Aims and objectives of the project
Demonstration project rationale
The selected demonstration site is the most important wetland complex in Lithuania. It is one of the very few natural or moderately changed estuaries, remaining in the Baltic Region. The Nemunas River delta area is the only territory with such a high diversity of habitats (including many protected types of habitats, listed in the EU Habitats Directive) in Lithuania and one of the key stop-over sites for migratory waterbirds in Europe, regularly supporting internationally important concentrations of more than 20 waterbird species.
A marked decrease of the carrying capacity of this unique complex of wetlands for migratory waterbirds was recorded during the last decades. It was mainly caused by the loss or degradation of certain key staging habitats due to changes in the natural water regime of the floodplains caused by former drainage schemes and further overgrowing of abandoned seasonally flooded meadows with shrubs, following recent changes in agricultural practices/land ownership. Rapidly increasing and poorly regulated recreation activities are new significant threats to key bird areas in the site. Local landowners are poorly informed about the nature values of the site and appropriate management of this unique territory.
The project aims to enhance conservation and sustainable management of the key areas for migratory birds in the Nemunas River delta through detailed identification of sites supporting internationally important concentrations of migratory waterbirds, concentration of recreational activities in specially designated zones, improved awareness of key stakeholders (local agencies and landowners responsible for management of the site) and restoration of natural open habitats in certain selected key staging and breeding sites of waterbirds.
The planned activities can be used as a model for replication in other countries in the AEWA region and particularly in the neighboring countries (in the Baltic States, Russia, Belarus, Poland), which face similar problems of floodplain management in new economic conditions. Exchange visits of staff working in other sites and specialized workshops will be arranged in the demonstration site.
Main goal of the project
To improve the conservation and management of waterbirds and their habitats in the Nemunas River delta area and along the NE coast of the Curonian Lagoon through improved awareness of local communities, restoration of certain key habitats, appropriate regulation of recreational load and detailed mapping of the territories supporting internationally important concentrations of migratory waterbirds.
Project objectives:
3: Restoration of certain degraded wetlands, especially important for migratory and breeding birds