PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The River Danube inland delta faces significant threats from the spread of invasive alien species (IAS). These IAS result from intensive forestry — especially the cultivation of hybrid poplar plantations and subsequent changes in water use— while in non-forest habitats, the main threat comes from a move away from traditional farming methods. Many areas are now overrun with non-native, short-lived plant species growing on abandoned farmland.
As a result, several native species have fallen victim to IAS and their conservation status is deteriorating, especially in the forests and meadows found in river valleys. Among those species most at risk are Black alder, European ash, English oak, European white elm, Field elm and Narrow leaved ash.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE RESISTANCE project will build on the work of 9 previous LIFE projects in the River Danube inland delta using innovative restoration methods including:
- forest-friendly ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi
- forest grazing by GPS-tagged cattle
- biological parasites
- an early warning system equipped with remote sensing software
- rapid monitoring of DNA species-composition
The project will manage 4 different types of flood plain habitat across 14 Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) in Slovakia and 1 SCI in Hungary to eradicate IAS and prevent future invasions.
The project’s specific objectives include:
- improving the resistance and resilience of alluvial habitats by restoring natural processes and suppressing IAS such as Box elder, Green and Red ash, Canada goldenrod, Giant goldenrod and Jerusalem artichoke
- demonstrating that grazing is one of the most nature-friendly ways of eradicating the False indigo bush, Lance-leaved American aster, Japanese knotweed, Canada goldenrod and Giant goldenrod
- demonstrating mechanical, biological and chemical treatments for eradicating the most aggressive IAS including the Chinese sumac and Common milkweed
- trialing a novel biological treatment using nature-friendly fungus (Verticillium nonalfalfae) for removing Chinese sumac
- developing an early warning system for IAS to quickly identify spreading pathways and alert relevant authorities
- transferring lessons learned and best practices to other bodies responsible for managing alluvial habitats in the project region and beyond
- improving and strengthening IAS policy and implementation
- developing and promoting a new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) agri-environment scheme for forest grazing, to be incorporated into the next CAP Strategic Plan
RESULTS
The project’s expected results are:
- restoration of at least 120 hectares (ha) of wetlands and 3 km of side branches
- increase in groundwater retention capacity of more than 500 000 m3
- restoration of native tree species on at least 20 ha
- reintroduction of grazing on more than 710 ha, including 70 ha of alluvial meadows, 2 ha of rivers with muddy banks, 95 ha of alluvial forests and 42 ha of floodplain forests
- removal of target IAS from more than 850 ha
- overall improvement of 477 ha
- Development and deployment of an early warning system (known as a control monitor and early detection and rapid response system) along the 142 km-long Slovak-Hungarian Danube border
- lease of 53 ha of land for the long-term (30 years)
- purchase of 36 ha of land
- inclusion of nature conservation objectives in at least 2 relevant national policies
- development, promotion and adoption of new agri-environment scheme for forest grazing
- 500 new users of a citizen science app by the end of the project
- at least 250 volunteer person-days
- 52 voluntary work events
- 6 nature exploration summer camps
- 25 media articles
- 1 documentary film
- 1 interactive exhibition
- 10 information panel discussions
- participation of more than 560 people in seminars, a conference, workshops and personal meetings