PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
TThe Pustynia Błędowska Natura 2000 site (a former military area of the Błędowska Desert) in southern Poland, hosts the country’s largest complex of two types of non-forest sandy habitat: Xeric sand calcareous grasslands, and inland dunes with open Corynephorus and Agrostis grasslands. The national report on the state of conservation of these rare habitat types, prepared by the Ministry of Environment in 2007, showed that the conservation status of both habitats is poor. The project location, Pustynia Błędowska (a former military area used for field training during World War II and after), provides 6.3 % of total Polish coverage of priority sand grasslands and 3.9 % of the country’s inland dunes. It is the most well-known and spectacular example in Poland of “desert-like” landscape and is an important biodiversity enclave in the highly urbanised landscape of the Silesian upland.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE MILITARY HABITATS PL project’s overall objectives were to test, implement and disseminate active conservation measures for two non-forest sandy habitats (‘Xeric sand calcareous grasslands’ and ‘Inland dunes with open Corynephorus and Agrostis grasslands’) of the Pustynia Błędowska, a disused military area within the EU’s Natura 2000 network. Specifically, the project aimed to restore the target sandy habitats to their conservation status as recorded in 1958. Specific actions to achieve these goals included:
RESULTS
LIFE MILITARY HABITATS PL restored 375 ha of two sand habitat types listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive – ‘Xeric sand calcareous grasslands’ and ‘Inland dunes with open Corynephorus and Agrostis grasslands’ – within the Pustynia Błędowska Natura 2000 site, a former military area. The project successfully achieved its main objective, of improving the conservation status of the two natural habitats. The 375-ha area was cleared of all unexploded bombs, ordnance and hazardous materials. This ensured the safe implementation of concrete conservation actions. As well as the project area, a large buffer zone was also cleared of hazardous materials; allowing for further active nature protection and to make a part of the area available again for military training. The project team then removed encroaching trees, shrubs and other vegetation to enable the restoration of the sandy grasslands and inland dunes habitats. In particular, the project removed all of the trees and shrubs spreading on an area of over 366 ha. This action not only stopped the expansion of native trees (pine, aspen and birch), but also exotic invasive species, mainly sharp-leaf willow (Salix acutifolia). The removal of trees and shrubs should allow the recreation of the dynamic system necessary for inland dune development, specifically the restoration of aeolian processes whereby the unobstructed flow of wind shapes the restoration of the desert conditions. This in turn facilitates the re-establishment of the typical native flora. All the concrete conservation actions conducted under the project were in accordance with the Plan of Protective Tasks (PZO) for the Pustynia Błędowska Natura 2000 site. The project team constructed an information point and viewing platform on an old WWII bunker (with a meteorological station), which overlooked the restored area, for the use of both soldiers and tourists. In addition, the project installed three information boards: two at other field locations and one at the entrance of the beneficiary’s building where the project office was located. The project team also produced several publications, including a guidebook on nature conservation in military areas, and organised a final conference to disseminate their findings. LIFE MILITARY HABITATS PL is a good example of managing Natura 2000 sites created in military areas. The habitat restoration and management methods demonstrated by the project could be easily replicated elsewhere in the EU, where there is a need to protect highly-valuable natural areas on potentially-hazardous military-owned land. The significant media promotion (e.g. TV, radio, press releases) indicated that the Błędowska Desert is still very famous in Poland, as a geographical feature and tourist attraction. This public interest could be used in the future to promote activities on the restored project area, bringing socioeconomic benefits to local communities. This could be used to help further protect the entire Błędowska Desert area. Moreover, the project has created a group of people and organisations involved in maintaining the restored habitats and their characteristic species. Finally, the project website, and the field information point and viewing platform, provide information about the ongoing impacts of the project and wider conservation goals on military land, which should help in the long-term protection of the area’s sandy grasslands and inland dunes. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).
