PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
In Denmark, 77% of all grassland habitats have a bad conservation status and 18% have a poor status. In the continental biographic region of Denmark, all grasslands habitats have a bad conservation status.
The latest figures (2020) show a population of the Large Blue butterfly (Phengaris arion (synonym Maculinea arion)) of approximately 100 adults, all of which are found in the project site. Actions to save the species from extinction will include the establishment of 16 hectares of new habitats for the species and improvement of existing habitats, followed by a supplementary breeding programme.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE ORCHIDS project aims to improve the conservation status of three EU priority dry grassland habitat types: 6210*, 6120*, and 6230*, whose conservation statuses all show a strongly negative trend at an EU level.
The project will be implemented at the Natura 2000 sites Klinteskoven (DK006X090) and Klinteskov Kalkgrund (DK00VA306), which is the most important Danish Natura 2000 site for 6210* calcareous dry grassland.
The project also targets the Habitat Directive Annex IV species Phengaris arion (synonym Maculinea arion) and five endangered orchids.
The project’s specific objectives are to:
- Contribute to securing a favourable conservation status of 162 hectares (ha) of dry grassland habitats (6210*, 6120* and 6230*) by improving habitat structure and species richness.
- Increase the area of dry grasslands 6210*, 6120* and 6230* by 72 ha (an increase of 44% of dry grassland habitat coverage), by converting arable land and forest plantations into dry grassland.
- Connect existing and new dry grasslands over an area of 311 ha.
- Contribute to securing a favourable conservation status for Medio-European limestone beech forest habitats - Cephalanthero-Fagion (9150) and Asperulo-Fagetum beech forests (9130) - by designating 4.7 ha as untouched forest and veteranising 25 trees.
- Contribute to securing a favourable conservation status for Phengaris arion by establishing a supplementary breeding programme and the release of 1,500 larvae in the donor site and two new release sites.
- Increase, improve and connect habitats for Phengaris arion by improving 162 ha of existing dry grasslands and 72 ha of new dry grassland.
- Increase and consolidate the populations and flowering plants of the five target Red List orchids.
- Raise awareness about management and restoration of prioritised habitat dry grasslands
- Raise private landowners’ awareness and incentives about nature-friendly land use.
- Raise public awareness about the Natura 2000 network in Denmark.
RESULTS
The project’s expected results are:
- 65 ha of new permanent 6210* habitat restored, corresponding to a 49 % increase of the total area covered by 6210* in the Natura 2000 site.
- 7 ha of new permanent 6120* habitat restored, corresponding to a 71 % increase of the total area covered by 6120* in the Natura 2000 site.
- 147 ha (99 % of habitat in Natura 2000 area) of existing 6210* habitat permanently improved towards favourable conservation status.
- 11 ha (100 % of habitat in N2000 area) of existing 6120* habitat permanently improved to a favourable conservation status.
- 3.5 ha (100% of area) of existing 6230* habitat permanently improved to a favourable conservation status.
- Habitat connectivity established inside the Natura 2000 site, securing a new permanent and resilient habitat nature area of 311 ha of target dry grasslands and forest habitats (9150 and 9130).
- Rosa rugosa eradicated from 0.7 ha.
- Carbon sequestration increased in new dry grasslands, untouched forest and maintenance of existing dry grasslands, corresponding to 13-26 tonnes of CO2 per year.
- Leaching of nitrogen (N) reduced by 4 tonnes per year.
- 4.7 ha of forest habitat type 9150 obtain favourable conservation status due to the permanent declaration as untouched forest and veteranisation of 25 trees.
- 72 ha new dry grassland habitats for Phengaris arion and other pollinators restored and connected with 162 improved dry grassland (6210*, 6120*, 6230*).
- The population of Phengaris arion increased to 1,000 individuals by 2028 and 2,000 individuals by 2033.
- Orchid populations established in at least 13 locations, with an increase in the number of flowering plants for the target species.
- Awareness about practical know-how on management and restoration of prioritised habitat dry grasslands increased.
- A guidance ‘toolkit’ for landowners developed and made available to 3 million landowners in Europe.
