863 people, who participated in meetings and training activities, to raise public awareness about nature conservation.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).
