Wetlands Green Life -Restoration and conservation of marshes, peatlands, and wetlands in Natura 2000 and Green Infrastructure areas

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Narrative

The project aims to implement the Prioritised Action Framework for the Natura 2000 network in Poland, specifically focusing on marshes, peatlands, and wetlands in Natura 2000 and Green Infrastructure areas. These ecosystems are facing progressive degradation due to changes in hydrological conditions, making them one of the fastest-disappearing ecosystems in the region. The conservation status of these habitats has been assessed as unfavourable-inadequate (U1) or unfavourable-bad (U2), highlighting the need for active protection measures to maintain or improve their conservation status. Within the Natura 2000 areas, the project plans to define active protection tasks, implement them, and designate buffer zones for 100% of the habitats. For the Green Infrastructure areas affecting Natura 2000 sites, mapping, assessment of the state, and designation of buffer zones will be conducted as a preliminary step towards proposing protective measures. The project partners will monitor the effects of the active protection tasks, including the restoration of the hydrological regime, enhancement of biodiversity, and reduction of CO2 emissions. The ultimate long-term effect of the project is to improve the conservation status of marshes, peatlands, and wetlands in Natura 2000 and Green Infrastructure areas.

Financial data

Total Eligible Budget: 35,943,587 €, EU Contribution: 21,566,152 €, EU Funding Percentage: 60%

Recommendations

• Ensure effective implementation of active protection tasks defined for Natura 2000 areas, including the designation of buffer zones and monitoring of their effectiveness.

• Conduct comprehensive mapping and assessment of the state of Green Infrastructure areas affecting Natura 2000 sites, and propose appropriate protective measures based on the findings.

• Monitor the effects of active protection tasks on hydrological regime restoration, biodiversity enhancement, and CO2 emissions reduction to evaluate the project's success.

• Promote stakeholder engagement and public awareness regarding the importance of conserving marshes, peatlands, and wetlands, both within and outside Natura 2000 areas.

• Share the project's outcomes, best practices, and lessons learned with other relevant initiatives and stakeholders to facilitate knowledge exchange and replication of successful approaches in similar contexts.