PROMORIVER
Existing problems
The existing forests were planted 12 years ago by Agency of Landscape Protection and Nature Conservation (ANCL), but there has been no management till our project started. The forest was of uniform age, too dense and endangered by dying of trees in the future.
Objectives
- Reshape existing 12-years old forest to achieve diverse age structure and other features similar to natural forests
- Implement mowing and in subsequent phase grazing of meadows
- Contribute to local economy and social situation by employing of long-term unemployed people and increase their qualifications
Biocenter Cehovice – Floodplain Forest Management, Czech Republic
Case study description
The aim of the project is to implement and promote sustainable management of floodplain forest. The priorities among management goals are to achieve both significant increase of biodiversity and economic sustainability. Within the project we use long-term unemployed workers and increase their capacity by providing additional education.
Site description
Project area is located near village of Cehovice on left bank of Vresuvka river (approx. 1 km upstream from location of river restoration project). The area has a status of regional biocenter within so called Territorial Network of Ecological Stability. Area consists mainly of three types of plant habitats: reeds and high grasses; mixed villow-poplar forests; mixed oak forests. The area of biocenter has 13,6 ha.
Project statistics
Start date: 2012
End date: 2015
Nº of people involved: 8
Partners:
Coalition for Rivers (NGO), community of ÄŒehovice
Budget:
27 800 EUR
Source of funding: Ministry of Environment (7,800 EUR), Program of Czech-Swiss Cooperation (12,200 EUR), Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (7800 EUR)
Location
ÄŒehovice village, Olomouc province, Czech Republic
Implementation
In 2012, we started to communicate with community of Cehovice about possibilities of improve ecological status of bio-center by applying the method of coppiced forest and started fundraising for these activities. In the end of 2012 and beginning of 2013, our forest expert for the first time identified parts of the forest to start management, which was done by community on areas approx. 0,5 ha. In 2013, we rented the area and prepare management plan. In winter 2013/2014, we applied coppiced forest management on area of approx 2,5 ha and in summer of 2014 we will apply meadows management on area of 4 approx. ha. For field works, we employed seasonally 5 unemployed workers, two of them increased their qualifications by getting licence for operating chain-saw. In spring 2014, we also started cooperation with university experts, who will in following years monitor evaluate the impact of management to biodiversity.
Outcomes and success
Management plan was prepared and started to be implemented in the area. Representative results of impact of management to biodiversity will be available in following years, and first economic evaluation will be ready during 2014. Social aspect of the project was exercised (5 seasonal workers – formerly long-term unemployed people, schooling resulting in chain-saw operating license for 2 of them). Project started to generate wood for local heating – the wood is partly sold on market, partly distributed for lower price to local inhabitants. The project got the attention of scientists, first monitoring and evaluating projects appeared run by teachers and students of University of Palacky, Olomouc.
Future actions
The management will continue, for willow-poppler floor in 8-12 year cycle, for oak floor in 80-120 year cycle, for meadows continually. Monitoring projects will provide scientific data for evaluation of impact on biodiversity. Economic models will be refined to achieve self-sustainability of management efforts. Possibility of further improvement of ecological status of the area by restoration of Vresuvka river will be assessed.
Lessons learnt
Many communities are reluctant to river restoration projects because they are afraid of the burden of subsequent care of land alongside the river. The possibility of presenting at least self-sustained management with contribution both for biodiversity and local economy is a powerful tool for encouraging and negotiating a new river restoration project in the area. The social aspect is also a way, how to increase acceptance of stakeholders as well as broader public to river restoration and nature conservation in general.
