Conference Poster Vander Sluis Theo
1
Sustainable Sustainable Sustainable Sustainable Integrated Integrated Integrated Integrated Land Land Land Land Use Use Use Use of the of the of the of the Eurasian Eurasian Eurasian Eurasian Steppe Steppe Steppe Steppe This project is funded by the EU TACIS program for cross-border cooperation, EuropeAid/124907/C/SER/Multi/5 EU Sustainable Integrated Land Use of the Eurasian Steppe project 21/12 Lyuteranska, off 15, 01024 Kyiv, Ukraine Tel. +380 44 253 8124, E-mail: [email protected] Tel. author: +31 317 481 752, E-mail: [email protected] AN ECOLOGICAL NETWORK FOR STEPPE GRASSLANDS IN EASTERN EUROPE Introduction Steppes are natural grasslands with a typical continental climate, 380-400 mm. rainfall, often on productive Chernozem soils. Over the past century the areal extent of steppic grasslands has shown a tremendous decline due to changes in land use. These were induced by political and economical changes in Eastern Europe. Naturally, the steppes would form some 40 % of the territory of the Ukraine (ECENECE 1990). Due to conversion of natural grasslands, mainly for wheat production, as much as 90% of the former steppe habitat was lost. These extended cultivated areas were prone to erosion and degradation. With the loss of habitat there was a concomitant decline in its accompanying flora and fauna. In the 1990s the transition of land ownership from large kolkhozes to private ownership resulted in land abandonment. The EU-supported Eurasian Steppe project aims to restore degraded farm land to steppe and conserve virgin steppe in Lugansk Oblast and Rostov Oblast (map 1). Aim of the overall project is to improve rural livelihoods and develop new opportunities for regional development. The region is one of the hotspots for biodiversity, with a unique flora and fauna adapted to semi-arid conditions. Approach Steppe habitat (both virgin steppe and degraded steppe) has been mapped and flora and fauna surveys were done in 2008. Core areas and potential corridors were identified in Rostov and Lugansk Oblast, these form the basis for the ECONET (map 2, 3). ECONET is a concept to integrate conservation and development of ecological networks in spatial planning (Bolck et al. 2004). ECONET was adopted as a national approach for the Ukraine (Kostyushin 2003) in 2004 and is here implemented at the Oblast level. With support of the Eurasian Steppe Project farmers and regional authorities are stimulated to restore the former steppe vegetation. Extensive grazing is proposed to maintain steppe habitat. Protected Areas are currently being extended and management plans prepared. Improved landscape connectivity results in recovery of the biodiversity of the fragmented steppe habitat. Restoration of degraded areas, demonstration farms, and occasional reintroduction of species form part of the project. ECONET as rural development concept The Lugansk Oblast, Eastern Ukraine has adopted the ECONET approach and replicates the pilot project for its entire territory, to be implemented in the coming decade. Conservation and restoration of steppe is linked with sustainable land use and diversification of the rural economy. Possibilities for ecotourism are explored to contribute to farm income. The steppe provides income to both smallholder farmers and new agro-industries. A trans-boundary ecological network is being developed, since steppe habitats are rare in Europe and major steppe areas are in Russia (Kalmykia, Ohrenburg), Kazachstan and further east. Here still viable populations can be found of Saiga antilope (critically endangered, IUCN), Great and Little bustard, Spoonbill, Demoiselle crane etcetera. Landscape connectivity should ensure their long-term survival, also in the light of climate change (Van der Sluis et al. 2004). More work is currently done, in particular the assessment of core areas and identification of trans-boundary corridors. The proposed network will be discussed in both Oblasts in the summer of 2009, and the Oblasts are assisted in the implementation of ECONET. Conclusions The current approach has yielded the interest of the governments in Russia, Ukraine and Moldova, as well as local authorities, farming communities and other stakeholders. Severely fragmented and degraded steppe habitat is restored, resulting in increased biodiversity. Extensive grazing land becomes functional for agricultural production. The approach guarantees a future for prime steppe habitat and its associated flora and fauna. SOURCES: Borovyk, L.P./ Л.П. Боровик (2008): МатериалыдлясозданиятрансграничнойэкосетипоЛуганскойобластивпределахМеловскогоиБеловодскогорайонов. Bolck, M., G. de Togni, T. van der Sluis, R. Jongman (2004): From models to reality: design and implementation process. In: R. Jongman & G. Pungetti, Ecological networks, and greenways – Concept, design, implementation. Cambridge studies in Landscape Ecology, Ch. 8, p. 128-150. Demina, O. (2009): Econet Rostov Oblast. Unpublished results. Djoss,A.N../Джос А.Н. (2009): Подготовкаэлектронныхкарттиповиспользованияземельсуцетомсохранениябиоразнообразияиландшафовдпяпилотныхуцастковлуганскойобласти. Kostyushin, V. (2003): Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy (PEBLDS) Implementation: Set the Basis for National Ecological Network of Ukraine. IUCN European Program, Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine, National Ecological Centre of Ukraine. Groot Bruinderink, G.W.T.A., T. van der Sluis, D.R. Lammertsma, and P. Opdam (2003): The design of a tentative, coherent ecological network for large mammals (Red deer) in Northwest Europe. Conservation Biology 17 (2) pp:45-57 Kusters, N. (2008): Towards a rural tourism strategy for the Lugansk Oblast North-east steppe region. Fact finding and program identification. July 2008. Kusters, N. (2008): Towards a rural tourism strategy for the Manych Valley, Rostov Oblast. Fact finding and program identification. July 2008. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe – Committee on Environmental Policy (1999): Environmental performance review of Ukraine, UNECE, Vienna Van der der Sluis, T., M. Bloemmen and I.M. Bouwma (2004). European corridors: strategies for corridor development for target species. ALTERRA, ECNC, ISBN: 90-76762-16-3. Tilburg/Wageningen, The Netherlands http://www2.alterra.wur.nl/webdocs/internet/corporate/prodpubl/boekjesbrochures/ecnc_compleet.pdf Van der der Sluis, T. (2009). ECONET Lugansk & transboundary corridors. Unpublished results. Fig. 1: Typical steppe vegetation with Bunch grasses (Festuca sp.) and Feather grass (Stipa sp.), with a high proportion of forbs such as Salvia, Aconitum, Artemisia and Centaurea species. The species richness is typically some 30-40 species/100 m2. Map 2: The ecological networks of Europe (fig. 2a, www.seenet.info/images/maps ) and ECONET developed for a Lugansk (fig. 2b, Van der Sluis 2009) and Rostov Oblast (fig. 2c, Demina 2009). Map 1: The remaining steppe habitat in Lugansk and Rostov Oblast, based on satellite imagery and field investigations (Djos 2009, Demina 2009, mapping by A. Axem). Fig. 1: Feather grass (Stipa sp.), a typical steppe grass species Theo van der Sluis, Biodiversity expert Mott MacDonald / Alterra, Wageningen UR Map 3: The identified trans-boundary corridors (O. Demina, F. Forosjoek, T. van der Sluis, I. Zagorudnik, 2009)
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Poster prepared for IALE congress and Steppe final conference, Ukraine, Lugansk
Transcript of Conference Poster Vander Sluis Theo
SustainableSustainableSustainableSustainable IntegratedIntegratedIntegratedIntegrated Land Land Land Land UseUseUseUse of the of the of the of the EurasianEurasianEurasianEurasian SteppeSteppeSteppeSteppeThis project is funded by the EU TACIS program for cross-border cooperation, EuropeAid/124907/C/SER/Multi/5
EU Sustainable Integrated Land Use of the Eurasian Steppe project 21/12 Lyuteranska, off 15, 01024 Kyiv, UkraineTel. +380 44 253 8124, E-mail: [email protected]. author: +31 317 481 752, E-mail: [email protected]
AN ECOLOGICAL NETWORK FOR STEPPE GRASSLANDS IN EASTERN EUROPE
IntroductionSteppes are natural grasslands with a typical continental climate, 380-400 mm. rainfall, often on productive Chernozem soils. Over the past century the areal extent of steppic grasslands has shown a tremendous decline due to changes in land use. These were induced by political and economical changes in Eastern Europe. Naturally, the steppes would form some 40 % of the territory of the Ukraine (ECENECE 1990). Due to conversion of natural grasslands, mainly for wheat production, as much as 90% of the former steppe habitat was lost. These extended cultivated areas were prone to erosion and degradation. With the loss of habitat there was a concomitant decline in its accompanying flora and fauna. In the 1990s the transition of land ownership from large kolkhozes to private ownership resulted in land abandonment. The EU-supported Eurasian Steppe project aims to restore degraded farm land to steppe and conserve virgin steppe in Lugansk Oblast and Rostov Oblast (map 1). Aim of the overall project is to improve rural livelihoods and develop new opportunities for regional development. The region is one of the hotspots for biodiversity, with a unique flora and fauna adapted to semi-arid conditions.
ApproachSteppe habitat (both virgin steppe and degraded steppe) has been mapped and flora and fauna surveys were done in 2008. Core areas and potential corridors were identified in Rostov and Lugansk Oblast, these form the basis for the ECONET (map 2, 3). ECONET is a concept to integrate conservation and development of ecological networks in spatial planning (Bolcket al. 2004). ECONET was adopted as a national approach for the Ukraine (Kostyushin 2003) in 2004 and is here implemented at the Oblast level.With support of the Eurasian Steppe Project farmers and regional authorities are stimulated to restore the former steppe vegetation. Extensive grazing is proposed to maintain steppe habitat. Protected Areas are currently being extended and management plans prepared. Improved landscape connectivity results in recovery of the biodiversity of the fragmented steppe habitat. Restoration of degraded areas, demonstration farms, and occasional reintroduction of species form part of the project.
ECONET as rural development conceptThe Lugansk Oblast, Eastern Ukraine has adopted the ECONET approach and replicates the pilot project for its entire territory, to be implemented in the coming decade. Conservation and restoration of steppe is linked with sustainable land use and diversification of the rural economy. Possibilities for ecotourism are explored to contribute to farm income. The steppe provides income to both smallholder farmers and new agro-industries.A trans-boundary ecological network is being developed, since steppe habitats are rare in Europe and major steppe areas are in Russia (Kalmykia, Ohrenburg), Kazachstan and further east. Here still viable populations can be found of Saiga antilope (critically endangered, IUCN), Great and Little bustard, Spoonbill, Demoiselle crane etcetera. Landscape connectivity should ensure their long-term survival, also in the light of climate change (Van der Sluis et al. 2004).More work is currently done, in particular the assessment of core areas and identification of trans-boundary corridors. The proposed network will be discussed in both Oblasts in the summer of 2009, and the Oblasts are assisted in the implementation of ECONET.
ConclusionsThe current approach has yielded the interest of the governments in Russia, Ukraine and Moldova, as well as local authorities, farming communities and other stakeholders. Severely fragmented and degraded steppe habitat is restored, resulting in increased biodiversity. Extensive grazing land becomes functional for agricultural production. The approach guarantees a future for prime steppe habitat and its associated flora and fauna.
SOURCES:Borovyk, L.P./ Л.П. Боровик (2008): Материалы для создания трансграничной экосети по Луганской области в пределах Меловского и Беловодского районов.Bolck, M., G. de Togni, T. van der Sluis, R. Jongman (2004): From models to reality: design and implementation process. In: R. Jongman & G. Pungetti, Ecological networks, and greenways – Concept, design, implementation. Cambridge studies in Landscape Ecology, Ch. 8, p. 128-150.Demina, O. (2009): Econet Rostov Oblast. Unpublished results.Djoss,A.N../Джос А.Н. (2009): Подготовка электронных карт типов использования земель с уцетом сохранения биоразнообразия и ландшафов дпя пилотных уцастков луганской области.Kostyushin, V. (2003): Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy (PEBLDS) Implementation: Set the Basis for National Ecological Network of Ukraine. IUCN European Program, Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine, National Ecological Centre of Ukraine.Groot Bruinderink, G.W.T.A., T. van der Sluis, D.R. Lammertsma, and P. Opdam (2003): The design of a tentative, coherent ecological network for large mammals (Red deer) in Northwest Europe. Conservation Biology 17 (2) pp:45-57Kusters, N. (2008): Towards a rural tourism strategy for the Lugansk Oblast North-east steppe region. Fact finding and program identification. July 2008.Kusters, N. (2008): Towards a rural tourism strategy for the Manych Valley, Rostov Oblast. Fact finding and program identification. July 2008.United Nations Economic Commission for Europe – Committee on Environmental Policy (1999): Environmental performance review of Ukraine, UNECE, ViennaVan der der Sluis, T., M. Bloemmen and I.M. Bouwma (2004). European corridors: strategies for corridor development for target species. ALTERRA, ECNC, ISBN: 90-76762-16-3. Tilburg/Wageningen, The Netherlandshttp://www2.alterra.wur.nl/webdocs/internet/corporate/prodpubl/boekjesbrochures/ecnc_compleet.pdfVan der der Sluis, T. (2009). ECONET Lugansk & transboundary corridors. Unpublished results.
Fig. 1: Typical steppe vegetation with Bunch grasses (Festuca sp.) and Feather grass (Stipa sp.), with a high proportion of forbs such as Salvia, Aconitum, Artemisia and Centaurea species. The species richness is typically some 30-40 species/100 m2.
Map 2: The ecological networks of Europe (fig. 2a, www.seenet.info/images/maps ) and ECONET developed for a Lugansk (fig. 2b, Van der Sluis 2009) and Rostov Oblast (fig. 2c, Demina 2009).
Map 1: The remaining steppe habitat in Lugansk and Rostov Oblast, based on satellite imagery and field investigations (Djos 2009, Demina2009, mapping by A. Axem).
Fig. 1: Feather grass (Stipa sp.), a typical steppe grass species
Theo van der Sluis, Biodiversity expert Mott MacDonald / Alterra, Wageningen UR
Map 3: The identified trans-boundary corridors (O. Demina, F. Forosjoek, T. van der Sluis, I. Zagorudnik, 2009)
