Fundaţia ADEPT Transilvania

Târnava Mare SCI: Saving Transylvania’s Important Pastoral Ecosystems

Implementation of restoration targets at the national level and examples on restoring ecosystems in the CEE

Budapest 8 october, Răzvan Popa

Târnava Mare SCI: Saving Transylvania’s Important Pastoral Ecosystems

• Project location ROSCI0227• Project start date:01/10/2010• Project end date: 30/09/2013• Total budget €356.330 • EC contribution: €259.515 (73%)

• CAPR – Conservation of Aquila pomarina in Romania LIFE08 NAT/RO/000501

Târnava Mare, a lowland area of high biodiversity, 85.000ha farmed by 5.000 families in small-scale

farming communities

…. one of Romania’s largest continental SCI/Natura 2000 sites

→

Partly overlapping with Hârtibaciu SPA

6210 scrub habitats and semi-dry grassland over limestone or other calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia), with important orchid sites

(about 8% of area)

Grassland dominated by Upright Brome (Bromus erecta) and fescues (Festuca species), widespread on south- and west-facing slopes with few trees. These

grasslands are often a rich carpet of wild orchids and other wild flowers, including Red Viper’s-bugloss (Echium maculatum), Jurinea (Jurinea mollis),

Three-toothed Orchid (Orchis tridentata).

Occur on the steepest sunny slopes.

Dominated by various grasses, especially feather-grasses (Stipa species) and the small sedge Carex humilis.

Several rare plant species including the Steppe Sea-kale (Crambe tataria), Burning Bush (Dictamnus albus) and Nodding Sage (Salvia nutans), and the dwarf flowering shrub Steppe Almond (Prunus tenella).

6240* Sub-Pannonian steppe grasslands (about 4% of area)

Meeting objectives of project (1)

• Initial mapping and assessment of 6210 and 6240 habitats carried out using innovative mapping and database (GEOdatabase), which reveals that 6210 and 6240 less widespread than predicted in proposal: 5,895 ha from 10.000ha

• 1,353 ha identified for restoration – much of it overgrazing, bad management (sheepfold), lack of water resources etc -395 ha target

• assessments of threats completed which have revealed that the greatest threat to habitats is overgrazing by sheep – this has brought about a change in emphasis of conservation action plan.

• Draft conservation action plan drawn up after period of discussion with experts, local authorities and farmers.

• establish conservation action plans for 6210* and 6240* habitats (ca 5.895 ha) in the area, developed in a participatory manner with farmers/land users

Action A.1. Field assessments of habitats 6210* and 6240*

Mapping and assessment methodology developed. Sources of mapping data identified, at different scales, including

orthophotoplans and 3D mapping.

Maps prepared using contours of 30m and 5 m to assist location of target habitats based on aspect,

inclination.

Detailed GIS mapping identified 5979 surfaces with correct aspect / inclination as

potential target habitats. 5895 ha. Field testing shows

90% accurate

Progress (2)

• 17 schools nature classes held and six field excursions.

• Agreements with 9 schools directors completed, schools schedule completed for 2012.

• 10 village meetings held including 358 farmers, local authorities, other interested parties.

• 8 demonstrations of mowing equipment including 264 farmers.

• 43 farm visits.

• Third issue of STIPA area newsletter issued in late January.

• Monitoring sites selected and year 1 analysis carried out

Awarness raising

Meeting objectives of project (3)

1. establish conservation priority zonation in the area, giving additional protection to more important / more threatened areas of these habitats – high-priority poligons

2. establish 5 micro-reserves in certain hotspots that include simple and practical management agreements with land owners – first 7 micro-reserves identified and discussions under way with owners/farmers and townhalls – information boards

3. implement habitat restoration activities including payments for certain private owners where necessary (for example, where this would allow them to enter agri-environment schemes) – about 400 ha cleared - scrub clearing and grazing methods – about 250ha - carry out demonstration activities

Action E.2. Monitoring / evaluation of effectiveness of habitat conservation measures.

5 fixed monitoring points established

Meeting objectives of project (4)

1. provide inputs into the design of national and regional agri-environment schemes for the 2013-2019 period, and into the integrated management plan for the broader combined SPA/SCI which is being prepared in the same time frame – meetings have been held with experts in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. New a-e measures developed by ADEPT already accepted (damp grasslands) and we finished on dry grassland measures with MADR

2. Monitoring Agrienvironment Measure RO

- Aquila pomarina measure developed –

Milvus, SOR, RNDR, ADEPT, ARPM Sibiu

- Pseudophilotes bavius measure developed –

UBB, RNDR, MADR, SLR, ADEPT

Developing new grassland a-e payments at national level Working directly with MARD, we have successfully proposed new a-e

measures effective from 2012, bringing in new areas into eligibility for grassland management payments: this is pioneering payments for walk-behind mowers, as well as stipulating late mowing dates, low stocking rates. Impact: 195.000 ha of extensive orchards now

eligible throughout HNV area

Additional 26 communes in Cluj and Bucovina

C.1. Demonstration of best practices

Action C.2

Archita work

Archita before and after

STIPA poster Steppe habitats of Europe,

International Conference 3-6 June

2012, Erfurt, Germany

… identification booklets

Innovative mountain bike trails We have developed Romania’s first purpose-built mountain bike trail, with nature interpretation signs, the first of a network of trails linking villages.

educational for local children and other users – the trail was opened with a childrens’ competition will link guesthouses and increase demand for active tourism

… with child-friendly nature interpretation signs

Thank you for

attention!

Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania

www.fundatia-adept.org