PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Lithuania and Latvia are both in the Boreal biogeographical region, which is characterised by forests containing a complex ecological network dependent on both living trees and dead wood.
Among the key species found in this habitat are saproxylic beetles which depend on dead and decaying timber for food and shelter. The hermit beetle (Osmoderma eremita) lives in and depends on old, large broad-leaved trees such as oak, lime and maple with cavities and hollows. Such trees are home not only to the hermit beetle but up to 1 000 species of insects, fungi, plants, birds, bats and other mammals. The hermit beetle is a very precise and sensitive indicator of the health of these biodiversity hot spots. It is also an ‘umbrella species’ helping to protect large old trees as well as many other rare and endangered species that depend on them.
Together, Latvia and Lithuania contain 34 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) designated for the protection of hermit beetles - covering more than 190 000 hectares (ha) - as well as numerous existing or proposed Sites of Community Importance (SCIs). But for more than a century, urbanisation, intensive agriculture, road building and changes in forest management have led to the fragmentation of hermit beetle populations. The IUCN Red List status of Osmoderma eremita in Lithuania is now ‘unfavourable-inadequate’, while in Latvia it is ‘unfavourable-bad’.
The LIFE Osmo Baltic project will build on previous LIFE projects including LIFE OSMODERMA (2017-22) and LIFE EREMITA MEADOWS (2011-16).
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE Osmo Baltic project will improve the conservation and protection of Osmoderma eremita by creating an ecological network linked by green corridors extending from the south of Lithuania to the north of Latvia.
The project’s specific objectives include:
- an ecological network across existing Natura 2000 sites, connected by green corridors extending to the borders of Poland and Estonia
- an inventory of suitable and existing habitat sites across 53 Natura 2000 sites and other protected areas
- restoring and managing at least 3 850 trees as habitats for the hermit beetle
- gathering robust scientific data to allow the responsible authorities in both countries to expand existing Natura 2000 sites and establish new ones
- replicating best practice activities for other target species to stop further deterioration in conservation trends
- creating stepping stones between core project areas by planting at least 30 trees and creating at least 25 artificial habitats
- monitoring and evaluating project impact against 12 specific key performance indicators including ecosystem conditions and services; habitat suitability; translocation success rates; viability of trees; and the use of artificial habitats
- raising awareness of the wider societal benefits of Natura 2000 sites, biodiversity, old trees and hermit beetles through events and educational activities
- translocating hermit beetle larvae and cocoons into new suitable territories to spread the species and make it more resilient to extinction
- conducting small scale scientific research into optimal habitat conditions to better understand the needs of Osmoderma eremita in future conservation efforts
RESULTS
The project’s expected results are:
- improvement of the IUCN conservation status of Osmoderma eremita in both countries
- restoration of 952.1 ha of habitat to halt and reverse loss of biodiversity
- management of at least 3 850 trees (1 700 in Lithuania and 2 150 in Latvia)
- creation of a 3 374 km cross-border ecological network covering a total of 357 588 ha with improved conditions for migration
- translocation of at least 500 captive-bred Osmoderma eremita larvae and cocoons to new artificial habitats
- nature management plans for 9 Natura 2000 sites
- a minimum of 10 management programmes, 1 species conservation plan, 5 park reconstruction plans and tree avenue restoration plans
- plans for veteran tree management in Gauja National Park and on private land, together with guidelines for managing tree avenues on roads
- raising awareness of valuable trees and their importance to the ecosystem among at least 150 000 people representing various target groups, including seminars for 550 people and 100 000 people via social media
