Management Planning for Conservation of Desna-Dniper population of Aquatic Warbler

Starting from September 2006, Ukrainian Society for the Protection of Birds has been implementing a project on management-planning for conservation of Aquatic Warbler Desna-Dniper population thanks to the financial support of the UK Environment for Europe Fund managed by (DEFRA) and the British Council in Ukraine. The project is aimed at participatory management planning and implementing priority measures of the management plan for conservation of Desna-Dniper population of Aquatic Warbler contributing to protecting and sustainable management of natural resources of low-land mesotrophic bogs in Chernihiv Poleseye and Dniper Left-Bank forest-steppe areas. Project implies implementation of priority conservation actions with involvement of local stakeholders (including communities), raising public awareness about conservation of biodiversity in the target regions and contributing to implementing international nature conservation legislation through updating National Action Plan on Aquatic Warbler Conservation.

The first project stage (from late September to December 2006) included first of all solving managerial issues, such as establishing project team, clarifying tasks and timetable, as well as preliminary field study and establishing connections with local stakeholders. In general, during the first project period, scheduled project activities are implemented according to the plan approved.

Particularly, during the reporting period the following administrative work was done:

  • project team was established;
  • project steering committee was established;
  • job descriptions for the project staff were prepared;
  • list of experts was composed;
  • work contracts, including terms of reference, with four experts were concluded.

Direct project results of the first period are:

  • Project web-site was developed and updated (http://www.birdlife.org.ua/awp/index.htm);
  • Threat analysis for biodiversity and Aquatic Warbler in the project area was conducted. Most immediate threats include unfavorable hydrological regimen, birds’ disturbance, abandonment of sustainable low-intensity mowing. All these factors lead to transformation of habitats and deterioration of the nesting conditions;
  • Survey of key Aquatic Warbler breeding habitats within Galka and Perevid rivers floodplains (Kyiv region) was carried out. New suitable breeding sites (sedge mires) within Galka floodplain were identified. According to expert assessment, these sites can potentially support up to 50 singing males of Aquatic Warbler (more than was previously estimated);
  • Digital maps of two sites in Galka and Perevid river floodplain were developed;
  • Analysis of data collected during Aquatic Warbler monitoring in May-June 2006 (in 2006, project was implemented under the support of RSPB) was prepared. Estimated number and distribution of Desna-Dniper population of Aquatic Warbler will be used as a base for further management-planning. The general quantity of the population is assessed at 596-645 singing males;
  • List of priority conservation measures for 27 sites was prepared. It includes such activities as promoting establishment of official protected areas and providing water control in order to maintain favourable for Aquatic Warbler hydrological regimen in the habitats during breeding season;
  • Preparatory meetings with local authorities in the project communities were conducted to discuss management-planning objectives and benefits.

Some of the scheduled activities are carried out ahead of the initial project plan. In particular, at the first project stage, justification for the designation of the official protection status of three key sites in Chernihiv and Kyiv regions and justification for upgrading the official protection status of one area in Chernihiv region have been already prepared and submitted to the Ministry for Environmental Protection of Ukraine. The list of proposed designations/ upgrades includes:

  • Establishing hydrological reserve (zakaznik) of state importance “Bogdanivskiy” (Nizhynskiy rayon, Chernihiv region);
  • Establishing hydrological reserve (zakaznik) of state importance “Svidovetskiy” (based on merging hydrological zakaznik of local importance Svidovetskiy and hydrological zakaznik of local importance “Mire Supiy” (Bobrovetskiy rayon, Chernihiv region);
  • Establishing hydrological zakaznik of state importance “Boloto Perevid” (Zgurivskiy rayon, Kyiv region);
  • Upgrading status of hydrological reserve of local importance “Gorodok”, assigning it status of zakaznik of state importance (Schorskiy rayon, Chernihiv region).

Prepared justification is now been considered by the Ministry, and after respective decision is made, the lobby will be needed on oblast (regional) level to speed up establishing proposed reserves.

Project results constitute a good base for further conservation activities under the project. Information on the project activities and results is continuously updated on the project web-site.

There were no significant difficulties and obstacles revealed at the first project stage. As a result of lobbying designation/upgrading protected status of the key sites, a long-term project impact on biodiversity in the region is expected in the future.

Implemented activities demonstrate importance of effective cooperation with authorities on issues related mainly to practical stage of project implementation.

© The Ukrainian Society for the Protection of Birds 2007