TheNewBiogeographicProcess

-PlatformmeetingonAlpinehabitats-

10./11.06.2013inSchladming/Austria

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Platformmeeting:Alpinenewbiogeographicalprocess

On10./11.06.2013inSchladming

1.BACKGROUND

TheLIFEplatformmeetingon10./11.06.2013inSchladmingwasorganisedinordertocompilebestpracticeexperiencedevelopedthroughLIFEnatureprojectsthathavebeenimplementedinNatura2000sitesdesignatedforselectedhabitatsintheAlpinebio-geographicalregion.Participantsofthismeetingweremanagers of LIFE projects that restore andmanageAlpinehabitats and species. Aswell as representativesof the LIFENATunit (E3), theNatureunit B3 and the externalmonitoringteam.The recommendations and findings of this platform meeting fed directly into the preparatoryworkshopof theNatura2000seminar for theAlpine region (NewBiogeographicalProcess),whichtookplaceinGraz/Austriafromthe12to14June2013.2.CONCLUSIONS

TheLIFEplatformmeetingwasverywellorganisedbythebeneficiaryoftheproject09NATA0224and the townof Schladming.An intenseexchangeof experiences tookplaceduring andafter thesessions.Theresultsofthefourworkinggroupsthatgatheredbestpracticeexperiencetothefourmainhabitat typeswater,wetlands, forest andgrasslandswerepresentedduring thepreparatoryworkshopoftheNatura2000seminarfortheAlpineregioninGraz.The presentations at the preparatory workshop focused on threats, management requirements,barriers and bottlenecks and (potential) solutions for the individual habitats. The contributions ofthe LIFE platformmeeting proved very valuable for this preparatory workshop. The LIFE projectsprovide practical experience on management of habitats and allow assessing the feasibility ofmanagement approaches and in this way provide essential inputs for the new bio-geographicprocess.Discussions in theworkinggroupsof thepreparatoryworkshopclearlydemonstrated theusefulnessofthepracticalmanagementexperienceprovidedbyLIFEprojectsandoptionsforfurtherinclusionofLIFEprojectresultsintheprocesswerediscussed.The following experience from the first LIFE platformmeeting related to the new bio-geographicprocess should be taken into consideration when planning future events (it is noted that theoriginallyforeseenpreparatoryworkshopontheMediterraneanwillmostlikelynottakeplace,asnohostcountrycanbeidentified):It would be essential to ensure a broad geographic representation of projects form the bio-geographicregioninquestion.Projectsfromsomecountries,e.g.Spain,FranceandGreecewerenotrepresentedatthepresentPlatformmeeting,whileItalywasrepresentedbyrelativelyfewprojectscompared to thenumberof projects implemented in the country. It is recommended that theECwould strongly encourageprojects fromall relevant countries toparticipate, possibly through thenationalfocalpoints.For future events it would be very valuable to ensure the participation also of recently closedprojects that could contribute with already proved experience. Further, organization of theworkshopshouldstartasearlyaspossibleastimeisabottleneckforallprojectmanagers.Inordertotargettheinputsoftheplatformmeetingtotheneedsofthepreparatoryworkshopitisalsorecommendedtoestablishaclosecooperationwiththeorganisersofthepreparatoryworkshop(includingtheexternalconsultant)atanearlypointduringthepreparation.

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4.MISSION’SDESCRIPTION

4.1.Agendaandlistofparticipantsoftheworkshop/conference/meeting

Monday,10June2013

13:00 OpeningoftheworkshopWelcomebyhostWelcomebyEC

JürgenWinter/SchladmingRudolfHornich/GovernmentofStyria;LIFEProject"RiverEnns"AnneBurrill(EC/DGENV)

13:15 Introductiontothemeeting–extractingbestpracticelessonsfromLIFEAlpineprojects

AnneBurrill(EC/DGENV)

13:30 TheNewbiogeographicprocess FrankVassen(EC/DGENV)

14:00 Preparingthebiogeographicseminar-thescientificprocess

LubosHalada(Astrale)

14:30 Coffeebreak

15:00 Projectpresentationson· grasslands(LIFE04NAT/SI/000240)· forests(LIFE08NAT/RO/000502)· wetlands(LIFE08NAT/S/000268)

JurijGulicCalinCengherandSandorAttilaLisaTenning

17:15 IntroductiontotheLIFEProject"RiverEnns" UrsulaSuppan/GovernmentofStyria;LIFEProject"RiverEnns"

Evening: 19:00Sight-seeingtourthroughSchladming 19:30Dinnerdinnerinthe"KongressSchladming"

Tuesday,11June2013

8:30 ExcursionVisittorestoredsitesattheriverEnns

LIFEProject"RiverEnns"

12:00 Lunch

13:30 Workshopin4groupscorrespondingtothehabitatsrepresented,water,wetlands,grasslandsandforests;seeattachedlistofhabitats.Aim-toidentifybestpractisedeveloped,methodsforplanningofmanagementtobeapplied,calculationofcostsofinterventions,monitoring,identificationofadditionalneedforknowledge,includingprioritiesfordevelopmentwork

15:30 Coffeebreak

16:00 Reportsfromthe4workinggroups,agreementonreporttotheworkshopon12-14,approvalofrapporteur

17:00 End/Departure

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Contactperson Project Projectname Address

StefanSchwab LIFE07NAT/D/000233RestorationofhabitatsintheFederseebog Stefan.Schwab@rpt.bwl.de

KarolineAngermann

LIFE10NAT/AT/000017LIFE+-Lavant:Habitatsnetworkforendangeredsmallfishspecies

karoline.angermann@umweltbuero-klagenfurt.at

RudolfHornich LIFE08NAT/A/000614LIFE09NAT/AT/000224

AlpinerivermanagementUpperMurLIFE+RiverlandscapedevelopmentEnns

rudolf.hornich@stmk.gv.at

UrsulaSuppan LIFE09NAT/AT/000224

ursula.suppan@stmk.gv.atChristineKonradi LIFE09NAT/AT/000224 konradi@freiland.atCalinCengher

LIFE08NAT/RO/000502 SecuringfavorableconservationstatusforpriorityhabitatsfromSCICalimani-Gurghiu

calincengher@gmail.com

SandorAttila LIFE08NAT/RO/000502 adsandor@gmail.com

GiorgioVacchiano LIFE11NAT/IT/000213HabitatconservationandimprovementofthepopulationofCARABUSOLYMPIAEinValSessera

giorgio.vacchiano@unito.it

NikaDebeljakŠabec

LIFE09NAT/SI/000374LIFE11NAT/SI/000880

ConservationandmanagementoffreshwaterwetlandsNatura2000ManagementprogrammeforSloveniafortheperiod2014-2020

nika.debeljak@zrsvn.si

PinaLeone LIFE11NAT/IT/000234UrgentactionsfortheconservationofmeadowsandpasturesintheterritoryofGranSassoandMontidellaLaga

pina.leone@gransassolagapark.it

LucaSchillaci LIFE11NAT/IT/000234lucaschillaci@gransassolagapark.it

AlfonsoCalzolaio LIFE11NAT/IT/000234alfonsocalzolaio@gransassolagapark.it

JuveloiuElisabeta LIFE11NAT/RO/000825Conservativemanagementfor4070and9260habitatsofROSCI0129NorthofWesternGorj

elisabetaj@yahoo.com

DominikBombek LIFE11NAT/SI/000882 RiparianEcosystemRestorationoftheLowerDravaRiverinSlovenia dominik.bombek@dopps.si

LisaTenning LIFE08NAT/S/000268 Restoringdrainedandovergrowingwetlands Lisa.Tenning@lansstyrelsen.se

HansGardfjell LIFE08NAT/S/000264DemonstrationofanintegratedNorth-Europeansystemformonitoringterrestrialhabitats

Hans.Gardfjell@slu.se

SofiaPerä LIFE10NAT/SE/000045 RemediationofmigratorybarriersinNordic/fennoscandianwatercourses Sofia.Pera@lansstyrelsen.se

JurijGulic LIFE04NAT/SI/000240NATURA2000inSlovenia-managementmodelsandinformationsystem

jurij.gulic@zrsvn.si

AnneBurrill ECDGEnvironment/LIFEUnit Anne.Burrill@ec.europa.eu

FrankVassen ECDGEnvironment/UnitB3–Nature Frank.VASSEN@ec.europa.eu

BentJepsen Astrale/CoordinatorLIFENatureprojects bent.jepsen@astrale.org

LubosHalada Astrale/MonitorLIFENatureprojects lubos.halada@astrale.org

AndrejBaca Astrale/MonitorLIFENatureprojects andrej.baca@astrale.org

CorneliaSchmitz Astrale/MonitorLIFENatureprojects cornelia.schmitz@astrale.org

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Conclusions:a)TechnicalpointsPlease note: the below notes are only summaries extracted from the documentation of therapporteurs.Thecompletedocumentationisattachedtothisreport.Peatlands

Generally the problems and solutions vary between the different types of peatlands, but weresummarisedinthisparagraph.Themain threats to peatland habitats are peat mining, human changes to hydrology, tourism,climatechange,expansionofforestry,fertilisationfromagriculturalactivitiesandformerplantingofPicea.Coremanagement requirements identifiedby theprojectswere the restorationof thehydrology,installation of long term management (Grazing schemes / mowing), creation of buffer zones toagriculturalactivities,groundwatermonitoringandtheremovalofsuccession.Allthatgenerallyhastobedonewithoutheavymachineryandwhilerespectingbreedingandothersensitiveperiodsforspecificspecies.

(photo:projectteam)

Beside the often intense costs of the restoration actions, also the reluctance of landowners tochange their grazing schemes and the installation of an effective and sustainable long termmanagement systemwere considered important bottlenecks in the restoration process. Also thelackofcooperationfrombehalfofforestservicesandtherequirementtopreserveculturalheritageofpeatminingincludingWorldHeritagesitesarementionedinthisregard.Themain(potential)solutions identifiedbytheworkinggroupareanefficientvisitormanagement(details recommendations in annex), monitoring state with satellite imagery, using ruraldevelopment funds to promote the cooperationof agricultural community, better involvement ofNGOs,enhancecommunicationaboutimportanceofsite/habitattypeandprovideinputtonationalforestryplans.

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Forests

The main threats identified in the working group to the different forest types are ceasing oftraditional use as coppicedwood, too little deadwood, accidental fires,mining of lime stone andrelatedhabitatalterations, invasivespeciesandgrazingpressure.Thesethreatsofcoursevarynotonlyfromforesttypetoforesttype,butaswellbetweenthedifferentcountriesandregions.Threatsand problems are generally connected to human activities and a consequence of the socialframework.

The management requirements discussed include selective thinning to foster best stems incoppices,fireprevention,neophytecontrol,plantingandthepromotionofdiversityinforests.Main bottlenecks identified are the economic sustainability of used coppices, unfavourableownership structures, knowledge to combat efficiently neophytes, regulation of ungulates andothers.The potential solutions comprise a rolling (selective) cutting system in forests with mixed agestructure, deadwood of about 20 m3 per ha, regulation of camping and other activities (fireprevention)andintroductionoflargecarnivores.Further theworking group underlines that a common understanding is neededwhat "favourableconservation status" exactly is. Themembers of the group recommended to develop amodellingtool for establishing scenarios for developing of the quality of forests habitats with in the Bio-geographicregions,thistoolcoulddrawonart17data,forestryinventorydataetc.

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Grasslands

Themain threats raised in the working group were overgrazing (especially near the farms) orconversiontoarable landonflatslopes;abandonment ingrazingonsteepslopesandproblemstokeeporchardsthatarethere.Thelargecarnivoreswerementionedasaproblemaswell.Themanagement requirements discussed include grazing by sheep or smaller breeds of cows,transhumanceprocess–temporarygrazingofplots. Inorchards, therestorationandmanagementaremeasuresalsoformaintainingthelocalvarietiesofthefruittrees.Mainbottlenecksidentifiedaredispersalofownership(manylandowners,smallparcels)anddifferentgrazingregulations in different communes. The lack ofwatersupply for animals represents the limiting factor forgrazing.Solutions identified were related besides the use ofagricultural subsidies to the improvement of thegrasslandmanagement economy. It was proposed toset up actions plans for promoting products fromgrasslands,namelyforthreegroupsofproducts:fromherbs (for aromatherapy, for wellness, honey,marmaladefromorchards);milkproducts(cheesewithherbs);anddrymeatproducts.Forsupporttofarmerstograzetheconcretemeasureswerespecified:fencingaround lakesso the livestockdoesnotenter,buildingwateringspots,buildingsheltersforlambsnottomakegrazing only seasonal (not to go up and downfrequently),fencestoprotectherdsagainstcarnivores.The problem of different grazing regulations on thecommune level was addressed by the developmentandadoptionofthegrazingregulationscommonforallinvolved communes. Themeasures for improvementof thegrazingeconomy includesuseof hay(esp.Nardusstricta,Carexbrizoides)forbeds(mattresses);plantopreparebricketsfromNardushay– for feeding cattle in winter, or small pellets for pet mammals. Other promising area is therestorationof the economy forwool products: cooperationof farmers to increase the amount ofwool and its quality (use the breeds with high-quality wool, e.g.Merino), to create a processingchain to the final product - in a group to share the benefits. Low qualitywool could be used forisolationofbuildings.Inthediscussiontheimportanceofanecotonesbetweenthegrasslandandforestwasstressedastheysupportdifferentspeciesthanmanagedgrasslands(includingforagingplantse.g.ofbutterflies,umbrella species, ant hills), contain deadwood material, have different vertical structure of thecanopy. The different intensity of grazing or mowing on the plots could be achieved through arotationalorpatchworkmanagementbasedonthemanagementplan.

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Freshwater

Thefreshwaterworkinggroupfocusedontherestorationofriverhabitatsandalluvial forests.Thethreats identified in thepre-scopingdocumentweregenerally consideredas appropriate. Inmostcases,riverhabitatsandspeciesareinbadconservationstatusbecauseofhistoricalriverregulationor infrastructureworks, such as the straighteningor deepeningof rivers, constructionof damsordykes,removalofboulders,constructionofhydro-powerplants,etc.Riverbeddeepeningisamajorthreat because it functionally disconnects a river from its side-rivers and/or from its alluvialfloodplain, thereby disrupting connectivity. For alluvial floodplain forests, invasive alien species(mainly plant species) were also confirmed as being a major threat for which no good solutionscurrentlyexist.Anew important threat,even for riverswithinNatura2000sites, is the increasingpressurefortheconstructionofnewhydro-powerplants.Froma technicalviewriverrestorationmeasuresarenotconsideredasdifficultandgenerally theacquisitionofexpertisebyaprojectmanagerisaprocessof learningbydoing.Verygoodplanningtoolsexistthatallowthemodulationofrestorationworksandpredictingtheoutcomes.Monitoringoftherestoredsitesaftercompletionoftheconstructionprocessisbeingconfirmedasimportant.Bottlenecksinriverrestorationaredifferentfromregiontoregion.InAustria,clearlytheavailabilityoflandisthemainlimitingfactor.ThisisnotthecaseinregionswithlowerpopulationdensitiesasinNorthern Sweden. Further, the problem of optimal restoration of bed load transport wasinsufficiently addressed in thepast.Restorationworksmust take carenot toexaggeratebed-loadtransport,nortoreduceitexcessively.

Different solutions regarding above issues were discussed during the meeting. Among othersparticipantspointedouttostartassoonaspossiblewiththeeradicationofalienspecies,earlyaftercolonization, and as long as a species still occupies a limited area. Communication to andinvolvementof thepublic is consideredbeingakey issue in river restoration.Besides theobviousinterest of river restoration for flood protection, another important asset is the creation ofrecreationalareas/bathingplacesforpublicuse.

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PICTURESTOTHEPLATFORM

Plenarysession Introduction,AnneBurrill,RudolphHornich

Introduction,FrankVassen Explanation regarding the Alpine new bio-geographical

process

Projectpresentation Projectpresentation

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Excursion to the river Enns, Ursula Suppan (projectmanger)

Excursionto theriverEnns, restoredmouthofa tributaryoftheEnns

ExcursiontotheriverEnns,restoredmouthofatributaryoftheEnns

Excursionto theriverEnns, restoredmouthofa tributaryoftheEnns

Gravelbanks

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Projectsidewithwidenedriverbedinthebackground Workshopparticipants

Workinggroups Workinggroups

Workinggroups Workinggroups