Raised bog restoration experience in Latvia

Dr. biol. Mara Pakalne, Dr. biol. Liga Strazdina

University of Latvia

The International WorkshopBEST EXPERIENCES IN CONSERVATION ANDRESTORATION OF HABITATS IN RAISED BOGS AND MIRESEXCHANGE OF KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER TO AUKSTUMALA11–13 June 2014, Šilutė, Lithuania

Outline of the presentation

• Characterise mire management and monitoringwithin LIFE projects in Latvia

• Reveal problems in raised bog conservation andrestoration

Mires cover 4.9% of the total land area

Peatlands in Latvia

(ABOUT 6000)

Intact raised bogs

7120 Degraded raised bogs still capable of natural regeneration (31,700 ha)

7110* Intact raised bogs –priority protection status in EU (26,6200 ha in Latvia)

Raised bog species

Rubus chamaemorusAndromeda polifolia

Drosera obovata

Eriphorum vaginatum

EC LIFE projects for mire management

• Teici Mire (2001-2003)

• Kemeri Mire (2003-2008, 2011-2016)

• Lubana Wetland complex (2003-2007)

• Implementation of Mire Habitat Management Plan in Latvia(2004-2008)

• Restoration of Raised bog habitats in the Especially ProtectedNature Areas of Latvia (2010-2013)

• Conservation and Management of Priority Wetland Habitatsin Latvia (2014-2017)

Teici Mire

Total area: 15,000 ha

Kemeri Mire

Total area 5000 ha

Kemeri MireLIFE project

Sphagnum cuspidatum

Peat fields near Kemeri Mire

Re-establishment of Sphagnum species

Mire management and monitoring

Technicaldesigns

Management plans

Mire

restoration

actions

Habitat and hydrological

monitoring

Building of dams in Vasenieki Mire

2007

2013

2006

Vasenieki Mire

2007

2013

Cena Mire

Cena Mire

Cena Mire

Melnais Lake Mire

Total area 317 ha

Building of dams on drainage ditches in winter 2012

Monitoring and management actions

• Raising of water level by building dams on the drainage ditches to stop the degradation of raised bog habitats

• Habitat and site hydrology monitoring before and after management actions

Vegetation monitoring

• Established to follow the vegetation changes in mire vegetation

• Releves are located in representative areas in the natural and degraded areas

damsvegetation, habitat and

site hydrology

monitoring transects

Results: Eastern part of Melnais Lake Mire

2011

20120.5 m from the ditch

Results: Eastern part of Melnais Lake Mire

Change of the proportions in

Sphagnum coverage

The coverage of species of more wet areas has increased

Sphagnum magellanicum

Sphagnum cuspidatum

Sphagnum fallax

Results: Eastern part of Melnais Lake Mire

Calluna vulgaris is dying out

Results: change of Calluna vulgaris cover

Results: change of Sphagnum cover

Results: change of Eriophorum vaginatum cover

Hydrological monitoring

Groundwater monitoring in Melnais Lake Mire, deep ditches

• Seasonal GWT fluctuations• Range of GWT fluctuations up to 0.5-1.2 m in the wells near

the ditch (5-10 m)

• After dam construction:Sharp rise of GWT for ~0.3 m near the ditch, slighter rise in the 25-100 m distance;Stabilisation of GWT (range 0.1-0.25 m)

Rozu Mire

Total area 991 ha

Rozu Mire

2010 Before dam building

2013 After dam building

EC LIFE+ project

Title: “Conservation and Management of Priority Wetland Habitats in Latvia”

Duration : June 2014– November 2017

Project sites : Slitere National Park, Gauja National Park,

Raunas Staburags and Northern Mires

Partners and Co-financers :

Project sites

Northern Mires

Trichophorum caespitosum

Betula nana

Bazi Mire in Slitere National Park

Total area 2,646 ha

Inter-dune mire complex

Drosera intermedia

Nymphaea alba

Suda-Zviedru Mire in Gauja National Park

Total area 2,575 ha

Davida springsin Gauja National Park

Fennoscandian mineral- rich springs and spring fens (7160).

Petrifying springs with tufa formation (Cratoneurion) (7220*)

Raunas Staburags Nature Reserve

Total area 25 ha

Conclusions

• The habitat monitoring results show a great difference in the coverage and species number of vascular plants and bryophytes in the intact and drained areas.

• Hydrological and habitat studies reveal that after the management actions was carried out, fast changes have taken place in the site hydrological regime.

• More information in the home page: www.purvi.lv

Thanks for attention!