Action plan for restoration of fragmented peatlands in Wallonia

Transcription

1 Action plan for restoration of fragmented peatlands in Wallonia Philippe Frankard Natural and Agricultural Environment Studies Department, Public Service of Wallonia (DEMNA/SPW) With the collaboration of Marc Dufrêne (University of Liège); Denis Parkinson, Julie Plunus, Annick Pironet, Maïté Loute, Sara Cristofoli (LIFE teams) ; Grégory Motte (DEMNA)

2 Peatlands are marginal habitats in Belgium, covering less than 1% of the territory Phytogeographical region Peat depth <40 cm Peat depth 40<x<125 cm Peat depth >125 cm Total for peat depth >40 cm Maritime district Flandrian district 1, Kempen 2,281 4,982-4,982 Brabant 271 1,122-1,122 Meuse district Ardenne 300 1, ,390 Ardenne highlands 5,760 4,068 1,123 5,191 Lorraine Total 10,660 12,992 1,135 14,127 Total current peatland area (in ha) and its regional distribution (data from the soil map of Belgium, Comité National de Géographie, prepared/updated in and digitalised in 2005)

3 The most extensive and best-preserved mires occur in Wallonia, in the Ardenne massif, mainly on the highlands. All belgian peatbogs occur only on the Ardenne highlands Wallonia: ha of peat soils (6831 ha < 40 cm; 40 cm< 6805 ha <125 cm; 1135 ha > 125 cm) High plateau 1. Hautes-Fagnes Tailles 3. Saint-Hubert 4. Recogne 2 5. Croix Scaille 3 Valleys Haute Sûre 7. Haute Semois 8. Haine 6

4 Large peatland areas have disappeared or have been degraded as a result of human activities Raised bogs : Historical peat extraction (for domestic heating) (XV th century beginning of XX th century) Recent drainage for spruce plantations (since the middle of the 19 th century) from 2,000 ha => 160 ha

5 Other peaty habitats (wet heaths, fens, transition mires, bog woodlands,...): Deforestation of natural broad-leaves forests Recent drainage for spruce (or poplar) plantations Agricultural use (drainage, fertilisation, ) from 13,000 ha => 6,500 ha

6 Before the start of the peatland action plan Most peaty habitat remnants were in a very degraded state and were scattered Large areas of peat soils were occupied by spruce plantations (soils incompatible for wood production!) Large areas were potentially available for nature if restoration measures were taken Most of the typical peatland species were rare and threatened Rare species population persistence is driven by equilibrium between extinction (e) and colonization (c) processes within population patches Cranberry Fritillary (Boloria aquilonaris) Persistence only if c > e Operational strategy for ecological networks: when area is the limiting factor (=> e), we need to increase connectivity ( c) when isolation is the limiting factor (=> c), we need to increase areas ( e)

7 Conservation priorities and actions : General strategy developed since 25 years to stop threats in existing sites to restore their quality and to extend areas to restore new sites to increase connectivity

8 Experimental restoration works of peaty habitats began in 1993 on the Hautes- Fagnes plateau, first by hands, in very small areas

9 But quickly on larger scale with the use of excavators running exclusively on wood tracks (to avoid sinking of machines)

10 This experimental restoration programme gave encouraging results (Frankard, 2001; 2005; 2006; 2016) In 2002 Public Service of Wallonia decided to apply, at a large scale, all the restoration techniques successfully tested in the Hautes-Fagnes, in the frame of 6 LIFE Nature projects Hautes- Fagnes Plateau Ardenne liégeoise Taille Plateau Natura 2000 network in Wallonia Croix-Scaille Saint-Hubert Plateau Lomme With the six «Peatlands» Life Nature projects

11 Key point : To concentrate actions on each existing major peaty area to restore locally good population systems (sources for surrounding sinks) instead to undertake dissipated actions.

12 Budget of the 6 walloon LIFE projects 22 millions euros: 50% European Union contribution, 49% Public Service of Wallonia contribution (Strong involvement of public authorities), 1% some partners NGO - or co-financiers contribution 30 % for land purchase and compensation payments for use rights (spruce cutting, ) 41% for concrete restoration actions 29% for project management, monitoring actions, public awareness and dissemination of results

13 Goals of the LIFE projects Restoration of 1400 ha of already protected areas Creation and restoration of 1400 ha of new protected areas Results (for the 5 projects already finished) 1800 ha of already protected areas restored 2700 ha of new protected and restored areas At least 500 ha of restored areas for the last project A total of min ha restored with 22 millions euros, within a peaty or wet area of 25,000 ha (250 km 2 )

14 Privates properties 505 ha have been purchased and restored ( state nature reserves) 498 ha have been restored by LIFE projects but stayed private (mainly for big landowners properties). Landowners signed agreement (notarized deed) for a 30 years of «nature assignment» of the restored lands. Municipalities properties 1425 ha have been restored by LIFE projects. Municipalities signed conventions with the Walloon Region for a «nature assignment» of the land. After the LIFE projects owners and municipalities may obtain funds to manage their restored lands: European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) State properties > 2600 ha have been restored and became state nature reserves These sites are managed with Walloon nature preservation and EAFRD funds

15 Main restoration actions : Cutting of spruce plantations on peaty soils: 2570 ha Restoration of different habitats: Natural forests: 91D0*, 9190 (91E0*) Open habitats: 7120, 4010, poor fens Infilling of drains: 770 km Creation of shallow water habitats: > 9000 ponds (30 ha) poors fens Erection of clay or peat dams: 46 km of dams (95 ha) poors fens, 7140 pionneer habitats of raised bogs 7110* Sod cutting /mulching of degraded wet heaths: 185 ha 4010 Mulching or scraping of degraded peatbogs: 200 ha (+ 25 ha with other funding) poors fens, 7140, 7150, pionneer habitats of raised bogs 7110* Restoration of natural broad-leaved forests: min 360 ha 91D0*, 9190, (91E0*)

16 Main management actions, prepared by LIFE projects: Mowing of degraded or restored wet heaths: 50 ha of 4010 habitat Mowing of degraded peatbogs: 15 ha of 7120 Grazing (sheep, cows) of degraded or restored wet heaths: 640 ha of 4010 Grazing (sheep, cows) of degraded or deforested peatbogs: 750 ha of 7120

17 Spruce cutting or milling For private owners and municipalities: if spruces were cut in advance (before age of maturity), they received compensation payment : value at age of maturity (estimated according to productivity tables) - selling price = compensation payment No compensation payment for state properties because Walloon Region authorities were the beneficiary of the LIFE projects.

18 Results of the main restoration actions Scraping of the Molinia vegetation and the superficial peat layer on degraded bogs in order to remove nutrients and to lower the surface to a level close to the mean perched water mound

19 Sometimes on very large areas, in completely degraded bogs (Fagne des Deux- Séries: 70 ha scraped)

20 Or in the surrounding of intact peatbog

21

22 Restoration of lagg communities (results after 4 years)

23 Introduction of nurse species into scraped areas (Eriophorum vaginatum, E. angustifolium) and inoculation with Sphagnum fragments and spreading of straw mulch LIFE HF LIFE HF

24 Results 3 years after nurse species plantation

25 Results after five years

26 Restoration of flat degraded or cut-away bogs by inundation using clay, peat or PVC dams

27 Restoration of a cut-over bog by inundation using peat and clay dams Some large flooded areas...

28 Restoration of a degraded bog by inundation using peat and clay dams... Or smaller ones, but in network

29 Restoration of degraded and cut-over bogs by inundation using peat and clay dams

30 Restoration of a deforested bog by inundation using clay and peat dam

31 Restoration of a deforested bog by inundation using clay and peat dams

32 Restoration of a cut-over bog by inundation using peat and clay dams Results after 4 years

33 Results 5 years after the works

34 Restoration of a degraded bog by inundation using peat and clay dams Just after the works Results 3 years after the works

35 Restoration of heavily cut-over bogs on sloping areas by re-modelling the peat surface to form lagoons

36 Sod cutting or mulching of degraded wet heaths

37 Connectivity was increased within each project area Saint-Hubert Plateau des Tailles Before After Before After Croix-Scaille Hautes-Fagnes Before After Before After

38 Marsh Clubmoss (Lycopodiella inundata) 2015 Many data in the XIX th century Extinct since 1935 Brief local reappearance in 1973 Reappearance in a sod-cut area in LIFE project «Ardenne liégeoise» area LIFE project «Hautes- Fagnes» area Species response to restoration of ecological networks: Plants

39 Species response to restoration of ecological networks Dragonflies Sympetrum danae (on Saint-Hubert Plateau) <

40 Species response to restoration of ecological networks Dragonflies (on the Hautes-Fagnes Plateau) Aeshna subartica

41 Species response to restoration of ecological networks Butterflies Location of Cranberry Fritillary (Boloria aquilonaris) in the Hautes-Fagnes Plateau (blue: data before 2009; red new data 2013) (Leroy, 2010; Solheid, 2014) 2 isolated populations reconnected. data before 2009 new data 2013

42 Birds Very good response of some breeding and migratory species (reappearance, increase of populations, ) Teal (Anas crecca) Crane (Grus grus) Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)

43 Black grouse (Tetrao tetrix) Areas (Hautes-Fagnes plateau) Counting of cock Fagnes du Nord-Est Fagnes de la Baraque-Michel et de Botrange Total The last population of the country is nearly extinct nevertheless all restoration measures applied

44 Habitats Article 17 report Range Area Structure and Prospects Global Evaluation Trends Function 4010 Fv 3000 ha Fv U2 U2+ U * Fv 161 ha U2 U2 U2+ U Fv 2575 ha Fv U2 U2 U Fv 85 ha U2 U2 U2+ U U2 1,1 ha U2+ U2+ U2+ U Fv 10 ha U2= U2- U2 U Fv 4700 ha U2 U1 U2 U2 + 91D0* Fv 700 ha U2 U2 U2 U2 + Still unfavourable statuts (U2) verdict (restored habitats are still pionneer, but favourable trends; except for alkaline fens not concerned by the peatland LIFE projects)

45 For the future New opportunities of fundings (LIFE, EAFRD, Interreg, ) should be taken in account in the future Many peaty sites are still degraded and large areas of peat soils are still occupied by spruce plantations ( large areas are potentially available for nature!) + Still no action for rich fens Site connectivity is well enhanced but it could be improved in some places and especially between projects areas???

46 But It is difficult: to convince some private owners (mainly big landowners) to adhere to restoration project to convince municipalities to do more It remains some challenges for the future

47 Thank You