Conservation of baltic raised bogs on Pomerania, Poland

Kusowo BogBaltic raised bogs (= "true raised bogs" according to Ellenberg 1988) are special kind of raised bogs, with limited distribution - around the Baltic see. These are typically ombrotrophic, oligotrophic and acidic; as a result they are covered by special kind of vegetation, with many rare and endangered plants.

Typical for baltic bog is a cupola shape peat bog deposit, with flat plateau and slopes. For the natural baltic raised bogs, plateau is typically treeless, with typical microrelief of hollows and hummocks. Slopes are covered by bog woodlands. For transformed bogs, cover of the whole bog by the pine or birch bog forest is typical. Baltic raised bogs are as a rule big complexes of natural habitats of European importance: *7110 - active raised bogs (priority!), 7120 - degraded but still capable for regeneration raised bogs, *91D0 - bog woodlands (priority!); with pine bog forests and Betula-Sphagnum bog forests among them.

Ca 80 baltic raised bogs were recorded in norhtern Poland, but no more than 30 are preserved till now. In the Pomerania region, 23 sites, giving any chance for maintaining or restoring the favourable conservation status of bog as a whole, and natural bog habitats, were recorded. All these sites are selected to this project.

Formal, passive management, applicated as a rule to raised bogs in Poland till now, seems to be not appropriate to successful baltic bogs conserving. Even on the best preserved bogs, active management, with blocking old anthropogenic drainings, sometimes also with taking other conservation measures, seems to be necessary. Probably it is "the last minute" to stop degradation processes!

Objective: Overall objective of the project is: To maintain or restore the favourable conservation status of active raised bog (7110) and pine/birch bog forest habitats (91D0) and the favourable conservation status of its complexes - baltic raised bogs in Pomerania, Poland. Operational objectives are:

Rozmiar: 91752 bajtów
  • - To stop the process of draining and following desiccation of the peatbogs
  • - To cancel local threats for biodiversity, created by species expansive as a result of desiccation
  • - To fulfill the holes in knowledge on natural values, ecology and hydrology of each raised bog and prepare good management plan on base of this knowledge
  • - To propagate modern approach for raised bogs conservation, including appropriate active management techniques
  • - To build public awareness of baltic raised bogs value and its European importance, and awareness of its conservation needs, especially in influential stakeholders group, but also in local communities and general publicActions and means involved:
  • - Sites assessment, management plans preparing, habitat Action Plan preparing
  • - Blocking draining ditches by sluices and dams building or filling the ditches
  • - Invasive birch and pine trees removing for evapotranspiration decreasing and water balance improving; removing of spruce (alien species here) invading the bogs
  • - Experimental dry peat earth removing and Sphagnum transplantation
  • - Work with local communities and influential stakeholders for building awareness of bogs value.
  • - Arrangement of series of workshop and study tours to Estonia (natural bogs) and Scotland (restoring of degraded bogs); publication of "Handbook of Bogs Conservation"
  • - Public access infrastructure building on 3 selected bogs. Results presentation and propagation.

    Expected results: All baltic raised bogs in the region assessed and evaluated; all bogs giving chance for marinating or restoration of its values taken into protection. Management plans prepared for all valuable baltic bogs. All conservation actions, which should be planned in the existing level of knowledge, planned and executed. 10 new Nature Reserves established. Ca 410 sluices and dams built. Ca 2200m of ditches filled. Trees partially or totally removed from ca 600 ha of bogs surface. Biodiversity of bogs fully preserved. Ca 20 nature conservationists well trained in raised bogs analysis, assessment, conservation planning and monitoring. Ca 300 local persons fully aware of bogs values and needs of its conservation.





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