nt of me a p Pi lo lo e t v E e c D o l a o i g n i c a a u l h t N i e L t w h t o u r o k S i n Development of A PILOT ECOLOGICAL NETWORK in the Southern Lithuania BEST PRACTICE GUIDELINES Development of a PILOT ECOLOGICAL NETWORK in the Southern Lithuania BEST PRACTICE GUIDELINES Experience acquired during LIFE+ Nature project LIFE09 NAT/LT/000581 VILNIUS, 2014 UDK 598(474.5) De402 TABLE OF CONTENTS Development of a Pilot Ecological Network in the Southern Lithuania. Best Practice Guidelines. Authors: Dalia Bastytė, Florian Bibelriether, Kåre Fog, Giedrė Godienė, Nerijus Zableckis, Julija Petrošiūtė, Alma Pikūnienė, Jonas Šimkus, Violeta Lazarevičienė, Lars Briggs, Miglė Strumskytė, Žydrūnas Sinkevičius. Introduction 6 1. PROJECT AREA AND THE TARGET SPECIES 7 Translator Giedrius Kašuba 1.1. Project area 7 1.2. Habitat needs of the target species 7 Artist and designer Aistė Čiobytė 1.3. Definition of favourable conservation status 11 2. ESTABLISHING ECOLOGICAL network 13 Authors of the photographs: Tomas Kizas, Žydrūnas Sinkevičius, Dalia Bastytė, Julija Petrošiūtė, Eu- 2.1. Distinguishing potential areas of reptilian and amphibian ecological genijus Drobelis, Nerijus Zableckis, Inga Čitavičienė, Irma Maciulevičienė, Nomeda Vėlavičienė, Deivi- network in the Southern Lithuania 13 das Makavičius, Gintautas Smilgevičius, Tom Kirschey, Nerijus Žitkevičius, Marius Karlonas, Alma 2.2. Selecting sites for the habitat restoration 16 Pikūnienė, Virginija Raudeliūnienė, Jonas Šimkus, Rasa Jautakienė, Dovydas Vičius, Miglė Strumskytė. 3. HABITAT MANAGEMENT 18 3.1. Habitat management for target species in the project area 18 3.2. Best practice on restoration of the European tree-frog (Hyla arborea) habitats 19 3.3. Best practice on restoration of the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) habitats 22 3.4. Extensive beef cattle grazing in habitats of the European pond turtle 25 4. CONSERVATION OF POPULATIONS 27 4.1. Protection of egg clutches of the European pond turtle 27 4.2. Headstarting of the European pond turtles atthe Lithuanian Zoological Garden 28 4.3. Rearing of the European tree-frogs 32 5. RAISING AWARENESS 35 5.1. Public involvement guarantees a long-term effect 35 5.2. Engaging landowners 38 Consult 5.3. The knowledge exchange among professionals 39 Project is funded by the European Union’s financial instrument LIFE+, the Republic of Lithuania and project’s partners: Lithuanian 6. Monitoring AND FUTURE PLANS 40 Fund for Nature, Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania, Lithuanian Zoological Garden, Dzūkija National Park, Mete- 6.1. Investigations of newly dug ponds 40 liai Regional Park, Veisiejai Regional Park and Amphi Consult. 6.2. Observation of European pond turtles released in the Southern Lithuania 41 6.3. Securing a long-term impact 43 REFERENCES 48 Acknowledgement This publication presents experience acquired during LIFE+ Nature Project „Development of a Pi- lot Ecological Network through Nature Frame areas in South Lithuania“. It was only made possible through the work of a huge number of people to whom we are extremely grateful. We would like to thank Algirdas Klimavičius, Vidmantas Bezaras, Dalius Sungaila and Rugilė Kičaitė from the Minis- try of Environment, Irma Maciulevičienė, Inga Čitavičienė, Lina Žukauskienė, Ramūnas Krugelis, Eu- genijus Drobelis and Mindaugas Lapelė from Regional and National Parks, Alma Pikūnienė, Virginija Raudeliūnienė, Rasa Jautakienė, Violeta Lazarevičienė from Lithuanian Zoological Garden, Lars Briggs, Florian Bibelriether, Marzenna Rasmussen, Martina Meeske, Wouter de Vries, Kåre Fog, Lars Iversen from company Amphi Consult, and independent experts Giedrė Godienė and Evaldas Snieškus for de- voted time and professional contribution to the project. Also we are grateful to the external monitor Rolands Ratfelders, technical desk officer Laszlo Becsy and financial desk officer Tommy Sejersen from the Directorate-General for the Environment of the European Commission for their guidance and valu- able advices in every stage of the project. Published by Lithuanian Fund for Nature Layout by UAB „SAVAIP“ Algirdo str. 22-3, LT-03218 Vilnius [email protected] [email protected], www.glis.lt www.savaip.lt Publication is distributed free of charge ISBN 978-9986-570-20-2 INTRODUCTION 1. PROJECT AREA AND THE TARGET SPECIES 1.1. PROJECT AREA Abundance of biodiversity is closely related to land- experience on enhancement of particularly rare herpeto- Project activities were largely concentrated in the Southern scape and ability of each species in a given area to adapt fauna species observed in Lithuania (the European tree Lithuania, i.e. Lazdijai and Varėna districts. The area was cho- to habitats, undergoing changes due to human activities. frog and the European pond turtle), see Part 4. sen for the abundance of rare amphibian and reptilian species: As the landscape changes, only most resilient species sur- One of the most effective tools available for environ- it is home to as many as 10 species of herpetofauna, listed in vive; whereas species facing extinction due to destruc- mental protection is education of public at large. The task the Habitats Directive. The basis of the ecological network was tion / change of habitats, landscape fragmentation and before environmental professionals is to allow the man, formed to include every viable population of the European similar reasons are listed in the Habitats Directive. The in timely manner and adequate place, with no risk to ani- pond turtle in Lithuania. The Southern part (from the border main task of LIFE+ Nature project “Development of a Pi- mals, to “touch” these unique pond inhabitants: to listen of Belarus to Veisiejai town) of the EN connects the tree-frog lot Ecological Network through Nature Frame areas in the to their magic calling, to have a look at the home of these population; there are no longer any European pond turtles in Southern Lithuania” was to ensure favourable conserva- rare animals, to observe wonderful mating rituals, as well the said section of the EN. The project examined ca. 230 000 tion status for 10 rare species by creating an ecological as young animals that develop rapidly and take their first ha area of natural frame in the Southern Lithuania; it includes a network, which consists of restored habitats. lessons in real-life. Part 5 is dedicated to public education pilot EN for reptiles and amphibians (ca. 40 000 ha area). For the purposes of this project, target species include and engagement of land owners. autochthonic amphibian and reptilian species found in Part 6 discusses monitoring of project outcomes and Project area Lithuania, and listed in Annex II and IV of the Habitats plans for the future. We trust that knowledge and know- Directive. These include 2 reptilian species: the Euro- how gained in course of the project will enhance popula- 1.2. HABITAT NEEDS OF THE TARGET SPECIES pean pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) and the sand lizard tions of European pond turtle and other protected rep- (Lacerta agilis); as well as 8 amphibian species: the great tilians and amphibians, help them survive, and further appear in shallow densely vegetated ponds or shallow areas crested newt (Triturus cristatus), the fire-bellied toad encourage statement of functional and universal ecologi- The European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) of deeper ponds rich in invertebrate prey. (Bombina bombina), the European tree frog (Hyla arbo- cal networks on the local level, and allow the public and Distribution. The European pond turtle is an autochtho- rea), the common spadefoot (Pelobates fuscus), the nat- professionals alike to continue the activities initiated al- The nesting sites of the European pond turtles in Lithu- nous Lithuanian species. It was once common in the country, ania include sandy grounds with warm microclimate. The terjack toad (Epidalea calamita) and the European green ready and carry out new ones, as important for survival but after land reclamation was carried out, its viable popula- toad (Bufotes viridis), the moor frog (Rana arvalis) and of the rare species. inclination of a slope determines the microclimate, so that tions remained only in the Southern part of the country. To- the site gets as much sun as possible, and surrounding the pool frog (Pelophylax lessonae). The ecological needs date, these populations became the Northern edge of the and criteria serving to determine a favourable protection Dalia Bastytė, project manager trees, which stop wind, but do not overshadow the site. species distribution (apart from single individuals observed Soil in the site includes sand, gravel or sand clay mixture. status of these species are described in Part 1. in the other parts of Lithuania and Southern Latvia). The above LIFE+ Nature project had several tasks. These Key limiting factors for the pond turtle population in Lithu- Habitat. The European pond turtle is a semi-aquatic spe- ania include lack of suitable egg-laying sites. included, as suggested by the project title, set-up and cies; it spends most of the time in the aquatic habitats. testing of a methodology for distinguishing of ecological A cluster of several pond types and xerotermic terrestrial They come ashore to lay eggs, change a pond (if their sub- network (further – EN), as well as proposal to employ the habitats are characteristic to all the areas inhabited by the said methodology for protection of specific species, found population occupies a pond cluster) and, in rare cases, mi- biggest turtle populations in Southern Lithuania. in other regions too. Distinguishing of potential areas for grate to the other sub-population. the ecological network and selection of specific localities for habitat restoration works is described in Part 2. Theoretical work must be followed by practice, i.e. re- storation of habitats for the target species. The habitats, while contributing to the existing landscape structures, enhance core areas and form an EN from stepping stone elements, which connect the protected areas.