PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Poor maintenance and a complete lack of management have led to a decline in the conservation status of Fennoscandian wooded pastures and meadow habitats (listed in Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive). The same problem is occurring in other rare deciduous forest habitats, such as oak and natural old broad-leaved forests.
Some sites have been completely abandoned and, as a result, the landscape has changed and habitats have become fragmented. This has led to declines and even extinctions of local deadwood vertebrates that depend upon these habitats to survive. The species most affected are the hermit beetle (Osmoderma eremita), great capricorn beetle (Cerambyx cerdo), stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) and the pseudoscorpion, Anthrenochernes stellae.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE BTG project focused on 30 Natura 2000 network sites in south-eastern Sweden. It aimed to reconnect the fragmented landscape of Fennoscandian wooded pastures, thus reducing the extinction rates of the local beetles that depend upon the wood for a habitat.
The specific project objectives were as follows:
- Initiate the process of recovery to a favourable conservation status of 1 405 ha of Fennoscandian wooded pastures and meadow habitats;
- Initiate the process of recovery to a favourable conservation status of the Annex II-listed hermit beetle, great capricorn beetle, stag beetle and the pseudoscorpion A. stellae in 30 Natura 2000 network sites;
- Initiate the creation of decaying wood habitats within these sites; and
- Increase and update the knowledge about the management of the targeted habitats and species among stakeholders, site managers and scientists by the dissemination of project experiences and results, in order to ensure transferability and replicability.
To encourage transferability and replicability, local stakeholders, conservation experts and policymakers would be involved at different stages of the project implementation.
RESULTS
The LIFE Bridging the Gap (BTG) project improved oak environments in 30 Swedish Natura 2000 sites, by restoring habitats including oak woods and grazing meadows; setting up wood mould boxes for hermit beetles (Osmoderma eremita and Anthrenocernes stellae); creating stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) log pile habitat; artificially aging (veteranising) trees; planting trees and bushes; and rearing and reintroducing great capricorn beetles (Cerambyx cerdo).
Specifically, the project team:
- Cleared vegetation on 842 ha, and put up fences in most of these areas to control grazing. In addition, 120 ha was managed by grazing animals, so in total 964 ha of pastures are in better condition than before the project. In total, conservation actions were implemented on 1 407 ha. At project end, 857 ha are in good condition and the rest is in a strong recovery process.
- Initiated the recovery process for the four Habitat Directive Annex II beetle species by improving habitat suitability, creating decaying wood habitats, planting trees and bushes, and by informing landowners and site managers of what they can do for these species. The breeding and introduction of Cerambyx cerdo has worked well and preliminary results show that the species are reproducing on the Swedish mainland for the first time since the 1960s.
- Created decaying wood habitat, by putting up 480 wood mould boxes in 28 sites, building 197 stag beetle habitat piles at 26 sites, and veteranising 1 458 trees. Project monitoring showed that all these actions worked well. Stag beetle responded quickly to the actions, with beetle larvae soon found during the monitoring.
- Provided information to stakeholders, site managers and scientists, especially on the creation of decaying wood habitats, and networked with several other LIFE projects. Almost 400 people participated in project walks and talks, and project beneficiaries presented their work at many events organised by other organisations, in total reaching over 3 000 people. A handbook and several films were also produced, with the films having over 6 000 views by project end.
Project actions have improved many oak environments and the diversity of species associated with them. This has laid the groundwork for the future, in which there is a functioning management with grazing, and the possibility for cattle owners to receive compensation. A supply of grazing animals, and collaboration with livestock owners and landowners, are vital in the ongoing management. Also, clearing and felling of forest areas must continue to achieve the goal of a functioning oak landscape.
LIFE Bridging the Gap has improved the chances of linking the areas that have been restored, though it will take a long time before all the effects of the conservation measures can be seen.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report (see "Read more" section).
