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New conservation perspectives for the Aquatic Warblers in Lithuania and Latvia Žydrūnas Preik š a, Žymantas Morkvėnas Biebrza 2010. Stable population for last 3 years – around 150 singing males, but big decrease since 1995.
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New conservation perspectives for the Aquatic Warblers in Lithuania and LatviaŽydrūnas Preikša, Žymantas MorkvėnasBiebrza 2010
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. Short review on AW situation in Lithuania
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 – Lithuania Latvian Fund for Nature JSC Goldengrass Kretinga State Forest Enterprise Žuvintas Biosphere Reserve
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.)
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)
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;
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. Additional project benefit for species
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; Other ongoing initiatives on AW conservation