Management Plan

Estonia-Latvia Programme 2007-2013 project „Tuned nature management in transboundary area of Estonia and Latvia” (“Green Corridor”) (LURSDV 5HƧLRQƗODLV )RQGV 3ƗUUREHåX VDGDUEƯEDV SURJUDPPD (LURSDV 6WUXNWǌUIRQGX PƝUƷD Ä(LURSDV WHULWRULƗOƗ VDGDUEƯED´ JDGDPLHWYDURV ,JDXQLMDV/DWYLMDVSURJUDPPD „Ä6DVNDƼRWDGDEDVWHULWRULMXDSVDLPQLHNRãDQD ,JDXQLMDVXQ/DWYLMDVSLHUREHåƗ´ =DƺDLVNRULGRUV $SVDLPQLHNRãDQDVUHNRPHQGƗFLMXSOƗQV 9}UX6LJXOGD MANAGEMENT PLAN Võru-Sigulda 2013 Content Introduction .......................................................................................................5 1. Description of the project area ...................................................................... 6 1.1. Landscape ....................................................................................................................6 1.2. Climate .........................................................................................................................6 1.3. Protected territories ......................................................................................................7 1.4. General Economical Backround ..................................................................................9 2. Tourism in the region ...................................................................................10 2.1. Development opportunities ........................................................................................10 3. Hunting impact for the nature values .......................................................... 11 4. Alien Species ..............................................................................................13 5. Protected species ......................................................................................... 15 5.1. Inverterbrates .............................................................................................................15 5.2. Birds ...........................................................................................................................19 5.3. Flying Squirrel (Pteromys volans) ...........................................................................21 6. Habitats ........................................................................................................22 6.1. Forests ........................................................................................................................22 6.2. Meadows ....................................................................................................................23 6.3. Rivers .........................................................................................................................25 7. Joint monitoring .......................................................................................... 29 7.1. Forests ........................................................................................................................30 7.2. Grasslands ..................................................................................................................30 7.3. Wooded meadows and wooded pastures ....................................................................30 7.4. Rivers .........................................................................................................................31 7.5. Great snipe ................................................................................................................31 7.6. Flying squirrel ...........................................................................................................32 7.7. Osprey .......................................................................................................................32 7.8. Capercaillie ...............................................................................................................32 8. Monitoring programmes and process ..........................................................34 8.1. Other monitorings ......................................................................................................35 3 8.2. Necessary monitorings in Project territory ................................................................35 8.3. Management monitoring ............................................................................................35 8.4. Voluntary monitoring .................................................................................................37 9. Management activities .................................................................................38 10. Strategic crossborder coopertion ...............................................................39 11. Management plans practices in the region ................................................ 41 References .......................................................................................................45 4 Introduction The Nature Conservation Agency and the WR WKH FDSHUFDLOOLH JUHDW VQLSH À\LQJ VTXLUUHO Estonian Environmental Board Põlva-Valga- Osmoderma eremita , river pearl oyster, a variety Võru region administration on November RIEXWWHUÀLHVDQGGUDJRQÀLHV6XPPDUL]HGWKH 1, 2011, launched the project “Tuned nature available information on the protected habitats management in the transboundary area of and species in project area - Latvian project Estonia and Latvia” (abbreviated as “Green EMERALD inventory questionnaire, the current Corridor”). Funding was allocated according to Natura 2000 mapping, researchers persons infor- the Estonian-Latvian bordercooperation program. mation (for Osmoderma eremita À\LQJVTXLUUHO The project is carried out in Southern Estonia Great snipe), the conservation plans and habitat and Northern Vidzeme border region NATURA data mapping, forest inventory data and natural 2000 sites. Project area embraces Ape district, forest habitat information. Haanja, Misso, Mõniste, Rõuge, Taheva, Varstu Although initially it was planned to establish a rural districts (including 17 N2000) in Estonia. common methodology for conducting the inven - Nature is our common value, also the species tory, the project implementation has shown that knows no boundaries, especially in terms of it is problematic, as in both countries in cases of migration. In border regions have remained inventory of protected habitats are already being little affected ecosystem complexes, which play XVHGVSHFL¿FPHWKRGVDQGIRUPVZKLFKDUHWKHQ an important role in the Baltic biological and used in a national level, gathering information on landscape diversity conservation and develop - habitats. While preparing project application, this ment as well as strengthening ecological integrity. forms were not yet implemented in practice, so Therefore the need for a common understanding it was included in the application as a common of the environment and current trends, joint methodology development. When inventories research and concerted action becomes more started, it was clear that it would be unneces - pressing. Without the common understanding sary resource consumption - the data collection in the nearest future nature values in the border through yet another method or form. It was DUHDV PD\ GLVDSSHDU RU EH VLJQL¿FDQWO\ WKUHDW - therefore decided to use national methodologies, ened. Therefore the main objectives are to create however, during seminars there was gained an a common database for environmental values understanding of the partners methodology and that will help in responsible decision- making, data collection forms, as far as possible using the as well as to develop a mutually agreed manage- ¿QGLQJVWRREWDLQWKHGHWDLOVRISUDFWLFDOZRUN ment and habitat management, monitoring and The following summarize the species and habitat development activities in the cross-border area. inventory methods applied in the project area, in 2QH RI WKH PDLQ WDVNV ZDV WKH LGHQWL¿ - some places showing differences of interpreta- cation of protected habitats and species, tion between countries (habitats). compilation of existing information and produc- tion of the new data. Particular attention was paid 5 1. Description of the project area 1.1. Landscape depression, which has a more varied relief and LV VLJQL¿FDQWO\ ODUJHU LQ WKH HDVW ,Q WKH ODWWHU In Estonia, the project area includes two VWRQ\VDQG\ORDPDQGORDPÀDWODQGVYDU\ZLWK landscape regions – Võru - Hargla Depression VZDPSDQGPHVRWURSKLFPLUHÀDWODQGV5HOLHILV and Haanja Upland. In Latvia the project area more restless towards Haanja-Ruusmäe hillocks, includes Talava Depression and Aluksne Upland. ÀDWODQGVDUHUHSODFHGE\KLJKHUDQGKLJKHUKLOOV The most characteristic elements of Võru-Hargla and ridges both in east and west. Depression are Koiva and Mustjõe valleys. The absolute heights of Haanja Upland are in 0RVWO\ ZDWHU VHGLPHQWDU\ VDQG ÀDWODQGV DQG majority part of the upland area 200 m above sandy hillocks and mounds of different origin sea level. The highest absolute heights of the are common on their banks. There are progla- project area are up to 250 m. The highest peak of FLDOÀDWODQGVZLWKPRUHGLI¿FXOWWH[WXUHIRUPHG Haanja-Ruusmäe Upland, which remains in the as a result of recession of continental glacier, in project area, is Paabumägi with its 254 m. Karisöödi and Mõniste. The altitude varies in Võru-Hargla Depression between 60-90 m above 7KH HDVWHUQ SDUW LV LQ$OǌNVQH SODWHDX ZKLFK sea level (Arold 2005). as a the large-scale relief occurred at the end of the last icing in terms of different intensities of The western part of the territory - a protected active glacier ice conditions, in the formation landscape area “Veclaicene” area of geograph-

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