Strasbourg, 18 February 2002 T-PVS/Emerald (2002) 3
[T-pvs Emerald 03e] English only
CONVENTION ON THE conservation of EUROPEAN wildlife
and natural habitats
Group of Experts for the setting up
of the Emerald Network of Areas of Special Conservation Interest
---ooOoo---
Emerald Network Pilot Project in Lithuania
- Report -
Document established by
the Lithuanian Fund for Nature
under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment
Lithuania
Contents
1. Background............................................................................................................................ 3
2. Framework of the pilot project............................................................................................. 3
3. Structure of the National Emerald Network Team............................................................... 3
4. The activities carried out in the framework of the project................................................... 4
4.1. The Emerald workshop........................................................................................................ 4
4.2. Designation categories in Lithuania...................................................................................... 4
4.3. List of biogeographical zones in the country........................................................................ 6
4.4. Species requiring specific habitat conservation measures and endangered natural habitat types 6
4.5. Selection of potential ASCIs................................................................................................. 6
5. Suggestions and application, future plans............................................................................. 6
Contacts:
Lithuanian Fund for Nature
Attn.: Pranas Mierauskas
Klaipedos St. 5 – 16
2001 Vilnius
Lithuania
E-mail address: [email protected]
www.glis.lt
1. Background
Lithuania as a party of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention) has started to implement the requirement of the Convention. Lithuania has been invited by the Council of Europe to start setting up the Emerald Network in the pilot areas. The overall objective of the project is to develop database, containing a fair proportion (approximately 10% of the final data base) of the Area of Special Conservation Interest of the Emerald Network.
2. Framework of the pilot project
Framework of the pilot project is defined by the contract NR. 52/01 as follows:
1. Set up national tem of experts related to the development of the Emerald Network. This team should comprise technical, administrative and scientific persons;
2. Organise a workshop, during which the above – mentioned team will be initiated to the Emerald principles and technicalities by the staff and the expert of the Council of Europe. In this work the Emerald Network software will be installed and explained together with instructions concerning this scientific background of the data collection;
3. Evaluate the results on presence of species and habitats within each biogeographical region in the country;
4. Construct a pilot database on real sites, which will eventually become Emerald sites using the Emerald software.
3. Structure of the National Emerald Network Team
In 1998 in the framework of the project on development of national ecological networks in the Baltic countries in the framework of Pan – European Ecological Network, the national team was established. In 1999 the project on Natura 2000 financed by DANCEE started and national experts was involved in setting up of Natura 2000 database. Currently 2 experts are familiar with Emerald database . GIS expert has been trained in Slovenian Wildlife GIS Center. The national team of experts is well experienced and could be involved in setting up Emerald network.
The list of the Project Team
1. Gintaras Juodinskas, Ecosystem Protection Division, Ministry of Environment
2. Pranas Mierauskas, Project Manager, Lithuanian Fund for Nature
3. Edmundas Greimas, Consultant on Birds & Habitats Directives, Ornis Consult Ltd
4. Darius Stoncius, Project Assistant, GIS Expert, Lithuanian Fund for Nature
5. Rimgaudas Treinys, Data Expert, Lithuanian Fund for Nature
6. Danas Augutis, Data Expert, Lithuanian Fund for Nature
7. Povilas Ivinskis, Expert on Entomology, Institute of Ecology
8. Liutauras Raudonikis, Expert on Ornithology, Institute of Ecology
9. Eduardas Mickevicius, Expert on Mammology & Herpetology, Institute of Ecology
10. Valerijus Rasomavicius, Expert on Habitats and Botany, Institute of Botany
11. Zigmantas Gudzinskas, Expert on Habitats and Botany, Institute of Botany
12. Vytautas Kesminas, Expert on Ichthyology, Institute of Botany
4. The activities carried out in the framework of the project
4.1. The Emerald workshop
The workshop of was organized in the Ministry of Environment on 17 – 18 May 2001. The aim of the workshop was to introduce to the national team the principles and technical aspects of the Emerald Network and to facilitate training for them.
Mrs Helene Bouguessa, Natural Heritage Division, Directorate General IV, the Council of Europe, presented overview on the Bern Convention, main principles and legal basis of Emerald Network, designation of sites and relation of Emerald Network to other ecological networks.
Mr. Marc Roekaerts, expert of the Council of Europe, demonstrated and explained the final version of the Emerald Network software, explained the main features of the Emerald Network database and the Standart Data Entry form.
4.2. Designation categories in Lithuania
List of nature conservation designation types, which have statutory protection with their definition on national level:
Site name: Čepkeliai
Site code
LT0000001
Site type
B Important for other species and habitats
Values
Čepkeliai mire complex (5858 ha) is one of the largest in Lithuania. The site contains large areas of habitat types included in the Resolution No. 4 of the Bern Convention and Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive. Various wetland habitat types are well represented. It is also an important breeding area for rare, internationally protected birds. The site is designated as Ramsar site, IBA and proposed site for Natura 2000 network in Lithuania.
Site name: Kamanos
Site code
LT0000002
Site type
C Important for bird species and other species or habitats
Values
Kamanos is a very valuable area distinguished by the largest mire complex in the northern part of Lithuania. Great diversity of habitats provides excellent conditions for numerous species of rare and threatened insects, mammals, birds and plants listed in the Resolution No.6 and annexes of EU Habitats and Birds Directives. Area is also important for conservation of wetland habitats included in the Resolution No.4. The site is designated as Ramsar site, IBA and proposed site for Natura 2000 network in Lithuania.
Site name: Labanoras
Site code
LT0000003
Site type
B Important for other species or habitats
Values
The site is criticaly important for the populations of the certain flora and fauna species listed in the Resolution No.6 related with large forest and wetland complexes. This is the only site in Lithuania supporting population of water pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera. Labanoras site contains representative and unique examples of a natural wetland habitat types. Part of the site is proposed as potential area of Natura 2000 network in Lithuania.
Site name: Meteliai
Site code
LT0000004
Site type
A Important for bird species
Values
The site contains representative and rare examples of natural or near-natural wetland habitat types. It is especially important for migrating birds. Meteliai site regularly supports 20000 and more individuals of waterbirds also regularly supports 1% of individuals in a population of one waterbirds species. The lakes of site are designated as IBA and are proposed as the potential areas of Natura 2000 network in Lithuania.
Site name: Nemuno delta
Site code
LT0000005
Site type
A Important for bird species
Values
The area of Nemunas river delta with adjacent floodplains, raised bogs and wet forests is an important migratory path for numerous fish species and one of the key breeding and stop-over sites for waterbird populations in Europe. The complex of wetlands supports numerous vulnerable and endangered species of fish, mammals, and birds (among them globally threatened species, e.g., Aquatic warbler Acrocephalus paludicola). The area also provides staging grounds for migratory waterbird populations and refuge for waterbird species during winter. The site regularly supports 20000 and more individuals of waterbirds and 1% of the individuals in a population of one waterfowl species. The site is designated as Ramsar site, IBA and is the proposed site for Natura 2000 network in Lithuania.
Site name: Praviršulis
Site code
LT0000006
Site type
C Important for bird species and other species or habitats
Values
Praviršulis site is distinguished by one of the major mire in the country. The area contains representative and rare examples of natural or semi-natural wetland habitat types included in the Resolution No. 4 of the Bern Convention and Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive. It supports numerous vulnerable, endangered and critically endangered plant and animal species. It supports bird species at critical stage of their life cycles, providing important staging habitats. The site also supports a high number of migratory birds (geese, ducks and waders). It is the staging area for the Crane of international importance. The site is designated as IBA and is proposed site for Natura 2000 network in Lithuania.
Site name: Viešvilė
Site code
LT0000007
Site type
B Important for other species or habitats
Values
Viešvilė site is distinguished by its very mosaic and vulnerable habitats. The mire complex is distinguished by particularly high diversity of flora and fauna, including numerous rare and endangered species of plants, insects, mammals and birds. The area contains representative examples of the wetland and forest habitats included in the Resolution No. 4 of the Bern Convention and Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive. It supports migratory bird species providing important staging habitats. The site is designated as Ramsar site, IBA and is proposed site for Natura 2000 network in Lithuania.
Site name: Žuvintas
Site code
LT0000008
Site type
C Important for bird species and other species or habitats
Values
Žuvintas site is an important breeding and staging area for many rare and vulnerable species of birds (among them globally threatened species). It is especially important for migrating waterbirds. The site is designated as Ramsar site, IBA and is proposed site for Natura 2000 network in Lithuania.
4.3. List of biogeographical zones in the country
All the territory of the country is included in 2 zones: continental & boreal biogeographical zones (see attachment 1) . But this consideration to divided Lithuania in two zones is not officially approved by the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention.
4.4. Species requiring specific habitat conservation measures and endangered natural habitats types
Species requiring specific habitat conservation measures and endangered natural habitats types in Lithuania have been evaluated and taken into consideration while selecting 8 potential Areas of Special Conservation Interest of the Emerald Network .
4.5. Selection of potential ASCIs
After identification of Emerald species listed in Resolution Nr. 6 (1998) and endangered habitats listed in Resolution Nr. 4 (1996) present in Lithuania, potential Areas of Special Interest are being selected based on the criteria listed in the Recommendation Nr. 16 (1989). The final list is completed in the end of 2001 (see attached Emerald Database). It is important to admit, that potential Emerald Network of the Areas of Special Conservation Interest are incorporated in Lithuanian National Ecological Network (see attachment 2).
5. Suggestions and appreciation, future plans
In the progress of developing of the Emerald database some problems has been appeared: Emerald database does not allow to compare the habitats from the Emerald Network and Natura 2000. Finally Lithuanian experts prepared a comparison of Emerald habitat types and Natura 2000 habitat types. This comparison allows to follow up creation of Emerald network in parallel with Natura 2000 during implementation of DANCEE project on the implementation of the Birds and the Habitats Directives (2002 – 2003), carried out by Ornis Consult Ltd/NEPCon Ltd and the Lithuanian Ministry of Environment.
In 2002 a new project on Natura 2000 has been started. Lithuanian Fund for Nature is going participate in it and experience got in the Emerald Network pilot project will be used for Natura 2000 project which is good chance to follow up enlargement of Emeral network.
