PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The project area covers the vast coniferous lowland forest, the Bory Dolnośląskie Forest, and the Augustowska Primeval Forest, where populations of the capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus L.) – an Annex I species of the EU Birds Directive – still occur, but are under threat. In the Augustowska Primeval Forest, for example, before project implementation the population has declined to only 20-30 individuals. In 2009, a 4 years long pilot programme of reintroduction was started in the Bory Dolnośląskie Forest with the release of 78 individuals from various Polish breeding centres. According to a detailed study carried out in the two areas, the main factors for this decline include: the critically low population numbers; adverse genetic status; isolation of the populations; alteration of habitat; human-induced threats; and excessive impact from predatory mammals.
OBJECTIVES
The Capercaillie Protection project aimed to conserve two of the four Polish remaining populations of the capercaillie: in the Bory Dolnośląskie Forest and the Augustowska Primeval Forest Natura 2000 sites. It planned its actions to be carried out by local foresters and scientists to encourage them to adopt ‘simple’ conservation methods, such as habitat improvements and changes in forestry management practices, reduction of population numbers of predatory mammals in combination with the release and monitoring of individual captive-bred and individuals translocated from the wild Scandinavian and Russian populations. The methodology of release called “born to be free” has already proven effective in the Bory Dolnośląskie Forest. Specific project objectives included:
RESULTS
The Capercaillie Protection project succeeded in restoring sustainable lowland populations of capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) in the areas of the Bory Dolnośląskie Forest (BD) and the Puszcza Augustowska Primeval Forest(PA) Natura 2000 sites in Poland. This was achieved by releasing 406 capercaillie to both forest locations. A captive breeding facility was established in PA, and the figure of 406 does not include the chicks from this new captive breeding facility or observed chicks from natural breeding. An inventory conducted in 2018 proved the presence of ca. 90-110 birds in BD and ca. 80 birds in PA. In tandem with bird releases, capercaillie biotop improvements were made on 67 000 ha in the BD and on 62 000 ha in the PA Natura 2000 sites.
The project team reduced and monitored the mammalian predators of the capercaillie in both sites, with reductions in animals totalling 4 584 in BD and 1 824 in PA. This represents the removal of a significant pressure that would have limited the ability of the released birds to establish in these sites. Additionally, as a complementary measure applied outside the project, the actions involved capturing and translocating goshawks, which are predatory birds whose impact upon the capercaillie population was identified in the Bory Dolnośląskie Forest from the results of telemetric monitoring and the analysis of the cause of mortalities among the released birds. Reductions in anthropogenic impacts, and improved education and awareness of capercaillie among the general public, was achieved by constructing an educational pathway with a watching tower, , 100 information boards, 10 educational boards and 50 barriers in the project areas. The project team also produced a range of promotional materials and organised events to enable stakeholders to learn about the project. To summarize the project, an international conference was organised, which was attended by some 150 participants including the specialists involved in the protection of capercaillies from 14 countries. For the purpose of raising the level of environmental awareness and developing social acceptance for the protection measures in the program, the 20-minute film on the ecology of capercaillie and on the activities of the project was produced.
The activities of the project comply with the National Plan for the Protection of the Capercaillie and also with the recommendations of the IUCN Reintroduction Group for the species. In addition to directly implementing the EU Birds Directive, the project is also linked to the following policies and strategies on nature conservation: priority framework for action for the Natura 2000 network within the EU Multi-annual Programme Funding 2014-2020 (PAF); the EU Biodiversity Strategy translated in Poland to the Programme on conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, together with an action plan for 2014-2020; the Strategy for socio-economic development of Eastern Poland to 2020; the Protection Tasks for the Bory Dolnośląskie Forest (PLB020005), the Plan of Protection Tasks for the Augustów Primeval Forest (Puszcza Augustowska, PLB200002) - under preparation; the Protection Tasks for the "Kuriańskie Bagno" nature reserve (adopted in 2015).
Captive breeding continues in the location of the associated beneficiary Głęboki Bród Forest District, where in the new captive-breeding centre experience is being gained to improve the survival rate of chicks. Success has been reported in the efforts to increase breeding and survival rates of the birds. The capturing of capercaillies was conducted in the area of the Ruszów Forest District (on the basis of relevant permits) involving birds from earlier releases aimed at reproduction in semi-natural conditions. In 2017 and 2018, the offspring obtained after the release together with their mothers contributed to strengthening the restored population. The action is continued thanks to a follow-up projects (financed from the POIiS fund until 2021). The project analysed potential socio-economic effects via 400 questionnaires, collected from different stakeholders of the Bory Dolnośląskie Forest (e.g. local communities, students of local schools, hunters, foresters). More local stakeholders saw positive impacts of the project at the end, compared to the start of the project, for example, via tourism development.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).
