PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The EU priority habitat Fennoscandian wooded meadows is a highly endangered habitat which has an unfavourable-bad conservation status throughout its range. These wooded meadows have developed under conditions of traditional agriculture, with diverse management approaches, including sustainable use of timber, collecting branches and hay for winter fodder, providing pastures and using areas for beekeeping, and collecting berries and hazelnuts, amongst others. The diversity of management approaches provided for an extraordinary species richness – these wooded meadows are the most diverse habitat in the Boreal region and can host up to 76 vascular plant species per square metre. Estonia and Latvia together host 60% of all remaining wooded meadows in the Boreal biogeographical region. However, only some 28% of Estonian wooded meadows and 31% of Latvian wooded meadows are managed.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of the WOODMEADOWLIFE project is to restore a significant proportion of the wooded meadows in Estonia and Latvia, to establish long-term arrangements and infrastructure on private land for their future management and to highlight their ecosystem services, ecological functions and unique heritage value.
RESULTS
Expected results:
- Agreements reached with landowners/managers for restoring and managing 700 ha of wooded meadows (500 ha in Estonia and 200 ha in Latvia);
- Detailed site-level planning performed for 700 ha of wooded meadows, establishing the basis for restoration and knowledge sharing;
- Communication plan developed for strategic communication on wooded meadows in Estonia and Latvia;
- At least 700 ha of overgrown wooded meadows restored by cutting trees and shrubs, grinding tree stumps and removing shrub regrowth;
- Improvement in the conservation status of the orchid Cypripedium calceolus and 2% increase in the number of populations; 5% increase in population sizes of the hermit beetle (Osmoderma eremita); further population decline of the three-toed woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus) avoided and potential increase aimed for of 5% in population sizes;
- Habitat quality improved for the needs of specific species on at least 150 ha of wooded meadows (sowing seeds, eradication of invasive alien species, nest boxes for bats and beetles, specific measures to preserve valuable trees that rare species inhabit, etc.);
- Sites to have restored access and infrastructure for management within modern farming systems. Areas to be in suitable condition to join the RDP (Rural Development Programme) agri-environmental programme for annual management after the project ends;
- At least 500,000 people reached through the project’s media campaign;
- Landowner engagement campaign carried out to find the best restoration sites within the target Natura 2000 sites, reaching at least 200 landowners in Latvia and 600 in Estonia;
- Contributing managers (200 people) trained on management requirements and different equipment demonstrated;
- Help desk established to provide regular advice and information support to landowners willing to restore and manage their wooded meadows;
- Conservation authorities dealing with wooded meadows in Nordic-Baltic countries to have regular contact and the opportunity to share knowledge, including joint efforts on improving the upcoming RDPs;
- Volunteers involved in 24 events in Estonia and 20 events in Latvia (engaging more than 520 people in total, including cross-border events), plus 120 people involved via study visits to meadows and a further 200 people via summer schools;
- Cultural heritage of wooded meadows promoted, with a book written about nature conservation and heritage values on wooded meadows (2,000 copies published in each country);
- EU best practice guidelines developed on wooded meadow restoration; and
- Restoration success monitored through changes in vegetation and insect fauna before, during and at the end of the project; socio-economic impact monitored through survey and assessment of ecosystem services.
