Adaptation of wet grasslands and mires for sustainable farming to ensure long-term protection of Corncrake and threatened waders

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

In recent decades, both in Lithuania and across Europe, there has been a declining trend in the numbers of protected and threatened birds breeding in wet grassland and mire habitats. The loss and deterioration of key breeding habitats is considered to be the main reason for this population decline. Intensive farming, including disturbance to the water regime due to land reclamation and transformation of meadows to arable land, as well as a lack of appropriate conservation efforts in key breeding sites are the main causes. Lithuania’s breeding population of corncrake (Crex crex) was the third largest among EU Member States 10 years ago but has decreased by up to 50% during the last 6 years. The country has 20 Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated for protection of corncrake; lately, however, the species’ conservation status has been reported as unfavourable in 70% of these SPAs.

 

 

OBJECTIVES

LIFEfarms for birds’ objective is to use sustainable farming and mobile grazing to maintain favourable conservation status for populations of corncrake, great snipe, black-tailed godwit, common redshank and other species and habitats of EU importance in wet grasslands and mires in 6 SPAs. The project will also promote its achievements widely in Lithuania and elsewhere.

RESULTS

By restoring habitats for threatened grassland birds of EU importance and creating sustainable conditions for proper farming in the SPAs targeted, at least 460 ha of abandoned wet grassland will be restored and hydrological conditions will be improved on a minimum of 280 ha. The plan is to establish 2 sustainable demonstration farms in restored areas of abandoned wet grassland, covering at least 400 ha in 2 SPAs, ensuring long-term maintenance of the restored areas. A new demonstration grazing unit will also maintain at least 240 ha of restored habitats in 6 SPAs. Monitoring of the conservation status of targeted bird species populations’ and their habitats will help to evaluate the impact of the project’s actions, while replication work will contribute to the long-term sustainability of its results.

LIFEfarms for birds aims to increase local populations of corncrake and threatened grassland wader species in 6 SPAs by at least 100%, and will develop site management plans for the Pagiliūtė, Kretuonas Lake and Svyla river valley SPAs, as well as a species action plan for corncrake and a multi-species action plan for threatened grassland waders. Moreover, the area of Kretuonas SPA will be enlarged and supplemented with requirements for conservation of corncrake. The project will also seek to promote sustainable, nature and climate friendly farming practices among all relevant stakeholder groups, with significant replication on 40 farms, and reach a total of 270 000 people through its dissemination and replication activities.