TRANS-BOUNDARY RESTORATION OF MIRES FOR BIODIVERSITY AND LANDSCAPE HYDROLOGY IN SUMAVA AND BAVARIAN FOREST

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

The National Park of šumava and the Bavarian Forest are together an important wetland area in the Central European region. The whole area is rich in mires and other wetland habitats that are a priority for conservation within the Natura 2000 network. Natural hydrology and water accumulation are key factors for mire stability. However, more than a half of the mire and other wetland habitats have been negatively impacted both by drainage and peat extraction in the past. This has resulted in reduced biodiversity and unbalanced landscape hydrology, exacerbated by progressive climatic change impacts (extreme drought and floods). One of the most endangered species in the area is the black grouse (Tetrao tetrix). The local population is estimated at only 100-150 birds, as a result of loss of habitats (mires, wet meadows). The population decline of the species is critical and there is an urgent need for conservation measures.

OBJECTIVES

The LIFE for MIRES project aims to improve degraded mires and other wetland habitats of the Habitats Directive, and their underlying landscape hydrology, in the National Park šumava and the Bavarian Forest, through transboundary collaboration between partners in the Czech Republic and Germany.

Specific objectives are:

Restoration and improvement toward the natural state of all types of wetlands covering an area of 1 672 ha, of which the targeted Natura 2000 habitats ‘Active raised bogs’, ‘Transition mires and quaking bogs’, ‘Bog woodland, ‘Degraded raised bogs still capable of natural regeneration’, and ‘Acidophilous Picea forests’ cover 1 428 ha;

Restoration of landscape hydrology to improve water retention;

Maintenance and improvement of the population of Tetrao tetrix by restoring its habitats; and

Increase of public awareness and support of key landowners to restore mires and landscape hydrology.

The project implements the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive. It also contributes to the Water Framework Directive, EU Biodiversity Strategy, German National Strategy on Biological Diversity, Strategy for Preservation of Biological Diversity in Bavaria, and the State Programme of Nature and Landscape Conservation in the Czech Republic.

Expected results:

Improved state of previously drained habitats, particularly two priority habitats (‘Active raised bogs’ and ‘Bog woodland’) and three other wetland habitats (‘Degraded raised bogs still capable of natural regeneration’, ‘Transition mires and quaking bogs’ and ‘Acidophilous Picea forests’) listed in the Habitats Directive, on an area of at least 1 185 ha;

Restored hydrology on an area of over 1 300 ha;

Regeneration initiated on bogs previously mined for peat on 17 ha;

Improved habitats for Tetrao tetrix (152 ha), including ‘Bog woodland’, ‘Active raised bogs’, ‘Transition mires and quaking bogs’, ‘Bog woodland’ and ‘Acidophilous Picea forests’ (42 ha);

Restoration of landscape hydrology over 427 ha, to improve ‘Transition mires and quaking bogs’, ‘Bog woodland’ and ‘Acidophilous Picea forests’ habitats on 136 ha; and

Restored wetlands near settlements (21 ha), including ‘bog woodland’ habitat (8 ha).