The present project is dedicated to the conservation of the species of Charadriiformes associated with river valleys and wetlands of eastern Poland: – black-tailed godwits, redshanks, lapwings, great snipes and common snipes. The listed species, based on the Regulation of the Minister of Environment of 6 October 2014 on the protection of animal species (Journal of Laws of 2014, item 1348), are under strict protection and require active protection. The measures shall cover 2 SPA and 2 SAC Nature 2000 areas. These areas are linked in particular by the occurrence of Charadriiformes as objects of protection listed in the SDFs of these areas, this is the Knyszyn Forest and the Upper Narew Valley. The Special Areas of Conservation are: Knyszyn Refuge and the Refuge in the Upper Narew River Valley.
National trends in the abundance of openland Charadriiformes show declines of more than half: great snipes by 54% since 2010, black-tailed godwits by 52% since 2007, redshanks by 55% since 1980, lapwings by 65% since 2007. The main causes are loss of breeding habitats due to drying and inappropriate use of the land, and predation, which is responsible for low breeding success.
The aim of the project is to restore breeding habitats of endangered Charadriiformes through grazing, increased breeding success and improved hydrological conditions in the Nature 2000 SPA Knyszyn Forest and the Upper Narew Valley.
The target of the project in the areas covered by the activities is to achieve high birth rate - at a minimum level of 0.6 young per breeding pair – in order to maintain local populations of Charadriiformes. Focusing on the birth rate will result in a stable source of birds for the whole Natura 2000 area. Other protected species that will benefit from the project include: fire-bellied toad, crested newt, ruff, Montagu’s harrier, white stork, and lesser spotted eagle.
The project assumes the maintenance and development of grazing: approx. 50 Polish Konik horses will be grazed on the protected areas. The animals will be turned out in the area under protection once the breeding season is over. The aim of the grazing is to maintain proper vegetation composition and soil structure.
The project will involve fencing 2 areas – a total of 85 ha of meadows – with a special anti-predator fencing. The fencing makes it impossible for foxes or minks to enter the breeding grounds of Charadriiformes.
Another task is to improve water conditions through construction of small retention facilities, which will raise the groundwater level and allow to retain water from spring flooding and improve feeding conditions through creation of shallow floodplains. A total of 48 hydrotechnical facilities will be constructed.
The expected effects of the project are to secure the proper conservation status of populations of black-tailed godwits, redshanks, lapwings, great snipes and common snipes in OSO Nature 2000 Knyszyn Forest and Upper Narew Valley areas and the protection of breeding Charadriiformes from predators on the area of 85 ha. The result of the project is expected to be also an appropriate regulation of water conditions in two areas – "Treścianka" and "Gródek" and an increase in ecological awareness of min. 22,550 people.
Grazing constitutes the best way of using river valleys for Charadriiformes, as confirmed by habitat studies conducted within the framework of the LIFE11 NAT/PL/000436 project, under which grazing was restored in the Upper Narew Valley, which is currently being developed and continued within the framework of the POIS.02.04.00-00-0131/16 project. Permanent electric fences have been used by as protection of nests of Charadriiformes from predators with good results, among others, by PTOP in the project POIS.02.04.00-00-0031/16 in the Knyszyn Forest and in the British project LIFE15 NAT/UK/000753. The location selected for the project were the most promising areas situated in the valley of the Narew and Supraśl rivers. This area has been the site of PTOP's wet meadow restoration project for over 10 years.
Wesja Polska