LIFE11 NAT/SI/882 FINAL Report Covering the project activities from 01/09/2012 to 31/12/2017 01/02/2018 Riparian ecosystem restoration of the lower Drava River in Slovenia LIVEDRAVA Project Data Project location NE Slovenia Project start date: 01/09/2012 Project end date: 31/12/2017 Total Project duration 64 months Total budget 4,098,910 € Total eligible budget 4,066,910 € EU contribution: 2,033,455 € (%) of total costs 49.6 (%) of eligible costs 50 Beneficiary Data Name Beneficiary DOPPS – BirdLife Slovenia Contact person Mr Damijan Denac Postal address p.o. box 2990, Tržaška cesta 2, SI - 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia Visit address Tržaška cesta 2, SI - 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia Telephone +386 1 426 58 75 Fax: +386 1 425 11 81 E-mail [email protected] Project Website http://www.livedrava.ptice.si/ 1. Contents 1. Contents .....................................................................................................................................2 2. Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................5 3. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 10 4. Administrative part................................................................................................................... 11 4.1. Description of the management system ................................................................................. 11 4.2. Evaluation of the management system .................................................................................. 12 5. Technical part ........................................................................................................................... 14 5.1. Technical progress, per task ............................................................................................... 14 A.1 - Technical blue-prints for restoration works (ecological engineering measures) ................. 14 A.2 - Hydraulic analysis – flood and sediment transport modelling............................................ 16 A.3 - Technical blue-prints for the Ormož Basins Nature Reserve visitor facilities ...................... 18 A.4 - Detailed grazing plan for the Ormož Basins Nature Reserve .............................................. 20 A.5 - Management plan for Ormož Basins Nature Reserve ........................................................ 20 A.6 - Guidelines for sustainable water management of Drava River for the national Danube River basin management plan for period 2016-2021 ......................................................................... 21 A.7 - Geodetic survey and marking out the land (demarcation) ................................................. 24 B.1 - Purchase of flooded forest fragment (priority habitat type 91E0* - Alluvial forests) .......... 24 B.2 - Purchase of a single parcel to reach the integrity of the restored area .............................. 26 C.1 - Construction of water supply and water regulation system in Ormož Basins Nature Reserve ................................................................................................................................................. 27 C.2 - Restoration of the habitats for waterbirds in Ormož Basins Nature Reserve ...................... 27 C.3- Habitat management in the softwood forest stands in Ormož Basins Nature Reserve ........ 30 C.4 - Establishment of a grazing system for long-term and sustainable wetland management in Ormož Basins Nature Reserve ................................................................................................... 31 C.5 - Declaration of Ormož Basins Nature Reserve and Nature Park at the Drava River between Ormož and Središče ob Dravi .................................................................................................... 34 C.6 - Removal of illegally built fishing and hunting platforms at Lake Ormož ............................. 38 C.7 - Creation of new artificial breeding island for Common Terns at Lake Ptuj ......................... 40 C.8 - Conservation management of the breeding islands at Lake Ptuj ........................................ 41 C.9 - Restoration of the river branches...................................................................................... 43 C.10 - Preparation of the river banks for breeding of Kingfisher and Sand Martin ..................... 46 C.11 - Management of gravel bars for the breeding of the Little Ringed Plover ......................... 47 C.12 - Reduction of human disturbance and destruction of bird breeding habitat at gravel bars. ................................................................................................................................................. 50 D.1 - Evaluation of the habitat and species monitoring results (ecosystem approach) ............... 52 D.2 - Impact of project actions on bird species .......................................................................... 53 D.3 - Impact of project actions on beetle species ...................................................................... 55 D.4 - Impact of project actions on fish species .......................................................................... 57 D.5 - Study of the socio-economic impact of the project actions ............................................... 57 F.2 - Networking with other projects ........................................................................................ 59 F.3 - Audit ................................................................................................................................. 61 F.4 - After-LIFE Conservation Plan ............................................................................................. 61 5.2. Dissemination actions ............................................................................................................ 61 5.2.1. Objectives ....................................................................................................................... 61 5.2.2. Dissemination: overview per activity ............................................................................... 62 E.1 - Notice boards in the project area ...................................................................................... 62 E.2 - Web site of the project ..................................................................................................... 63 E.3 - Layman’s report ................................................................................................................ 63 E.4 - Setting up the basic facilities in Ormož Basins Nature Reserve .......................................... 64 2 E.5 - Setting-up the basic visitor facilities at Lake Ptuj ............................................................... 67 E.6 - Production and distribution of a documentary film ........................................................... 70 E.7 - Production and distribution of project publications........................................................... 71 E.8 - Project educational programme ........................................................................................ 73 E.9 - Public presentations and excursions ................................................................................. 74 Press cuttings overview ............................................................................................................ 76 5.3. Evaluation of Project Implementation .................................................................................... 78 5.3.1. Explanations to the technical issues, raised in response letters to the previous reports... 85 5.4. Analysis of long-term benefits ................................................................................................ 86 5.4.1. Environmental benefits ................................................................................................... 86 5.4.2. Long-term benefits and sustainability ............................................................................. 90 5.4.3. Continuation of the project actions by the beneficiary or by other stakeholders ............. 91 5.4.4. Replicability, demonstration, transferability, cooperation ............................................... 92 5.4.5. Best Practice lessons ....................................................................................................... 92 5.4.6. Innovation and demonstration value .............................................................................. 93 5.4.7. Long term indicators of the project success..................................................................... 95 6. Comments on the financial report ............................................................................................ 97 6.1. Summary of Costs Incurred .................................................................................................... 97 6.2. Accounting system ................................................................................................................. 99 6.3. Partnership arrangements ................................................................................................... 100 6.4. Auditor's report/declaration ................................................................................................ 101 6.5. Summary of costs per action ................................................................................................ 102 6.6. Other comments and explanations to the