Programme area: | Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation |
Outcome: | Improved management of ecosystems under climate change pressure |
Output: | Improved capacity for ecosystems management |
Project title: | Restoration of the Network of Wetlands and Grasslands Important for Natura 2000 and Other Protected Species and Habitat Types in the Karst Biosphere Reserve and the Reka River Basin and the Seasonal Lakes of Pivka Nature Park |
Project acronym: | ReNature |
Project Promoter: | Škocjan Caves Public Service Agency |
Project Partners: | Partner 1: Municipality of Pivka Partner 2: University of Primorska Partner 3: University of Ljubljana, Veterinary faculty Partner 4: Foundation Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NOR) |
Start of the project: | 01.05.2022 |
End of the project: | 30.04.2024 |
Co-financing source: | EEA Grants and corresponding Slovenian contribution |
Total eligible project expenditure (EUR): | 1.196.385,00 |
Project grant (EUR): | 1.196.385,00 |
Main project results: | Increase in the area of restored wetland and grassland ecosystems whose functioning has declined due to climate change; better integration of ecosystem services into management models in the project area (development of a new participatory management model based on inventory of ecosystem services and adaptation to climate change, strengthening of services’ competence for wetland and grassland ecosystem management); increase in the number of informed target groups who understand the importance of preserving and restoring wetland and grassland ecosystems and the impact of climate change. |
Project summary: | Restoration of wetland and grassland ecosystems important for Natura 2000 (N2k) species and habitat types (HT) was carried out in the Karst and Reka River Basin Biosphere Reserve (MAB KPR) and the Seasonal Lakes of Pivka Nature Park (KP PPJ). MAB KPR encompasses a unique network of ecosystems with great geological diversity and biodiversity and also a rich heritage. It contains 10 Natura 2000 sites, natural values (NV) and 5 ecologically important sites (EPO), UNESCO and Ramsar site. KP PPJ borders with MAB KPR in the municipality of Pivka and comprises a protected area of intermittent lakes, 2 N2k, 3 EPO and 117 NV. The areas between N2k and other nature conservation areas are extremely important from the point of ensuring the connectivity, integrity and overall coherence of the N2k network. The project partnership included key actors who have the experience and competencies to achieve the project objectives. It was based on the expertise of diverse actors (cross-sectoral, vertical approach), who complement each other in the availability of knowledge (University of Primorska, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research), implementation (Škocjan Caves Public Service Agency, Slovenia; Municipality of Pivka; Veterinary Faculty) and networking with target groups (Škocjan Caves Public Service Agency, Slovenia). All partners had a clear role in the project and participated in most of work packages. All took an active role in the preparation phase. The Donor project partner was the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), leading institution for applied research in ecology, including in ESS, ecosystem restoration and effective management models. Cooperation was established through the Norwegian Environment Agency. Bilateral relations were strengthened by active participation in the project, knowledge transfer in ESS mapping, a management model design, the implementation of restorations and study visits in both countries. Biodiversity and nature protection plays a crucial role in the fight against climate change. Healthy and resilient ecosystems have a greater ability to mitigate climate change. Wetlands are the world’s most efficient carbon sinking habitats per unit area. Active storage, binding of CO2 in soil and biomass, reduction of emissions are also characteristic for meadows (EU,2010; BF,2019). Climate change has become the biggest threat to natural heritage sites in the last 10 years (IUCN,2020) and ecosystems in MAB KPR and KP PPJ are not an exception. Less precipitation, higher temperatures and evaporation (Ogrin,2014; ARSO,2020) lead to greater drought and fire risks in meadows and wetlands. Extreme weather events such as storms cause erosion, soil and vegetation damage. Climate change exacerbates other pressures: invasive species, overgrowth, deterioration due to non-management. Dry karst grasslands are among the most diverse habitat types in Slovenia. Meadow orchards are key habitat structures for birds and bats (LIFENATURAVIVA, 2020). Goršak (2010) recorded more than 3000 animal species there. Wetlands such as karst ponds and other small water reservoirs have provided water supplies in the past, but have a nature conservation role nowadays. These aquatic biotopes in the project area form a network of habitats of water-bound (N2k) species that would not be found in an otherwise dry karst landscape (ZRC SAZU,2005). The disappearance of these ecosystems results in the decline of populations of N2k species and HT (e.g., crested newt, yellow-bellied toad, marsh fritillary, bats with N2k code 1321, 1324, 1305, 1304, 1303, 1307, 1308; birds with N2k code A214, A232, A247, A255, A309, A338, A379; HT62A0 and 6510, etc.). According to the Report under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive and Article 12 Birds Directive Report, all of them have an unfavourable conservation status due to habitat loss. The specific project objectives were:
Key project activities and deliverables were investments in the restoration of wetlands (eight karst ponds and arched well) and meadow ecosystems (45 ha), mapping and study of ecosystem services, design and launch of a new management model based on the ESS; preparation of guidelines for the dissemination of the new management model, at least 30 educational and awareness-raising events and an awareness campaign for the experts and general public. The target groups were local communities in the project area:
The overall project goal was to improve the management of wetlands and grassland ecosystems in MAB KPR and KP PPJ, which are under climate change pressure. |
Renature - Restoration of the network of wetlands and
grasslands important for Natura 2000 and other protected species and habitat
types in the Karst Biosphere Reserve and the Reka River Basin and the Seasonal
Lakes of Pivka Nature Park
Restoration of wetland and grassland ecosystems important
for Natura 2000 (N2k) species and habitat types (HT) was carried out in the
Karst and Reka River Basin Biosphere Reserve (MAB KPR) and the Seasonal Lakes
of Pivka Nature Park (KP PPJ).
MAB KPR encompasses a unique network of ecosystems with
great geological diversity and biodiversity and also a rich heritage. It
contains 10 Natura 2000 sites, natural values (NV) and 5 ecologically important
sites (EPO), UNESCO and Ramsar site. KP PPJ borders with MAB KPR in the
municipality of Pivka and comprises a protected area of intermittent lakes, 2
N2k, 3 EPO and 117 NV. The areas between N2k and other nature conservation
areas are extremely important from the point of ensuring the connectivity,
integrity and overall coherence of the N2k network.
The project partnership included key actors who have the
experience and competencies to achieve the project objectives. It was based on
the expertise of diverse actors (cross-sectoral, vertical approach), who
complement each other in the availability of knowledge (University of Primorska,
Norwegian Institute for Nature Research), implementation (Škocjan Caves Public
Service Agency, Slovenia; Municipality of Pivka; Veterinary Faculty) and
networking with target groups (Škocjan Caves Public Service Agency, Slovenia).
All partners had a clear role in the project and participated in most of work
packages. All took an active role in the preparation phase.
The Donor project partner was the Norwegian Institute for
Nature Research (NINA), leading institution for applied research in ecology,
including in ESS, ecosystem restoration and effective management models.
Cooperation was established through the Norwegian Environment Agency. Bilateral
relations were strengthened by active participation in the project, knowledge
transfer in ESS mapping, a management model design, the implementation of
restorations and study visits in both countries.
Biodiversity and nature protection plays a crucial role in
the fight against climate change. Healthy and resilient ecosystems have a
greater ability to mitigate climate change. Wetlands are the world’s most
efficient carbon sinking habitats per unit area. Active storage, binding of CO2
in soil and biomass, reduction of emissions are also characteristic for meadows
(EU,2010; BF,2019).
Climate change has become the biggest threat to natural
heritage sites in the last 10 years (IUCN,2020) and ecosystems in MAB KPR and
KP PPJ are not an exception.
Less precipitation, higher temperatures and evaporation
(Ogrin,2014; ARSO,2020) lead to greater drought and fire risks in meadows and
wetlands. Extreme weather events such as storms cause erosion, soil and
vegetation damage. Climate change exacerbates other pressures: invasive
species, overgrowth, deterioration due to non-management.
Dry karst grasslands are among the most diverse habitat
types in Slovenia. Meadow orchards are key habitat structures for birds and
bats (LIFENATURAVIVA, 2020). Goršak (2010) recorded more than 3000 animal
species there.
Wetlands such as karst ponds and other small water
reservoirs have provided water supplies in the past, but have a nature
conservation role nowadays. These aquatic biotopes in the project area form a
network of habitats of water-bound (N2k) species that would not be found in an
otherwise dry karst landscape (ZRC SAZU,2005). The disappearance of these
ecosystems results in the decline of populations of N2k species and HT (e.g.,
crested newt, yellow-bellied toad, marsh fritillary, bats with N2k code 1321,
1324, 1305, 1304, 1303, 1307, 1308; birds with N2k code A214, A232, A247, A255,
A309, A338, A379; HT62A0 and 6510, etc.). According to the Report under Article
17 of the Habitats Directive and Article 12 Birds Directive Report, all of them
have an unfavourable conservation status due to habitat loss.
The specific project objectives were:
Key project activities and deliverables were investments in
the restoration of wetlands (eight karst ponds and arched well) and meadow
ecosystems (45 ha), mapping and study of ecosystem services, design and launch
of a new management model based on the ESS; preparation of guidelines for the
dissemination of the new management model, at least 30 educational and
awareness-raising events and an awareness campaign for the experts and general
public.
The target groups were local communities in the project
area:
The overall project goal was to improve the management of
wetlands and grassland ecosystems in MAB KPR and KP PPJ, which are under
climate change pressure.
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