Poland | LIFE Multi Peat

Restoration within Natura 2000 site Torfowiska Orawsko-Nowotarskie

Overview

The project is implemented in the Natura 2000 site Torfowiska Orawsko-Nowotarskie, which is located in the southern part of Poland. It covers one of the largest complexes of raised bogs in the country and the largest of such in the Polish Carpathian Mountains. The age of the oldest peatbogs occurring there dates back 9.000 years and the total area of preserved bogs exceeds 1.400 ha. It is an area of extremely high natural value, with one of the country's largest populations of Black Grouse Lyrurus tetrix, an endangered bird species.

The project in Poland, is implemented by two NGOs – the Naturalists’ Club (Klub Przyrodników) and the Polish Society for the Protection of Birds (Ogólnopolskie Towarzystwo Ochrony Ptaków, BirdLife Poland).

Background

Currently, the conservation status of raised bog habitats in the area is inadequate. The total area of bogs has decreased (in relation to the end of the 19th century) by more than 30%. The water level of the bogs has also decreased significantly, and the drying out of the bogs is progressing year by year. The main reasons for the changes is human activity which puts pressure on the ecosystem and has been ongoing for decades, especially drainage and peat extraction.

Objectives

The main objective of the project, is to improve the hydrological conditions of selected peat bogs in the described above Natura 2000 site. This will be achieved through the modification of the bogs’ drainage system and thinning of the Scots pine stands on the bogs which is currently growing on the bogs.

Activities

In addition, monitoring activities are being implemented: 1) vegetation monitoring based on drone images and on permanent research plots; 2) water level monitoring; 3) measurements of the greenhouse gas balance. Education and social communication activities are also an important part of the project.

Although it is an area of great natural value, peat-bog protection measures have not been carried out on such a large scale in this area before. An important aspect of the project is the very positive cooperation with local authorities and other land owners, without whose support it would not be possible to implement restoration activities.