PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Ostoja Wigierska, belonging to the Wigry National Park in north-eastern Poland, hosts important populations of many endangered EU plant and animal species, as well as valuable natural habitats. These include a large number of wetland areas, especially around the lakes and river valleys and small water reservoirs. Such habitats are home to a large number of very rare plants listed in the EU Habitats Directive, e.g. the fen orchid (Liparis loeselii), yellow marsh saxifrage (Saxifraga hirculus) and waterwheel plant (Aldrovanda vesiculosa). The Natura 2000 site hosts many endangered EU animal species associated with water and mud, for example, large white-faced darter (Leucorrhinia pectoralis) and Desmoulin's whorl snail (Vertigo moulinsiana). It is also important for the conservation of populations of rare or endangered amphibians, notably fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina) and great-crested newt (Triturus cristatus). In addition, the site harbours populations of other threatened European species of vertebrates such as: the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber), European otter (Lutra lutra), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), pond bat (Myotis dasycneme) and barbastelle bat (Barbastella barbastellus), common crane (Grus grus), common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) and Western marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus).
OBJECTIVES
The overall objective of the Ostoja Wigierska project was to protect endangered species and habitat types of the Ostoja Wigierska Natura 2000 network site in north-east Poland. The main actions targeted a reduction in invasive species, land purchase and wetland restoration, improvement of river water quality, and channelling visitors to avoid sensitive areas. Specific project objectives included reducing amphibian mortality during the target species' seasonal migration; increasing the reproductivesuccess of amphibians; and improving the quality of habitats for large white-faced darter, green snaketail (Ophiogomphus cecilia), large copper (Lycaena dispar) and violet copper (Lycaena helle) butterflies, dragonflies (Leucorrhina pectoralis and Ophiogomphus cecilia), thick shelled river mussel (Unio crassus) and corncrake (Crex crex). The project also aimed to improve the quality of habitats supporting the most valuable plant species in the project area.
RESULTS
The "Ostoja Wigierska" project significantly contributed to the protection of a wide range of endangered species and habitat types in the Ostoja Wigierska Natura 2000 network site in north-east Poland. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section). This goal was achieved through the implementation of a series of diverse conservation and habitat restoration actions. The project team purchased 65 plots of land with a total area of 71 ha and designated them for nature protection purposes. Trees and shrubs were removed from over 24 ha, while excess herbaceous vegetation was removed from over 120 ha by mowing, resulting in the halting of succession processes and significant improvements in targeted habitat types in open ecosystems. The removal of Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) was carried out for five consecutive years from an area of over 50 ha, resulting in up to 95 % reduction of this invasive plant species. The project team constructed two road-crossing systems (culverts) for amphibians, which contributed to a significant reduction in road mortality of migrating populations (including Triturus cristatus and Bombina bombina) in two localities. Two footbridges and one observation deck were built that prevented further degradation of valuable habitats due to trampling by visitors. The project team also changed the course of an educational trail to enable the recovery of sundew populations and the regeneration of priority peatbog habitat. Furthermore, the project team built four manure plates with a total area of 136 m2, and four liquid manure reservoirs with a total capacity of 117 m3. This significantly will improve the quality of habitats for species, including dragonflies (e.g. Ophiogomphus cecilia)and the thick shelled river mussel (Unio crassus), by removing four sources of pollution from farms (for two rivers), thus contributing to an increase in their population sizes. Many environmental benefits arise from all the above-mentioned concrete conservation actions. The durable constructions built should continue to bring environmental benefits for many decades. Dissemination and public awareness-raising activities significantly increased knowledge and ecological awareness among the local community. The educational activities carried out not only made the local community aware of the need to conduct active conservation measures, but also showed how to undertake and contribute to such activities. This should be beneficial for nature conservation in the region in the long term. The project directly contributed to the implementation of the EU Habitats Directive and also contributed to EU policy goals relating to biodiversity, water quality, sustainable rural development, and invasive alien species. The socioeconomic benefits of the project occur through the enhancement of ecosystem services. The concrete conservation actions implemented particularly relate to biodiversity conservation, which brings diverse benefits including human interactions with nature in terms of health and well-being and the boosting of local ecotourism opportunities. The actions aimed at maintaining open habitats and the indigenous flora they support enabled the functions of these habitats to be maintained. Most of the activities carried out also increased the potential of the area of the Ostoja Wigierska Natura 2000 site to provide cultural services (e.g. recreational, aesthetic, scientific and educational).
