Implementation of the National Action Plan for Great Snipe in Poland - phase 1

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

Great snipe (Gallinago media) has a vulnerable conservation status in 27 EU countries, due to small and declining populations and its poor recovery prospects outside the EU. The main reason for the decline in great snipe numbers and the reduction of its range in Poland since the 1980s is the loss of nesting habitat, mainly caused by human activities. In the 1990s, the domestic population of great snipe was estimated at 750-900 displaying males. By 2018, its population was estimated at only 400-550 males, a drastic decline in lekking males of over 40 %. The most serious current threats in all the key sites in Poland are low water levels due to changed hydrological conditions, the loss of habitat due to plant succession, and predation by native and introduced species.

OBJECTIVES

The main aim of the LIFEGALLINAGO ACTION PLAN project is to stop the population decline of great snipe and to achieve favourable conservation status for the species in Poland. This will be achieved through the implementation of six specific objectives directly derived from the National Species Action Plan (SAP), concerning the great snipes conservation status, its habitats, and the threats it faces. The plan was approved by the Director of the General Directorate for Environmental Protection (GDO) in March 2017. The project will install sluices to improve hydrological conditions, restore meadows and reintroduce grazing to reverse the trend toward scrubland, and control predators in key lekking sites (where males gather for breeding). The improved habitat conditions will also benefit associated priority species, such as lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), common snipe (Gallinago gallinago), and redshank (Tringa totanus). Expected results:

Decline of great snipe population halted by the end of the project;

Purchase of 90 ha of land (in Lublin and Podlasie regions) and improved management on a total of 300 ha;

Improved hydrological conditions through the installation of 25 sluices in the Lublin region and an hydrological audit prepared for Siemianwka reservoir in Podlasie;

Restoration of 75 ha of abandoned meadows (in Lublin and Podlasie regions);

Introduction of 65 cows, 10 horses, 12 fords and nearly 26 000 m of fencing;

Reduction of 600 predators (foxes) per year around permanent lekking sites on an area of 3 000 ha;

Co-operation with farmers to adapt their management to the land management models developed as part of the National Action Plan, with around 300 farmers on 16 Natura 2000 sites contacted, resulting in around 10 % changing their management regime and 75 % understanding the habitat requirements for great snipe;

Identification of habitat preferences and food resources of great snipe, with emphasis on females, especially on peat bogs and in large river valleys;

Assessment of threats at lekking sites in Belarus, which is important in view of the documented exchange of individuals with the Polish great snipe population; and

Proposals for legislative changes to improve habitats of great snipe in Poland; and

Creation of 4-5 full-time jobs.