Slowinski National Park in Poland is in a specific situation regarding forest composition and forest reconstruction on the Polish Baltic Sea Coast. In the Park where 6000 hectares is covered by trees, 70% of forests are pine forests. However, as the Pine Pinus sylvestris is native to the area, extensive forest reconstruction has been carried out by the Park’s authorities. Patches of similar trees or groups of similar trees are cut in order to give light to the forest floor and allow for renewal of a mixed broadleaved forest. Such reconstruction takes place in pine stands older than 60 years and especially those infected by root rot. Since 2012 regular before and after monitoring according to Braun-Blanquet’s phytosociological methods has also been conducted. The gathered experts were asked to contribute to the Park’s doubts regarding the best time to monitor for reconstruction results and the age of forest stands that one should target for reconstruction. Although stands older than 60 years should in principle also be rebuilt, the leeching process in the soil might render such reconstruction unsuccessful.

The project (carried out within the framework of the New Thracian Gold Programme, funded by the Dutch Postcode Lottery) was implemented in a mosaic of landscapes and habitats in Southern Bulgaria. The sites are high in biodiversity, however, many open space species have recently disappeared. Wilderness management requires natural grazing and thus the project aimed to bring back large herbivores. The Red and Fallow Deer reintroduction program was carried out in collaboration with the hunting society who also supported the project financially. 30 Red Deer and more than 50 Fallow Deer were translocated between 2012 and 2014 and the following year they successfully produced offspring. Large grazers were crucial in landscape management. A similar European Bison reintroduction project was also conducted, where 5 individuals were released in during the pilot phase. Both restoration programmes were seen to attract tourists which created an additional source of income for the local people. Some problems in project implementation included illegal poaching. The conclusion was that wild ungulates needed larger areas for migration than the domesticated herbivore species. Such investment, however, could be offset by an increase in ecotourism which can boost the local economy. More information is available online.

At Pomerania wetlands in the North of Poland, a wetland restoration project for removing invasive trees and old draining systems was initiated by various stakeholders (NGOs, regional forest authorities, regional nature conservation authorities and regional administration office, Agricultural Property Agency, Landscape Park and Ministry of Environment). The project was funded from various sources, by the EU’s LIFE Programme, Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, GEF Small Grants Programs and EkoFundusz Foundation. Next to field activities, the project also focused on raising awareness among 300 local people, holding a series of workshops and providing experience-exchange study trips to Estonia and Scotland. It also enabled research activities and monitoring of endemic, protected species and habitats. As a result of the rehabilitation of wetlands, conservation of species and genetic diversity was ensured, along with the increase in the quality of water, flood protection and reduced surface water runoff.

Description: The initiative started with a green connection along the former inner German border where, for over 30 years, nature was granted a reprieve for political reasons. In 1989 A German NGO Bundinitiated the preservation and development of these valuable habitats. Since 2000 land has been purchased in six locations in Germany and restoration of wetlands and transformation of arable land into grassland have taken place as well as implementation of special measures for endangered species.

Length in Germany: 1393 km Area in Germany: 177 km² Habitats in Germany: 109, 48% are listed as endangered

The German idea spread to other countries in the region. The Iron Curtain has been found to have served as a retreat for many endangered species. Nowadays the Green Belt connects national and nature parks, biosphere reserves and transboundary protected and non-protected areas from the Barents Sea in the north to the Black Sea in the south.

Protection activities include the restoration of floodplains, wetlands, fenland as well as species conservation by a wide range of organizations and stakeholder groups. In Hungary, activities surrounding the Green Belt included harmonization of transnational conservation efforts between Hungary and Croatia such as protection against from unsustainable gravel extraction, flood management, protection of fish spawning grounds and encouragement of downstream sediment deposition.

Length of the European Green Belt: 12 500 km

Number of countries involved: 23

Number of actors involved: 150 governmental and non-governmental organizations

Habitats: nearly all bio-geographical regions of Europe

Resources: Building Green Infrastructure for Europe. Special report. Editor: John Hontelez. EEB PUBLICATION NUMBER 2008/017, http://www.europeangreenbelt.org/

Description: A corridor was created near the village of Renkum (southern edge of Veluwe forest) by a small creek to reconnect a large Natura2000 forest complex and the river Rhine floodplains. In order to restore connectivity an industrial site was relocated. The corridor was envisaged as natural multi-functional climate buffer whichincreases the amount of space available to deal with more water while at the same time providing opportunities for recreation and innovation (such as the construction of floating houses).

Resources: Building Green Infrastructure for Europe. Special report. Editor: John Hontelez. EEB PUBLICATION NUMBER 2008/017

Description: Building insect hotels in urban areas can create more habitats for pollinators. An insect hotel can be built cheaply from any kind of material in any garden. Preserving green spaces for bees is crucial as around one third of our food comes from plants pollinated by honey bees.

How to: Hotels located directly on the ground are suitable for ground dwelling insects while those propped up are appropriate for flying insects such as bees. The more natural and diverse the materials used to build the hotel, the better. Hotels that are propped up are thought to be more resistant against rain and rotting. Both types need a roof for protection against melting snow and rainwater.

Resources: http://www.termeszettar.hu/anyagok/rovhot/rovhot.html

Location: South Romania, Comana wetlands

Description: Ecological restoration of habitat has been carried out on 1,180 ha, between 2009 and 2011.

Actions carried out:

• construction of a small dam to prevent the wetlands from drying out
• construction of a fish scale to avoid aquatic habitat fragmentation
• construction of ornithological observatories, visitors and information centers, information panels
• setting up monitoring systems

Jobs created: 20 temporary jobs.

Economic and social benefits: Increased number of tourists (10,000 visitors per year), 500 educational excursions per year.

Environmental benefits: Increased number of protected bird species (at least by 5%), increased population sizes, better condition for fish, improved quality of habitats.

Background info: The Comana wetlands – Natura 2000 and Ramsar site – are a significant area for birds. Before 1990 the area has been subjected to drainage of land for agriculture, which has reduced wet areas by three fourths and has had a negative impact on biodiversity.

Sources of Funding: ERDF Sectorial Operational Programme for the Environment in Romania (65%) (Priority Axis 4 “Implementation of Adequate Management Systems for Nature Protection”), and match funding from the state budget (35%).

Location: Poland, Pomenaria

Description: Conservation of Baltic raised bogs in Pomenaria.  The aim of the project was to halt the water loss, eliminate biodiversity threats, such as the extension of birch, pine and spurce.

Actions carried out:

• removing invasive trees and old draining systems
• blocking drainage systems
• construction of ditches
• extension of Natura 2000 network with new sites

Environmental and social benefits: 15 new Natura 2000 sites, 13 new protected areas, flood protection, reduced surface water run-off.

Background:The Baltic raised bogs have a very limited distribution next to the Baltic Sea. The project aimed to halt the process of drainage and subsequent water loss of peat bogs through the building of sluices and dams and through the filling of ditches.

Sources of Funding: EU LIFE Program, National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, GEF Small Grants Programs, EkoFundusz Foundation, Regional Fund for Environment Protection and Water Management Gdansk.

Location: Slovakia

Description: Re-establishing a continuous green band between the Alps and the Carpathian.

Achievements and ecological benefits:

• Construction of wildlife corridors (e.g. green bridges)
• Reconnecting important stepping stones such as the Danube floodplains, Morava floodplains and the small Carpathian Mountains

Social benefits: Extension of bikeways.

Economic benefits: Increased tourism, increased employment.

Background: The two greatest mountain ranges of Europe, the Alps and the Carpathians are home of a large number of wildlife species such as, lynx, bear and wolf. The Alpine Carpathian Corridor, connecting these mountain ranges, has been the traditional migration route and one of the most significant genetic flow corridors in Central Europe.

Sources of Funding: ERDF (European Regional Development Fund), State funds

Background: In 2012 and 2013 Estonian Fund for Nature campaigned for amphibian tunnels under motorways. With the help of the media EFN managed to bring over 300 volunteers to help the migrating toads and frogs. In cooperation with the State Road Administration plans were made to build under-road tunnels for migrating amphibians. The Road Administration has promised to build tunnels in 5 other amphibian migration hotspots in the coming years.

Location: Estonia. One tunnel under the new Tallinn – Tartu road has been completed and another one is being built under the Piibe road.

Sources of Funding: The awareness campaign was funded by the Environmental Investment Centre (governmental body), the Tallinn – Tartu motorway was co-funded by the EU; the newly planned tunnels will be funded from the State Road Administration budget and possibly co-funded by the EU.

Location: Bulgaria

Function:  The fish passes will ensure the migration of the local fish populations –the Balkan trout as well as other mountain fish species living in the lower zone of the river

Funding source: Privately funded by the owner of the hydropower station; their cost was included in the cost of the dam.

Background Info: Bulgarian conservation NGOs proposed an amendment to the Act on Fisheries and Aquaculture which would require the construction of fish passes at every new dam on the Bulgarian rivers. The first attempt failed but the proposal was accepted by the National Union of Hunters and Fishermen and was finally included in Bulgarian legislation. Unfortunately there are no standards for effective fish passes which are often built and managed without taking species’ requirements into consideration. Most of the time the water in the basins flows very fast, there are no shelters for migrating fish and very often habitats dry for several months. Due to these reasons the existing fish passes are usually not able to ensure fish migration.

Description: A wildlife bridge and amphibian tunnels were constructed

Location: Trakaya and Stara Zagora highways in the region of checkpoint Gotse Delchev between Bulgaria and Greece

Function:  The bridge lies outside of Natura 2000 sites but within a migratory ecological corridor. It will ensure connectivity between the populations of large mammals in the Orvilos/Slavyanka and South Pirin/Western Rhodopes mountain ranges.

Funding source: ‘Transport’ Operational program for highway infrastructure