PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Straddling two separate biogeographic regions - the Mediterranean and the Atlantic - this project is located in the very heart of the National Park of Cevennes. The area is remarkably rich in both species and habitat types, incorporating the largest ensemble of semi-natural grassland formations in the whole of France. Here one can find pseudo-steppes, important orchid sites and no less than 29 species on Annex I of the Birds Directive - including the black vulture for which it is the only site of re-introduction in France. Another main feature of the area is the immense subterranean water reservoir situated at the heart of the karstic plateau which is renowned for its exceptional water quality.
At the origin of the threats weighing on the Causses is the general decline of extensive ovine pastoralism which has been the main form of land use in the region for centuries. Added to this is the increasing pressure from commercial forestry, hunting and tourism; altogether these activities are not only destabilising the natural mosaic of the countryside but also severely reducing its ecological importance. Bearing in mind the extent of the areas in question, this phenomenon of degradation is progressive rather than abrupt, but the inhabitants of the area and the local authorities are already very concerned about losing the natural identity of this area
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of this project is to maintain and re-establish the 6 priority habitats and 29 bird species of the EU Directives and in so doing initiate a new interest, based on the region’s natural heritage, for the long-term management of the area. Five sub-projects (Aveyron, Lozère, Parc national des Cévennes, Gard-Hérault, Lot-Quercy), , will run concurrently but will be co-ordinated by one or more local structures to ensure full integration within themselves and with other major themes such as agri-environmental and tourism measures.
The specific measures envisaged to achieve the overall project objective are:
Baseline scientific studies and inventories
Land acquisition by direct purchase or renting
Conservation measures including habitat restoration
Piloting demonstration sites for land management techniques.
Raising awareness and support for conservation measures amongst landowners and local authorities.
RESULTS
Overall, the project has achieved its global objective although the degree of implementation for each specific measure varies between the different project sites. Many of the habitat restoration measures and extensive grazing practices piloted by the project have been subsequently incorporated into agri-environmental measures which were being developed at the same time as the LIFE project.
Baseline scientific studies and inventories
Inventories on priority species, such as the stone curlew Burhinus oedicnemus and Apollo butterfly Parnassius apollo , and the distribution and condition of key habitats, notably dry grasslands, were collated for sites where this information was lacking or incomplete. Current management practices were recorded and their impact monitored. Sites where intervention is required to maintain/restore conservation interest were identified. Scrub encroachment is the main threat to many sites and studies revealed that scrub encroachment above 30% cannot be controlled by sheep grazing and require manual clearance.
Land purchase.
230ha were purchased in Lozère as part of the project (not funded by LIFE)
Conservation measures.
Open air disposal sites for animal carcasses were created to benefit the recently reintroduced Griffon vulture Gyps fulvus and Black vulture Aegypius monachus.
Restoration of artificial waterholes (lavognes) – the only source of open water for wildlife and livestock.
Pilot demonstration sites and management techniques
- Reintroduction of cereal growing to benefit the little bustard Tetrax tetrax (Aveyron).
- Creation of clearings in dense scrub and the restoration of drystone walls and the use of electric fences to allow the reintroduction of sheep grazing (Lot-Quercy). This example encouraged local landowners to undertake the same measures on 1048ha of land in the same area. Altogether a total of 1700ha of extensive pasture have been rehabilitated across the 5 project sites.
- Grazing practices and stocking densities have been defined for the dry grasslands and these have been adopted in the complementary agri-environmental measures being developed to promote environmentally sensitive farming in the area.
- All year grazing with Przewalski’s wild horses on 250ha in the Causse Méjean has reduced scrub cover and increased floral diversity.
Raising awareness and support for conservation measures
Over 2,000 farmers and landowners were contacted individually and a series of public meetings promoting the natural heritage of the causse were organised.
In addition, at the end of the project, over 110,000ha had been proposed for inclusion in the Natura 2000 Network of designated sites.Overall, the project has achieved its global objective although the degree of implementation for each specific measure varies between the different project sites. Many of the habitat restoration measures and extensive grazing practices piloted by the project have been subsequently incorporated into agri-environmental measures which were being developed at the same time as the LIFE project.
Baseline scientific studies and inventories
Inventories on priority species, such as the stone curlew Burhinus oedicnemus and Apollo butterfly Parnassius apollo , and the distribution and condition of key habitats, notably dry grasslands, were collated for sites where this information was lacking or incomplete. Current management practices were recorded and their impact monitored. Sites where intervention is required to maintain/restore conservation interest were identified. Scrub encroachment is the main threat to many sites and studies revealed that scrub encroachment above 30% cannot be controlled by sheep grazing and require manual clearance.
Land purchase.
230ha were purchased in Lozère as part of the project (not funded by LIFE)
Conservation measures.
Open air disposal sites for animal carcasses were created to benefit the recently reintroduced Griffon vulture Gyps fulvus and Black vulture Aegypius monachus.
Restoration of artificial waterholes (lavognes) – the only source of open water for wildlife and livestock.
Pilot demonstration sites and management techniques
- Reintroduction of cereal growing to benefit the little bustard Tetrax tetrax (Aveyron).
- Creation of clearings in dense scrub and the restoration of drystone walls and the use of electric fences to allow the reintroduction of sheep grazing (Lot-Quercy). This example encouraged local landowners to undertake the same measures on 1048ha of land in the same area. Altogether a total of 1700ha of extensive pasture have been rehabilitated across the 5 project sites.
- Grazing practices and stocking densities have been defined for the dry grasslands and these have been adopted in the complementary agri-environmental measures being developed to promote environmentally sensitive farming in the area.
- All year grazing with Przewalski’s wild horses on 250ha in the Causse Méjean has reduced scrub cover and increased floral diversity.
Raising awareness and support for conservation measures
Over 2,000 farmers and landowners were contacted individually and a series of public meetings promoting the natural heritage of the causse were organised.
In addition, at the end of the project, over 110,000ha had been proposed for inclusion in the Natura 2000 Network of designated sites.