Regional approaches to integrated habitat and species...

2016 LIFE Viva Grass LIFE13 ENV/LT/000189 NATURA 2000 seminar, Vilnius

Regional approaches to integrated habitat and species management

Kęstutis Navickas, LIFE VIvaGrass project manager

LIFE Viva Grass LIFE13 ENV/LT/000189 2016 NATURA 2000 seminar, Vilnius

Can nature conservation objectives be achieved without agricultural practices (in grassland/mire habitats)?

Does natural habitat belong to special (purely scientific) treatment or should it be part of existing farming traditions?

Nature conservation objectives vs public benefit and cost effectiveness


Long-term management challenges

Nature conservation objectives against socioeconomic conditions Late mowing:

Biomass utilization Restrictions for grazing

Does precautionary principle works in long-term?

Natural obstacles: Humidity, soil structure Old trees, stones, steep slopes

Lacking flexibility of nature management plans to respond to seasonal natural conditions

General approach of agri-environmental measures, payments based on ”income foregone and losses” not to contribution to health of public goods

Ownership, willingness/competence to participate.


Example: Kylininkai fennoscandian wooden pastures


Management outputs

RESULT

Land management

options

Ecosystem service trade-offs: Presented by ES indicators/indexes

Intensive management

Arable land

Abandoned land with shrub

Extensive management

Biomass for energy

Policy objectives Landscape plan, strategic, nature frame, etc

Site characteristics database Soil fertility Relief

Current ecosystem service values based on current land use

STATUS Land use and grassland classes

Current cultural ecosystem services Risk for abandoment

Biomass for fodder

OR Grazing Mowing Both: grazing and

mowing


Selecting territory


Assessment of ESS in grassland polygons

Picking an ESS to asses

Example: assessing ESS and finding areas with the highest

value


Viewing the total values of ESS of a grassland block and values of certain grassland polygons


Evaluating risk of abandonment in grasslands Level of risk of abandonment is calculated

based on

Physical parameters

Social parameters

Soil bonitet (land quality)

Farmers age is >60

Relief Land owner is not a local resident

Size of area Lack of farm successor

Moisture level of area Subsidies generate >75% of total income

Accessibility of area Legal burdens


Evaluating possible land use conversions on the basis of ESS values calculations (example of land use conversion in the Nature frame territories)

Nature frame – a network of ecological compensation areas. These are protected areas and other areas of ecological importance. The main objectives of this network is: 1. Ensure the geo-ecological balance of

landscape and natural connections between protected areas (and habitats of great ecological importance);

2. Create conditions for biodiversity conservation and migration;

3. Optimize the development of urbanization, technogenisation and agricultural areas.


<

Current ES status After simulation


Ecosystem approach in planning is like this!

We should make this understandable!

Regional approaches to integrated habitat and species...

Documents

Transcript of Regional approaches to integrated habitat and species...