Natura 2000 species diversity

The Lubelskie Voivodeship and its neighbouring Voivodeships Swietokrzyskie, Malopolskie and Podkarpackie in south-east Poland are rich in natural resources and landscapes. The agricultural
sector still accounts for a major part of the local economic activities. Since 1992, the European Union declared the so-called “agri-environmental schemes”, which financially encourage farmers
to carry out environmentally beneficial activities on their land, to be compulsory for all member states. The implementation, monitoring and evaluation of these schemes lie in the responsibility of the member states. Agri-env. schemes are considered to be an important tool that allows combining economic activity with the protection of natural resources. However, their
actual effects are only little known in Poland, due to the lack of reliable evaluations and a comprehensive monitoring system.

The long term objective of the project is to protect and enhance the biodiversity of valuable natural habitats located on agricultural lands, particularly on NATURA 2000 areas, by the establishment of a national monitoring system. Specific objectives are: 1) Recommendation of best practices based on the
evaluation of the effects of different agricultural practices on biodiversity; 2) Recommendation of necessary changes in the management of agri-env. schemes; 3) development of the basis for a comprehensive monitoring system of the effects of agri-env. schemes; 4) transfer of relevant knowledge to concerned target groups

The project will finance: (i): Field inventory on selected surfaces and species, (ii): Four-year monitoring of selected species, (iii): Data collection on different agricultural practices, (iv): Elaboration of diverse information and education materials, and (v): Organisation of 40 trainings, 40 workshops and two conferences aimed at specific target groups (trainings and workshops implemented by established training providers)

Erreichte Resultate:  

• 970 ha for which new reliable and detailed monitoring data is available (for birds)
• 934 ha for which new reliable and detailed monitoring data is available (for flora)1'080 ha covered by an inventory
• 1'080 ha covered by an inventory
• Data base management: 62 plants rare and protected species, 72 spiders and 22 birds identified, 77 habitats marked
• Free-access social web geopartal “AgroProNatura” with 221 active users / year (via Facebook platform)
• 75'200 information leaflets distrubted mostly to farmers
  
• 10 articles on the topic published
• 1 study visit to Switzerland organized in October 2011 at the University of Berne, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Hintermann & Weber AG, Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon ART and the Swiss Ornithological Institute
• 2 international conference with 100 participants organized in April 2012 and 1 cooperation with University of Berne, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, established
• 40 workshops organised for farmers, 40 workshops organised for NGO
• 6 educational films produced
  

Phase 1 01.05.2011 - 13.06.2017   (Completed)