Adjustment of key stakeholders' capacity for improvement of Common and Little terns conservation status in Lithuania

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

The Common tern (Sterna hirundo) and Little tern (Sternula albifrons) are two species of migratory breeding birds which are of conservation concern in Lithuania. Both are listed in the Annex 1 of the EU Birds Directive. A rare migratory breeding species in Europe as a whole, the little tern is also included in the Lithuanian Red Data Book, a list of the country's extinct, endangered and threatened animals.

The Common tern's European population (excluding Russia) is estimated at 220 000-320 000 breeding pairs, with 2 500-3 000 in Lithuania. Lowland populations, especially those breeding on river islands, have unfavourable conservation status in most EU countries. Breeding populations have seen a negative trend over the past 10 years, with the loss of important populations within Lithuania's network of Special Protection Areas (SPAs), designated for conservation of the most threatened bird species. In many of Lithuania's SPAs, the situation is critical: the number of breeding pairs has decreased by 80-90% in some areas. Changes to breeding habitats and disturbances affecting the breeding birds are the main reasons.

The little tern's European population (excluding Russia) stands at an estimated 70 000-110 000 breeding pairs, with 200-300 in Lithuania. The breeding population has been stable in most European countries during the past decade, but in some, including Lithuania, it has declined. Over the past 30 years, the country has seen a decrease of up to 50%.

OBJECTIVES

LIFE Terns' main objective is to improve the conservation status - to favourable - of the Common and Little tern breeding populations in Lithuania. The project aims to achieve this through proper maintenance of their breeding habitats within the country's network of SPAs, by involving key stakeholders. It will target 10 Natura 2000 sites and the Nemunas river islands near Lipliūnai, an 'important bird area' (i.e. a place of international significance for the conservation of birds and other biodiversity). The project will help implement the Birds and Habitats Directives, as well as contributing to target 1 of the EU's Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, aimed at protecting species and habitats. It will also ensure implementation of Lithuania's national prioritised action framework (planning tools for the Natura 2000 network).

Expected results:

Growth in the breeding populations of little tern (of up to 100 pairs, a 100% increase rate) and common tern (up to 1 200 pairs, 60% rate) within the project sites;

Recovery of favourable habitat status for breeding conditions on 50 ha in eight SPAs;

Maintenance of favourable status on 20 ha in one SPA;

Construction of 13 new islands in three SPAs in the Nemunas river;

Update and endorsement of two species action plans and five site management plans for SPAs;

Designation of one site as an SPA for protection of the Little tern;

Addition of the Common tern to the list of trigger species (those for which sites are selected to be SPAs)for the Sartai SPA;

Supplementing the national European Maritime and Fisheries Fund programme with a special measure for protecting the Common tern;

Tools for raising public awareness to reduce disturbances of breeding populations.