Restoring the Baltic coastal habitat networks

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

The conservation status of a number of coastal and archipelagic habitats in Finland and Estonia requires improvement. Of those listed in the EU's Habitats Directive, 23 in Finland and seven in Estonia are classed as unfavourable-bad or unfavourable-inadequate.

OBJECTIVES

CoastNet LIFE aims to improve the conservation status of Natura 2000 sites along the Baltic coastal zone. To achieve this, it plans to carry out restoration work on four types of habitat: boreal Baltic islets and small, open habitats; mosaics of herb-rich, broad-leaved forests and semi-natural habitats; sun-lit habitats; as well as large coastal meadows and new forests on previously uncolonised land.

The project's work should help increase the populations of numerous species by giving them new areas to colonise. It will also help to combat the effects of habitat fragmentation and isolation, as well as boosting the populations' resilience to climate change. Several species covered by the Birds Directive will benefit from improvements to their nesting habitats and those on their migration routes.

Expected results:

Establishment of nature conservation areas (covering 80 ha) in south-west Finland;

Acquisition of 30 ha of land for nature conservation in south-west Finland;

Restoration of 725 ha of semi-natural habitats, with almost 70 km of fences built;

Over 110 ha of islets and small, open areas in the outer archipelago restored;

Restoration of habitat (50 ha) for the Apollo butterfly (Parnassius apollo), whose population is expected to grow threefold;

More than 280 ha of forest habitats restored;

Restoration of 140 ha of sun-lit habitats;

Over 300 occurrences of rugosa rose (Rosa rugosa) and other invasive alien species combated (17 sites, over 140 ha);

Completion of lagoon restoration (over 70 ha);

More than 3 ha of wetland created;

Restoration of over 180 ha of river habitat, and breeding of 7 200 freshwater pearl mussels (Margaritifera margaritifera); and

Completion of three permanent and one moveable nature trails, and construction of a bird watching tower (with 150 000 visitors to the sites).