Raised bog restoration experience in Latvia
Dr. biol. Mara Pakalne, Dr. biol. Liga Strazdina
University of Latvia
The International WorkshopBEST EXPERIENCES IN CONSERVATION ANDRESTORATION OF HABITATS IN RAISED BOGS AND MIRESEXCHANGE OF KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER TO AUKSTUMALA11–13 June 2014, Šilutė, Lithuania
Outline of the presentation
• Characterise mire management and monitoringwithin LIFE projects in Latvia
• Reveal problems in raised bog conservation andrestoration
Mires cover 4.9% of the total land area
Peatlands in Latvia
(ABOUT 6000)
Intact raised bogs
7120 Degraded raised bogs still capable of natural regeneration (31,700 ha)
7110* Intact raised bogs –priority protection status in EU (26,6200 ha in Latvia)
Raised bog species
Rubus chamaemorusAndromeda polifolia
Drosera obovata
Eriphorum vaginatum
EC LIFE projects for mire management
• Teici Mire (2001-2003)
• Kemeri Mire (2003-2008, 2011-2016)
• Lubana Wetland complex (2003-2007)
• Implementation of Mire Habitat Management Plan in Latvia(2004-2008)
• Restoration of Raised bog habitats in the Especially ProtectedNature Areas of Latvia (2010-2013)
• Conservation and Management of Priority Wetland Habitatsin Latvia (2014-2017)
Teici Mire
Total area: 15,000 ha
Kemeri Mire
Total area 5000 ha
Kemeri MireLIFE project
Sphagnum cuspidatum
Peat fields near Kemeri Mire
Re-establishment of Sphagnum species
Mire management and monitoring
Technicaldesigns
Management plans
Mire
restoration
actions
Habitat and hydrological
monitoring
Building of dams in Vasenieki Mire
2007
2013
2006
Vasenieki Mire
2007
2013
Cena Mire
Cena Mire
Cena Mire
Melnais Lake Mire
Total area 317 ha
Building of dams on drainage ditches in winter 2012
Monitoring and management actions
• Raising of water level by building dams on the drainage ditches to stop the degradation of raised bog habitats
• Habitat and site hydrology monitoring before and after management actions
Vegetation monitoring
• Established to follow the vegetation changes in mire vegetation
• Releves are located in representative areas in the natural and degraded areas
damsvegetation, habitat and
site hydrology
monitoring transects
Results: Eastern part of Melnais Lake Mire
2011
20120.5 m from the ditch
Results: Eastern part of Melnais Lake Mire
Change of the proportions in
Sphagnum coverage
The coverage of species of more wet areas has increased
Sphagnum magellanicum
Sphagnum cuspidatum
Sphagnum fallax
Results: Eastern part of Melnais Lake Mire
Calluna vulgaris is dying out
Results: change of Calluna vulgaris cover
Results: change of Sphagnum cover
Results: change of Eriophorum vaginatum cover
Hydrological monitoring
Groundwater monitoring in Melnais Lake Mire, deep ditches
• Seasonal GWT fluctuations• Range of GWT fluctuations up to 0.5-1.2 m in the wells near
the ditch (5-10 m)
• After dam construction:Sharp rise of GWT for ~0.3 m near the ditch, slighter rise in the 25-100 m distance;Stabilisation of GWT (range 0.1-0.25 m)
Rozu Mire
Total area 991 ha
Rozu Mire
2010 Before dam building
2013 After dam building
EC LIFE+ project
Title: “Conservation and Management of Priority Wetland Habitats in Latvia”
Duration : June 2014– November 2017
Project sites : Slitere National Park, Gauja National Park,
Raunas Staburags and Northern Mires
Partners and Co-financers :
Project sites
Northern Mires
Trichophorum caespitosum
Betula nana
Bazi Mire in Slitere National Park
Total area 2,646 ha
Inter-dune mire complex
Drosera intermedia
Nymphaea alba
Suda-Zviedru Mire in Gauja National Park
Total area 2,575 ha
Davida springsin Gauja National Park
Fennoscandian mineral- rich springs and spring fens (7160).
Petrifying springs with tufa formation (Cratoneurion) (7220*)
Raunas Staburags Nature Reserve
Total area 25 ha
Conclusions
• The habitat monitoring results show a great difference in the coverage and species number of vascular plants and bryophytes in the intact and drained areas.
• Hydrological and habitat studies reveal that after the management actions was carried out, fast changes have taken place in the site hydrological regime.
• More information in the home page: www.purvi.lv
Thanks for attention!
