Restoration and maintenance of valuable aquatic bird habitats of Pirkanmaa

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

Many bird lakes in Finland suffer from the combined effects of overgrowth due to lack of management, heavy predation resulting from increasing numbers of small predators, such as mink and raccoon dogs, and conflicting land use. This project targeted four SPAs in the region of Pirkanmaa. Although the lakes are not large (a total of 391 hectares), together they form an important resting, feeding and breeding area for many birds listed in Annex I of Bird Directive, such as the horned grebe (Podiceps auritus), the whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus), the crane (Grus grus) and the wood sandpiper (Tringa glareola).

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this project was to maintain and enhance the conservation status of four diverse important SPA water bird areas (Kukkolanjärvi, Ekojärvi, Sarkkilanjärvi and Alhonlahti) and herb-rich forests of Ekojärvi in Pirkanmaa by improving their protection, management and restoration. The target areas suffered from overgrowth of the lakes and their shore habitats, which had decreased their value as important resting, feeding and breeding areas. In addition, increasing populations of small alien predatory mammals (e.g. raccoon dog and American mink) threatened the breeding success of water and shorebirds.

The project aimed to reach this goal by preparing management and restoration plans, and implementing a wide variety of restoration measures, such as increasing open water areas, mosaic habitat structure, creating small safe breeding islets, opening shore habitats and trapping small mammals. In herb-rich forests restoration measures would be the clearing of spruces, creating small openings and increasing decaying wood. The aim was to recreate the diverse structure of herb-rich forests.

Furthermore, the project aimed to decrease possible conflicts between different stakeholders and establish good co-operation between landowners, nature conservation authorities and other interested parties.

RESULTS

The project drew up management and restoration plans for four important bird lakes of Pirkanmaa. It also created Inventories of vegetation, habitat type, water insects (emphasis on directive species), birds (resting and nesting), moor frogs and flying squirrels.

Another key result of the project was the involvement of local people in the planning and implementation of the restoration actions. These included:

Restoration of bird lakes by increasing open water areas and mosaic structure (i.e. digging ponds, canals and creating nesting islets) on four sites – total area affected was 12.9 ha.

Clearing of bushes from the shores of four bird lakes – in total 17.7 ha.

Restoration of 3.3 ha of herb rich forests – this action included ring barking of around 215 spruces and 5 aspens and clearing of around 280 young spruces.

Trapping of small predatory mammals from all project sites – in total 70 American minks and 302 raccoon dogs were trapped and eliminated.

While monitoring of vegetation, birds, insects, quality of the restoration work and water has been introduced, it is too soon to assess the effects of the restoration actions.

The project also established private nature conservation areas at three project sites covering 135.6 ha and drafted regulations for general land use and recreational use. For example, it established hunting-free areas at two project sites covering around 230 ha.

Finally, leaflets on the nature of the project sites were produced and permanent sites signs on the project sites were erected. Also, a DVD on the Management of Bird Wetlands, which is available in English and Finnish, was created.

The project drew up management and restoration plans for four important bird lakes of Pirkanmaa. It also created Inventories of vegetation, habitat type, water insects (emphasis on directive species), birds (resting and nesting), moor frogs and flying squirrels.

Another key result of the project was the involvement of local people in the planning and implementation of the restoration actions. These included:

Restoration of bird lakes by increasing open water areas and mosaic structure (i.e. digging ponds, canals and creating nesting islets) on four sites – total area affected was 12.9 ha.

Clearing of bushes from the shores of four bird lakes – in total 17.7 ha.

Restoration of 3.3 ha of herb rich forests – this action included ring barking of around 215 spruces and 5 aspens and clearing of around 280 young spruces.

Trapping of small predatory mammals from all project sites – in total 70 American minks and 302 raccoon dogs were trapped and eliminated.

While monitoring of vegetation, birds, insects, quality of the restoration work and water has been introduced, it is too soon to assess the effects of the restoration actions.

The project also established private nature conservation areas at three project sites covering 135.6 ha and drafted regulations for general land use and recreational use. For example, it established hunting-free areas at two project sites covering around 230 ha.

Finally, leaflets on the nature of the project sites were produced and permanent sites signs on the project sites were erected. Also, a DVD on the Management of Bird Wetlands, which is available in English and Finnish, was created.