short review on aw situation in lithuania

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New conservation perspectives for the Aquatic Warblers in

Lithuania and Latvia

Žydrūnas Preikša, Žymantas MorkvėnasBiebrza 2010

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Short review on AW situation in Lithuania

• Stable population for last 3 years – around 150 singing males, but big decrease since 1995.

• Currently there are 3 regular breeding areas – along the Curonian Lagoon, in Nemunas delta and Zuvintas lake environs.

• All most important breeding sites are protected, but it does not ensure species protection.

• Main threats – overgrowth of meadows with reeds/bushes or accumulation of thick litter layer due to abandonment, intensive land use.

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Project applied to LIFE+ 2009

Project status: to be proposed for short listing.

Duration: 2010 Sept. – 2015, Budget: 2.1 mln. euro

Title: Baltic Aquatic Warbler“Securing sustainable farming to ensure conservation of globally threatened bird species in agrarian landscape”

Project area: Lithuania and Latvia

Partners: Baltic Environmental Forum – LithuaniaLatvian Fund for NatureJSC GoldengrassKretinga State Forest EnterpriseŽuvintas Biosphere Reserve

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Project sites

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Short info about project sitesSite No in

2001-2004No in 2005-2009

% of national population

Main threats

LT-Tyrai 100-160 35-80 50 Overgrowth with reeds

LT-Tulkiarage

0 0 0 Overgrowth with reeds

LT-Sysa 100-110 35-60 33 Early mowing, abandonment

LT-Zuvintas 10-15 2-7 3 Overgrowth with bushes

LV-Lake Pape*

0 0 0 Overgrowth with reeds and bushes

LV – Lake Liepaja

1-3 0 100 Overgrowth with reeds and bushes

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Project Strategy

• Restore currently abandoned habitat for AW (total app. 1300 ha) to favorable conditions;

• Setup preconditions ensuring interest and motivation to continuously manage the areas maintaining favorable conditions for AW;

• Demonstrate how economic and social aspects can be well harmonized with AW conservation needs by infrastructure investments and gathering experience from other countries;

• Maintaining close dialogue with local stakeholders (farmers, PA administrations etc.)

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Key activities• Restoration of currently abandoned habitats (~1300 ha

total);

• Land purchase (only 15 ha) in Žuvintas BR;

• Testing different management measures;

• Introduction of new agri-env. measure for Nemunas delta, setting up more favorable conditions for management of AW areas;

• Promotion of late-cut biomass usage (learning from Biebrza)

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Other important actions• Study visits for stakeholders to learn know-how

experience and networking with other projects for experience exchange and joining forces for AW conservation;

• Rather wide awareness raising activities;

• Recommendation/handbook publications for AW conservation measures and application of agro-env. measures;

• Intensive dialogue process with farmers and landowners in the sites;

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Additional project benefit for species

• Porzana porzana. 40-60 pairs - 4 % of LT population.• Crex crex. 100-200 pairs - 0.5 % of LT population.• Gallinago media. 20-40 pairs - 12 % of LT population.• Calidris alpina schinzii. 5-10 pairs - 27 % of LT

population.• Philomachus pugnax. 20-40 pairs – 20 % of LT

population.• 6 types of natural habitats of the Community Importance.

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Other ongoing initiatives on AW conservation

• In frame of setting up “demonstration farms” – depends on negotiations with farmers some areas for AW will be restored (outside LIFE project areas);

• Site management plans (outside LIFE project areas) targeted AW conservation in preparation and legal adoption process;

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short review on aw situation in lithuania

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