Project News

A new monitoring program of waterbirds implemented in the Nemunas River delta area in 2009

A new monitoring program of breeding rare waterbird species and of migratory populations of geese, gulls and terns was implemented in the Nemunas River Delta Regional Park and in adjacent Important Bird Areas (designated "Natura 2000" sites) in 2009 as part of the National Monitoring Scheme.
The following breeding bird species were monitored: Bittern Botaurus stellaris, Little Crake Porzana parva, Corncrake Crex crex, Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta, Great Snipe Gallinago media, Dunlin Calidris alpina, Ruff Philomachus pugnax, Little Gull Larus minutus, Common Tern Sterna hirundo, Little Tern Sterna albifrons, Black Tern Chlidonias niger, Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus, White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla, Eagle Owl Bubo bubo, Kingfisher Alcedo atthis and Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola. Migratory populations of geese, terns and Little Gulls were also monitored.
A major part of successfully implemented monitoring activities in 2009 were co-funded from the budget of Lithuanian Demonstration Project of the Wings Over Wetlands Program and performed by ornithologists from the Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University. Results of the monitoring scheme are available in web sites of Lithuanian Ministry of Environment.
 

A new major project “Special Action Plans for Rare Species in Lithuania” initiated in the Nemunas River delta area

A major project "Special Action Plans for Rare Species in Lithuania" was initiated in Lithuania in December 2009 and will be implemented till 2012. The project is funded from the EU Structural Development Funds.
Implementation of this project will enable to restore and to appropriately manage the key breeding sites of Black Stork Ciconia nigra, Great Snipe Gallinago media, Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola, Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria, Ruff Philomachus pugnax and Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola in the Nemunas River Delta Regional Park and in adjacent Important Bird Areas. These measures will enable to grant long-term maintenance of key breeding habitats of the globally threatened breeding populations of Great Snipe and Aquatic Warbler, also of other rare breeding species characteristic of floodplains in the Nemunas River delta area.
The results of the Lithuanian Demonstration Project of the Wings Over Wetlands Program have considerably contributed to implementation of this major project in the territory of the Nemunas River Delta Regional Park.
 

Nemunas River Delta Regional Park Receives European Destination of Excellence Award

Silute, Lithuania, 28 July 2009 - The Nemunas River Delta Regional Park has received the coveted 2009 European Destination of Excellence (EDEN) Award from the European Commission. This year marks the third phase of the European Destinations of Excellence Competition established by the European Union to highlight the value, diversity and shared characteristics of European tourist destinations. Launched by the European Commission in 2006, the EDEN award recognizes places where tourism is managed and supports growth in a socially, culturally and environmentally sustainable way.
While Lithuania will formally be presented with the award in September 2009 at the European Commission in Brussels, the accolade is a huge boost for eco-tourism in the wider Silute region. Lithuania's capital Vilnius has already rung in 2009 as a European Capital of Culture, so it has been a very special year and putting the country back on the European cultural and tourism map. "This is an invitation to rediscover the region of Silute and its beautiful protected areas", says Nerijus Gricevicius, Director of the Nemunas River Delta Regional Park.
The Wings Over Wetlands (WOW) project has contributed markedly to this achievement, particularly through its support of eco-tourism, birdwatching opportunities in the Nemunas River Delta and new informative publications highlighting the nature values of and waterbirds found in this unique area. The EDEN award also demonstrates that wetland and waterbird conservation work has direct relevance to eco-tourism and local economic development. "We are very grateful to the entire Wings Over Wetlands project team for its major contribution leading to the 2009 EU EDEN nomination", says Sarunas Lauzikas, Director of Silute Municpality.
Coinciding with the award, a publication highlighting the cultural and natural heritage of the Nemunas River Delta Regional Park was launched in June 2009 (in Lithuanian and an English summary), with an English version expected later this year.
 

Habitat restoration in the Nemunas River Delta sees the return of three bird species of international conservation concern

The Nemunas River Delta, Lithuania, 23 July 2009 - Tucked away along the north-western part of Lithuania is one of the very few natural estuaries remaining in the Baltic Region and a unique example of a coastal wetland complex characteristic of the Eastern Baltic Region. The Nemunas River Delta is by far the most important wetland complex in Lithuania and a key stop-over site for many migratory waterbirds. It is also one of the key nesting sites of rare and vulnerable bird species in Europe.
In spite of its natural importance nationally and across Europe, recent changes in the land-use regime have negatively impacted this key bird area. As a result of the lack of traditional small-scale cattle grazing and hay-making, shrubs and bushes rapidly overgrew open floodplain habitats in the Delta. In an effort to improve habitat for a variety vulnerable bird species the Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University (IEVU), through support of the Wings Over Wetlands Project, spearheaded the restoration of open meadow floodplain habitats and the re-introduction of traditional sustainable farming across the Nemunas River Delta.
To demonstrate the effectiveness of this type of management system, a number of sites were selected for small-scale restoration work. Shrubs, bushes and dense reed beds in overgrown meadows were cut, creating over 50 ha of cleared habitat. Seeds of plant species characteristic to open meadows were then planted and the area is regularly managed through a local grazing regime. The restored habitat now holds up to 15 lekking males of the Great Snipe (Gallinago media), and several pairs of the Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola). The Corncrake (Crex crex) is also a common breeder in the restored meadows with more than 70 calling males documented. The whole complex of floodplains in this site (over 600 ha) holds more than 60 lekking males of the Great Snipe, more than 100 calling males of the Aquatic Warbler and more than 400 - of the Corncrake.
"It was amazing to see these restoration efforts pay off so quickly. The successes and results of our demonstration project are important for further large-scale wetland restoration work in Lithuania" says Saulius Svazas, Project Manager from the Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University.
The result of this restoration work is one of a string of important milestones accomplished by IEVU in the framework of the WOW project. A newly established Bird Observatory in the town of Rusne is already being used as a base for scientific research, monitoring and transboundary cooperation with Russia's Kaliningrad region. "This is an example of the cooperation and great working relationship between the Municipality of Silute District, the Nemunas Delta Regional Parks Authority and IEVU", says Nerijus Gricevicius, Director of the Nemunas River Delta Regional Park.