USPB site restoration projects

Site/habitat restoration is a separate priority conservation direction for USPB, though the number of relevant projects is low due o lack of relevant experience in Ukraine and complicated nature of such tasks. Restoration is mainly conducted on current IBAs or on sites, which can qualify as IBAs after successful restoration.

There are several projects implemented/started in 2007 related to restoration of priority sites, namely:

1. Restoration of wet grasslands in Pripyat river floodplain (Polissia nature reserve, Zhytomyr region);

2. Restoration of wetlands around Tobychekske Lake (AR Krym)

These projects include the monitoring component, such as:

1. initial assessment at pre-project stage;

2. developing monitoring framework and management recommendations;

3. monitoring birds/ habitats at post-project stages with involvement of local volunteers.

Restoration of peatland at IBA in the Polissya Nature Reserve (Zhytomir region, Ukrainian Polissya)

This project was conducted in autumn 2007 thanks to the support of the programme “Trans-boundary river Basin Management, Phase 2, Pripyat”. The objective was to restore the natural ecosystems within Zholobnytska drainage system through restoration of hydrological regimen with using beaver settlements and dams.

Generally, there are two known methods for re-naturalization of drained peat bogs in the world, namely through

• filling in the drainage system of channels; and
• increasing the ground water level, for example through system of sluices.

Such projects are technically difficult and require a lot of resources, as well as further maintenance. They rarely allow fully restore the previous hydrological regimen.

USPB has proposed to restore the previous hydrological regimen through creating favourable conditions for beaver settlements. Beaver activities promote restoring and maintaining the natural hydrological regimen in river floodplains, which is especially important under the conditions of unstable hydrological regimen of drainage systems. Beavers also fully cover the runoff in cases of draughts, which is substantial for ecological re-naturalization projects.

In Ukraine, so far, there were no projects on wetland restoration trough introduction of beaver or/and creating favourable conditions for this species. However, there is successful foreign experience in this field. For example, such projects had being actively implemented in the US in 50s after the beaver’s role in hydrological regulation was realized, and its trapping and killing was mainly terminated. Respective authorities of some countries have even developed methodological guidelines on planning and implementing such projects. For example, The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has developed Stream Habitat Restoration Guidelines (2004), which include a chapter of beaver reintroduction as a method of wetland restoration.

One of the examples of restoring beaver populations in the frame of a wetland management project is in Hood River basin in Oregon, US (Stream Habitat Restoration Guidelines, 2004). This project included building a wood dam in 1991, which resulted in extending the area of flooded grasslands and substantial increase of beaver’s population, which now naturally regulates the hydrological regimen.

Project results are as follows:

• Methodological recommendations are prepared on restoration of wetlands in Pripyat valley; they are to be implemented by the Ministry for Environmental Protection of Ukraine and its regional administration in Zhytomir region.
• The management plan is developed for the pilot site within the Polissya State Nature Reserve.
• Conservation activity was implemented on re-naturalization of 4,000 ha of previously drained lands (2.800 ha of which are peat bogs) in the buffer zone of the reserve. To accomplish this task, 20 channels were dug by the earth-moving machine; the total length of these channels is 2 km.

When planning restoration of beaver populations, it is important to account for possible negative effects of this species’ activities. Negative impacts are worth assessing in monetary terms for such human activities as:

• forestry, where damage results from dieback of flooded trees and losing productive plantations;
• agriculture, where damage is related to flooding grasslands, pastures, hayfields, farmlands;
• roads maintenance, where damage is caused by landslides, flooding, dam damage (in case of water breakthrough due to beaver holes) etc.

There is a possibility of negative scenario with predation by wolfs. The most critical situations in the system “wolf-beaver” occur at the begging of colonizing a new area by beavers. When planning restoration of a beaver population, it was important to account for possibility of species killing by hunters.

Further recommendations include:

- Active use of beaver settlements and dams to reach and maintain the previous hydrological regimen, which can be assessed as an efficient and low-cost method of restoring natural ecosystems within Zholobnytska drainage system;

• Restoration of natural vegetation, first of all willow-shrubs as a key source of forage supply;
• Maintaining viable populations of some rare animals in the European context, including Great Grey Owl, Crane, grouse (Tetraonidae), wolf, and lynx;
• Monitoring of biodiversity in the next seasons.

Restoration of wetlands around Tobychekske Lake (Kerch Peninsula)

This project has started in 2007 thanks to the support of the Netherlands Embassy in Kyiv (Matra-Kap grant).

Tobychekske Lake located in south-eastern part of Kerch peninsula (Leninsky district, AR Crimea) is one of the biggest salty lakes in Crimea. Due to the seepage through the soil, a network of underground streams emerged around the Lake. Local people used this feature to create ponds by building soil dams. To control constant water level in the ponds, over-shot runs were build. Considering large catchments area, water level sometimes overtopped the height of dam. As a result, dams were occasionally destroyed.

During a long time, these artificial ponds served as places for fishing and livestock watering and had significant importance in support of livelihoods of local communities, in particular, Zavitne village. Importance of ponds in this area with scarce water resources is extremely significant and they are one of limiting factors in development of livestock breeding. Furthermore, pond with high fishing potentials served as habitats for wildlife, including waterfowls (e.g. White-fronted Goose, Ruddy Shelduck etc.). Target area (Tobychekske Lake) locates near Opuksky nature reserve that represents IBA (Important Bird Area) according to international BirdLife criteria. This area supports habitats for waterfowl, including globally threatened Great Bustard, Saker, and Lesser Kestrel.

However, lack of financial resources that influenced on maintenance and appropriate management of ponds and dams led to ponds’ abandoning and loss of habitat. Currently, as a result of lack of appropriate management during a long period dams were destroyed and ponds have dried out around the Lake and local people lost fishing areas and places for livestock watering. Due to this, fishing pressure on the Black sea areas has consequently increased. Furthermore, valuable habitats for wildlife were also lost. On the other hand, local people reduced livestock number as a result of absence of watering places. Previously, there were grazing near the ponds, however, now local people have to move cattle on long distances for grazing. This fact negatively impacted on livestock breeding. Livestock runs across nesting habitats of rare and extinct bird species that has negative influence on biodiversity. This threatens of breeding bird populations, including the globally threatened species.

Project aims at beginning restoration of valuable wetlands, in particular network of fresh and brackish ponds around Tobychekske Lake though pilot restoration of destroyed dam with involvement of local people and local authority at the lands of farming enterprise. As a result of project implementation, one pond will be restored that can be used further for traditional fishing by local community and will help to reduce fishing pressure on coastal area of Black sea. Restoration of the pond will also contribute to setting watering places for livestock as well as restoration of the regional biodiversity as a result of creating wildlife habitats. This will support social and economic development of the community and joint local people and authority for collaborative planning and management of the area (first of all, of the dam.)

Local farmer — an owner of lands where restoration of the pond is planned, is interested in the project participation (see Support Letter) and undertakes commitment to provide local community with access to pond for fishing and livestock watering in the future.

Project activity will contribute to strengthening public participation in resolving local economic, social and environmental problems and influence of the community on decisions about local development matters. The project promotes use of traditional (sustainable) management practices and supports awareness-raising about local environmental issues among community.

The expected project outputs are as follows:

• Management plan for the area developed on the basis of environmental assessment and discussion with stakeholders (local community);
• Awareness of local people about traditional management practices and benefits of their use raised as a result of joint participation in development and implementation of management plant for the area and project implementation;
• New fishing sites for local people created due to restoration of the pond and reconstruction of the dam that is managed appropriately;
• New watering place for livestock created;
• Awareness of local people about local conservation problems, their relation with social problems raised as a result of publication in local media, USPB’s periodical issues, and project materials — leaflet and poster;
• New habitats for wetland bids created, results of monitoring report about population increasing;
• IBA caretakers network strengthened, new members, in particular representatives of local community joined the network and participate in conservation activity.

In 2007, project was postponed due to problems with project manager appointments/ refusal to work of previous coordinator. Undertook activities included carrying out environmental assessment of the area around the Tobychekske Lake and planning restoration work.