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| About the Tisza-LIFE programme | | |||
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| Relation with partners | | |||
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| Habitats | | |||
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| Implementation | | |||
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| Outreach Activities | | |||
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| Results | | |||
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| Viktória Siposs, Tisza Programme Officer | |
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Tisza LIFE project has been finished. WWF Hungary offers the experience of the Tisza LIFE project to share with local municipalities, farmers and other stakeholders.
Following key deliverables and outputs have been achieved and provided:
ResultsPastures and grazing grey cattle reversing the non-native Amorpha shrubery Regular, systematic grazing and stem crushing distroys the Amorpha within 3-5 years. As the floods yearly take the seeds, the grassland maintenance requires continuous management - a floodplain grassland is even more sensitive for the skipping of management than a non-floodplain because of the seed expansion and the active production speed of the floodplain. The continuation of the work is still going on, the contract between WWF and the farmers ends in 2012. After the expiration of the contract, the Association probably will continue the activity as a stronger, experienced party. Clay-pits The targeted sluices have been constructed. Altogether nearly 5 kms long section of the pit series are now operating in 3 separate pit-system. The water level is controlled: the open sluice lets the spring flood water come into the pits. The sluice closing retains the water and supports wetland species, like fish nursery and bird feeding area. In the end of the season the system is drained into th Tisza giving place to the new turn in the next spring. The sluices are operated and the maintenance work is done by the Nagykörű Local Municipality. Tóalja The Tóalja now works as a harmonic system of a natural lake, a pasture and a floodplain orchard. In the spring, after retaining the floodwater of the river Tisza, the water level is so high that keeps almost 100 ha lake. This lake supports nesting and feeding birds. As the shallow lake shrinks due to evaporation during the summer, gives more and more place for the terrestrials, providing fresh green pasture for the grazing cattle. The lake takes about 40-50 ha in October. In the end of the season the shrinked lake is drained into the Tisza, taking the young fish generation to the river. The undesigned non-indigenous shrub, the Amorpha fruticosa has faded out gradually from most of the sight, thanks to the grazing Hungarian grey cattle. They are grazing in the floodplain from May to October-November as weather allows. The systematic grazing shows the positive impact: the shrubbery has given its place to the pasture. The floodplain orchard next to the project site is enlarged by 6 hectares. Original floodplain varieties were planted: plum, apple, pear and walnut varieties. Tiszakürt The grazing is taking place since Summer 2002. The site is well managed, the spots where the Amorpha fruticosa has been growing is now turning back to a grassland. The edges where Amorpha is the largest are managed by a stem crusher yearly. The sight is grazed by the Hungarian grey cattle bought from the project and the farmer's own cattle and water buffaloes. The hybrid poplar plantation next to the grazed site is partly transformed to grassland. 8,4 ha is transformed, the rest appr. 4 ha is going to be replaced by native poplar forest within 10 years. Tiszajenő The over 200 ha large grassland is now in good condition, the small spots of Amorpha inside and the larger spots along the edges are now developing into a grazed grassland. Stem crushing were done in winters, resulting the conversion of the shrubbery into a grassland. WWF ha provided 60 Hungarian grey cattle to achieve the project goal, which stay in the management of the farmer under the contract signed till 2014. The other aim of the project at the Tiszajenő site was the water retention to provide better circumstances for the grassland. During the preparation of this work, the water quality of the Körös-creek was examined. Based on the results, the Environmental Inspectorate has not approved this plan. This way the water retention has to wait until the water quality is improved, which is beyond the control of this project. Enlargement of the Middle-Tisza Landscape Protection Area This site of about 500 ha at Kőtelek as well the site at Tiszajenő of about 210 ha (see site 4) has been foreseen by the Hortobágy National Park Directorate for the enlargement of the Landscape Protection Area. Though the two sites have not been included in the Middle-Tisza Landscape Protection Area yet according to the Hungarian registration, the Natura 2000 network includes the entire Middle-Tisza Landscape Protection Area with the planned enlargement sites according to both the Habitats and Birds Directives. The registration code ofthe sites is "Middle Tisza HUHN10004", SCIHUN 20041015. Sustainability of the measures Following guarantees for management of the sites also after the project period can be given:
JASC : Jászkarajenö Agricultural Shareholding Company Beaver reintroduction After more than 100 years of extinction from the Tisza, the beaver has been reintroduced again. Within the framework of the LIFE project 46 specimens in families and couples (8 families plus 6 couples) were released in 8 appropriate oxbows in the project area within the MiddleTisza Landscape Protection Area on the 25 October 2004 and 30 October 2005. First monitoring results from 2004 and 2005 show that beavers stay in the project area. The decision of the locations of the release was based on a habitat evaluation made by Mrs Orsolya Bozsér, beaver expert. The animals for the releases were provided by the official German beaver expert and manager of Bavaria, Dr. Gerhard Schwab (www.gerhardschwab.de). He is responsible for the management of the meanwhile extensive beaver population in Bavaria. The overpopulation or "problem beavers" are being captured in living-traps and are being made available especially for re-introduction projects in Europe. Nature benefits A small beaver population has been established in the Middle Tisza, for the repopulation of the entire river and its tributaries. It is well known that activities of the beavers in the floodplain area have positive effects and increase the biodiversity in floodplain areas. The beaver is a species of Annex II of the FFH Directive. MonitoringBeaver monitoring All beavers were marked with a microchip in order to receive additional information during the monitoring. The microchip can be identified only if a beaver is captured. The microchip was injected into the beavers by a vet from the Budapest Zoo just before the release. A study on monitoring was conducted and carried out. First results from 2004 and 2005 of the monitoring show that beavers stay in the project area. It has been proven by the beaver castles, marked trees, footprints and activities of their presence on the oxbow shores. The footprints, the castles and the bites can be best detected during the winter time. Overall ecological monitoring For the year 2005 a status report was developed, which includes habitat maps. The status report was conducted by collecting field data on site visits and also used reference data from the previous years. The mapping was also conducted of the vegetation and investigation of birds with special focus on targeted species. Following species and habitats were included in the programme: Fauna-Flora-Habitat Directive: Willow Formations, Salvinia Covers Salvinia natans, Floating Broad Leaved Carpets Nymphea alba albae, Beaver Castor fiber, European Swamp Turtle Emys orbicularis, Aspius aspius Birds Directive: Black Stork Ciconia nigra, Corncrake Crex crex, Dryocopus martius, White-Tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla. Additional species: Trapa natans, Picus viridis, Grey heron Ardea cinerea and Essox lucius. Public Awareness LIFE Tisza brochure A starting publication was prepared which gives a wide overview of the project - about the nature conservation problems of the Tisza, the objectives and measures under the LIFE project - as well a short introduction into the LIFE Nature programme of the EU. 4000 Hungarian and 1000 English copies were produced and most is distributed widely - to project partners, to the communities related to the project, to scientific experts, to people involved and interested in the Tisza issues, both in the governmental and NGO sector. Additionally, the LIFE project and the brochure was presented in all different kind of forums and public occasions were WWF was involved thus raising awareness on conservation and sustainable use of the Tisza floodplain. An English issue was used in order to raise public awareness and knowledge about the project and the nature conservation values of the Tisza also outside of Hungary and also in order to exchange experience with foreign experts related to floodplain issues. Leaflet - Floodplain management Nagykörű-Tóalj A bilingual leaflet about the clay pit restoration and complex floodplain management in Nagykörű-Tóalj was prepared. It was disseminated not only among interested people in Nagykörű but also on the occasions of several meetings and seminars, festivals and press events. 2400 copies in Hungarian and 800 in English were produced. Seminars for stakeholders The main aim of the seminars was to provide a forum for discussion, information and experience exchange in order to promote a better understanding and support amongst various local and regional stakeholders (farmers, majors, ministries, business etc.) about traditional floodplain management and its ecological benefits and social and economic opportunities. Several new initiatives and case studies were presented. As good examples they have served and still will serve WWF Hungary in the promotion of nature friendly land use and sustainable river basin management. Furthermore, with the contribution of these forums, seminars, meetings and conferences, and with support of publications, WWF Hungary could promote sustainable land use practices to be considered in particular in the Tisza integrated flood management. Festival on extensive products This festival aimed at presenting the LIFE project and the ecological and economic benefits of traditional floodplain management. Sustainable produced products (fruit and milk products, baskets, meat, etc.) were presented and marketed by the farmers. The acceptance of traditional floodplain management was increased. Between 2001 and 2005, altogether 9 Festivals were organised on two locations. The aim was to give a platform to farmers (e.g. from Nagykörű) - about 10 farmers participated on each festival - and their products (e.g. extensive-resistant varieties of fruits from the Tisza floodplain, basket and other storing equipment from willow branches, pörkölt cooking from Hungarian grey cattle meet, wood carver) and to communicate the importance of extensive land use towards consumers: If people buy nature friendly produced products they promote not only the market e.g. of healthy food and traditional handicrafts but also serve nature conservation. The farmers exhibited their products and described the way of their cultivation to interested people. Leaflet on beaver re-introduction A leaflet about the beaver, its biology, history, habitat and re-introduction on the Tisza was issued. It was disseminated amongst interested people in the project area as well as several meetings and seminars, festivals and press events which were organised in the frame of the LIFE project. 10,000 copies in Hungarian were produced. Project End-publication The publication contains the results of the project: the problems and solutions for nature conservation. It combines both, a good scientific background with information, which is understandable for the broad audience. It was and will be distributed to project partners, to the communities related to the project, to scientific experts, to people involved and interested in the Tisza issues, both in the governmental and NGO sector. 2000 copies in Hungarian language were issued. Conferences Several technical conferences were held about the Tisza issues: flood management, nature friendly land use, income generation for locals to use the land appropriately, scientific exchange concerning the Amorpha elimination. The project closing conference (28-29 of March 2006 in Nagykörű) was to present and spread the experience and results of the LIFE project and to establish a follow-up for even wider application of extensive land use and integrated river basin management. WWF Hungary has already experience with lots of local initiatives promoting extensive land use, therefore a network has already started to be developed which will be extended in the future. The participants were people involved in the LIFE project and other mayors, farmers, officials from other regions of the country and nature conservation experts and scientist. Similar projects were presented as case studies (in the Middle-Tisza region and beyond: a LIFE Environment project in Borsodi Mezőség, a LIFE Nature project in Hortobágy about the elimination of drainage channels in the grassland). This event was a good possibility to show the results on the field of extensive floodplain management, cooperation with local communities and also on LIFE project management. Media work An international start press conference was organised, one in Vienna and one in Budapest at the same time on the 10 of April 2002. To underline the common Austrian-Hungarian LIFE project it was carried out together with the Ambassador of the Republic of Austria in Budapest and with a representative of the Embassy of the Republic of Hungary in Vienna. The project was presented as a positive cooperation between an EU member state and an accession country in nature conservation and knowledge transfer. The project brochure was also introduced on the press event. The media coverage was of the entire project was quit excellent. Especially there was a high media interest in Hungary with about 18 media attending the conference. As LIFE funding was relatively new in Hungary the project activities have also given support to the dissemination of information about this EU financial instrument. On the whole more than 50 newspaper, magazine or online articles about the project activities have been issued and several TV and radio interviews undertaken. Information panels Site panels On the whole 4 panels were situated on the project sites at Tiszajenő (2) and in Tiszakürt (2). Further two bilingual panels (4) are situated in Nagykörű in the frame of the Eco-route (see below). Eco-route An "Eco-route" was established in Nagykörű for people visiting the community and the project site. For this purpose 18 panels in Hungarian language incl. two in English (Nagykörű clay pits and Nagykörű-Tóalj complex floodplain management) were situated along a nature trail in the community, describing the ecological, cultural and socio-economic values of the site, the problems and restoration. Beaver panel Two large size information panels were installed on the dyke - one in Nagykörű and one at Tiszaroff. The bilingual panel describes the beavers' role in the ecosystem, the importance of reintroduction and their current distribution in Hungary. Web page The official website of the LIFE project is: www.tiszalife.hu. Some information about the project is also available on WWF Austrian homepage Conservation benefits for the Natura 2000 site and species/habitats targeted
Demonstration and innovative value
Socio-economic benefits
5.5 The future: remaining threats and further action needed
The project's closing publication is available in Hungarian. Download from here( Right click > Save As... ) |
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