Actions

There are several concrete restoration actions planned within the project to improve the ecological functions of the Drava River and the riparian ecosystem at Natura 2000 Drava (SPA and SCI): the restoration of Ormož Basins (C.1-C.3), creation of new artificial breeding island for Common Terns at Lake Ptuj (C.7), restoration of river branches and their re-connection with the riverbed together with the removal of existing embankments to form steep bank slopes (C.9), reducing human disturbance on gravel bars with installation of blockades and excavation of ditches (C.12).
 
To conduct the measures, several preceding activities are necessary in accordance with official procedures, such as the acquisition of the preliminary conditions from the responsible authorities, preparation of technical blue-prints (construction designs), obtaining the consents from the responsible authorities for the measures planned in the blue-prints as well as the construction permits when necessary. All these activities are part of this action.

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Hydraulic analysis and modeling will be carried out to predict changes in the Drava riverbed under different discharges and their duration. The aim is to find the discharge parameters that start morphological processes in the riverbed, causing natural habitat restoration but are at the same time acceptable for people and would not threaten public safety and infrastructure along the Drava.
 
The MIKE 11 and MIKE 21 models (DHI) will be used to calculate the hydraulic and sediment transport processes in the Drava riverbed. To prepare the model, geodetic survey of the river bed (batimetry) and the flood plain by laser scanning (LIDAR) will be performed. Sampling of sediment and granulometric analyses will be performed to get the necessary data for accurate sediment transport model.

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Besides the restoration of the natural value for the conservation of targeted Natura 2000 species and of the biodiversity of the Ormož Basins Nature Reserve (actions C.1-4), this action includes the preparation of the technical blue-prints for all the foreseen future visitor facilities of the nature reserve, including the basic facilities under action E.4 and other facilities (like visitor centre, observation tower) which technically and financially exceed the frame of the Life+ projects. The preparation of the blue-prints will be sub-contracted upon the best basic design of the buildings which will be prepared upon DOPPS’ conservation guidelines. The planned visitor facilities include:
 

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A detailed grazing plan for achieving conservation goals will be prepared using best expert biological and veterinarian knowledge. Foreign experts will be included in plan preparation. Visit of our experts to an area where nature-conservation management is carried out by grazing of Water Buffalos is planned (Neusiedler See, Austria), and of foreign experts to our site before releasing the animals.

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A detailed management plan for the area of restored Ormož Basins, which will be declared a state nature reserve under C.5 will be prepared. The document will include all the contents of a protected area management plan, foreseen in the Nature Conservation act, with a special focus on the zoning of the area, detailed description of habitat management with water table regulation, define visit regime, and protocols for monitoring as well as financing of the reserve management and operation.

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With the principal aim to assure that the future management measures at the Drava meet the Natura 2000 goals, we will prepare a detailed set of guidelines for maintenance works and other water management measures at the Drava project area. The guidelines will consider all the aspects of the river management, with a main focus in assuring public safety against floods and preserving populations of qualifying species and habitat types.
 
The guidelines will be incorporated into the national Danube River basin management plan for the period from 2016-21, which will be adopted by the Slovenian Government. This is the first case in Slovenia when a detailed management measures for a selected section of a river with conservation importance will be incorporated into any river basin management plan, the most important legal act providing the basis for the future sustainable management of the Lower Drava River.

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A geodetic survey and marking out the land will be carried out for the area of Ormož basins where restoration actions will take place (actions C.1-C.4) and which will be declared as Ormož Basins Nature Reserve (C.5).
 
The action is preparatory for further concrete actions. The earthworks (C.1-C.3) are not possible without geodetic survey. For the implementation of management actions (C.4) – placing of fences for grazing animals – borders of the area must be marked.

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Approx. 6 hectares of lowland flooded forest area of superior nature-conservation value will be purchased. It is a mature softwood forest stand of priority habitat type 91E0* – Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (Alno-Padion, Alnion incanae, Salicion albae) that is listed at Annex I of Habitats Directive.
 
Forest stand will be permanently assigned to nature conservation, permitting the preservation of this old riverine forest fragment with positive influence on:
 

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A single parcel with a total surface area of 6,747 m2 will be purchased from its recent owner and permanently assigned to nature conservation, and thus efficient project implementation and future nature reserve management enabled, as follows:
 

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Suitable environment for breeding and migratory waterbirds will be provided at the area of 30 ha through permanent, sufficient and controllable water supply as a prerequisite for creation and management of habitats for particularly targeted species of conservation concern. The most robust, reliable and economically effective water supply system to the restored area of the basins is to take water from the Drava River at the nearest point at Lake Ormož and to lead it to the basins through a ditch.
 
The possibility of controlling water levels individually in separate basins and year-round will enable safe and successful breeding of all target species, a situation that is at present not common in many similar habitats. Furthermore, it will be possible to create a wide array of habitats within the water-depth gradient and hence meet the ecological requirements of a number of different species.

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The area of Ormož Basins comprises of 2 earth basins 400×100 meters large, and 4 water basins 400×150 m large. As basins are dry at the moment, their bottom will be manipulated to obtain optimal habitats for birds after filling them with water. The bottom surface is gravel covered with more or less (depending on the basin) thick earth layer.
 
A mosaic of habitats for birds will be restored under the action and consequently populations of most species that gradually decreased after the abandonment of sugar production will recover to the levels from the pre-2010 period. Several particularly targeted species will substantially increase in numbers (Ferruginous Duck, Common Tern, Little Bittern..) or will colonize the site as new breeding species (Little Egret, Little Tern and Whiskered Tern).

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This action is aimed at restoring riverine forest habitats, i.e. riverine forest stands and forest ponds or oxbow. The action is to be conducted as habitat improvement and enhancement of population growth of endangered beetle species, i.e. saproxylic beetle fauna with Cucujus cinnaberinus as target species, and water beetle fauna with Graphoderus bilineatus as target species.
 
The results of the restoration experiment will serve to prepare guidelines for management of Natura 2000 sites for Cucujus cinnaberinus and Graphoderus bilineatus as qualifying species in order to provide a net of suitable habitat patches in Natura 2000 sites. The final result will be improved riverine forest stand with an increased amount of dead wood and restored oxbow within the future Ormož Basins nature reserve.

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A year-round grazing system will be established in the restored habitats of Ormož Basins. A total of 33,1 hectares of restored habitats will require grazing management. Grazing will be of low intensity which is acceptable from the conservation point of view. Nominal grazing density will be 0,5-0,7 HBC/ha (HBC = “head of big cattle” meaning 500 kg of live weight). To avoid nests trampling and disturbance of breeding birds, a system of fences will be implemented to create 4 permanent separated grazing units with a total surface of 16,3 ha. Temporary grazing units will be pathways, scarps (1,5 ha) and areas of basins 5 and 6 as well as the “saturation basin” (6,4 ha, 6 ha and 2,9 ha, respectively).
 
After thorough consultations with experts from abroad and consideration of the conditions at site, Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) was selected as the most appropriate animal. There are several locations in the EU where it is possible to buy Water Buffalos for habitat management, while the closest one to our project area is Neusiedler See National Park in Austria. Water Buffalos can graze in water, feed on vegetation that other grazing animals are unable of grazing on (like Carex spp. and Juncus spp.), are very resistant to harsh weather conditions and, in principle, they can graze all year round (including the winter time). If the contact with human is preserved, they retain a peaceful character. A herd of 5 Water Buffalos – 4 cows and 1 bull – will be put to the area.
 
Although the management of Ormož Basins Nature Reserve is foreseen mainly with grazing, tractor with some necessary attachments (trailer, loading forks, logging winch with steel wire rope, snow plough) is also of crucial importance for the successful implementation of some of the concrete conservation actions of this project as well as for the after-LIFE management of the restored project areas.
 
With the establishment of grazing system we will preserve breeding duck populations of the area in the long term and we will improve foraging habitats for migrating shorebirds.

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The restored area of Ormož Basins will be proclaimed a state nature reserve following national legislation (Nature Conservation Act). The size of the nature reserve will be approx. 61 hectares.
 
The wider area of Drava River with its surrounding floodplain forest between Ormož and Središče ob Dravi will be proclaimed as a nature park by both municipalities: Ormož and Središče ob Dravi. Size of the proclaimed area will be approx. 10.9 square km.

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There are six larger platforms in the Croatian part of Lake Ormož which are illegally erected hunting stands. The platforms were most likely erected by local hunters that are using those platforms for hunting waterfowl. Common Terns breed on the platforms due to the lack of the natural nesting sites, but the platforms present ecological traps for them. This negatively influences the population dynamics of the species at SPA Drava in Slovenia. With the help of the Croatian sub-contractor (most probably a conservation NGO selected upon the references) we will achieve that these platforms will be removed during the project through official legal procedures, beginning at the inspectorate in Croatia. Moreover, educational activities will take place in order to inform the interested public in Croatia about the action and to explain its significance. The campaign for the removal of the illegally installed platforms in the Croatian part of the lake will be supported by the production of printed informational and educational materials: 2,000 posters and 2,500 leaflets which will be produced by the end of April 2013 and distributed among Croatian local fishermen, hunters and other local public. The Public Institution for the protection of natural values in Varaždin County, the Directorate for Inspection of Nature Protection and the competent Hunting Inspection will have to collaborate with the sub-contractor due to their legal responsibilities.

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Conservation management of the existing two breeding islands (Small & Large island) for Black-headed Gulls and of the New breeding island for Common Terns will be carried out.
 
Small and Large island will be mown by hand brushcutters (motor scythes), while the existing wood vegetation (willows) will be cut with chain saws. New island will be mown for the first time in September 2014. It will be created in 2013 out of mud that will need one year to become solid. We expect it to become overgrown during the first year. After this first mowing, the gravel layer will be spread over it. In the next years, the island will be thoroughly checked twice a year and any vegetation will be manually removed or mown by hand brushcutters. Timing of this management action will coincide with management of the Small and Large islands– in March and October each year.
 
Result of the action will be a preserved population of 400 pairs of the Black-headed Gull at SPA Drava and in Slovenia that would otherwise decrease to a maximum of 50 pairs. As a result, we also expect that Black-headed Gulls will not expand to the New island created in action C.7 and this is an important precondition to be met for the expected results of C.7 action.

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Three river branches (side arms) of the Drava will be opened and restored. They will be opened at one side to enable inflow of fresh river water, but will be at the same time constructed in a way to function as parallel side arms during the large discharges. All openings will be oriented downstream. Selected branches were naturally connected to river less than 30 years ago but became overgrown or their mouth was filled up with deposits. Besides, removal of an old and unfunctional lateral embankment consolidation in the length of 150 meters will be carried out to enable natural morphological processes on the river bank and in the riparian forest behind. Old data (ortho-photos) from the period when the branches were still alive will be considered when determining the dimensions of the openings. All the excavated gravel will be returned to the riverbed.

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At three selected localities with river banks, which are high enough and suitably steep, the breeding sites for Sand Martin and Kingfisher will be created by removal of vegetation and formation of bare, vertical sandy surfaces at appropriate height directly above the water. The estimated length of river banks suitable for Sand Martin and Kingfisher at three different localities will be approx. 300, 200 and 150 m, respectively.
 
Due to difficult access to the selected locations (access without creating large building sites with significant impact on the surrounding habitats is generally possible only by boat), all the necessary work will be done manually, without using mechanization. After construction, all breeding sites will be maintained on yearly basis if necessary, so that optimal breeding conditions will be provided continuously during the subsequent breeding seasons.
 
Establishment of at least one Sand Martin colony with 50-200 breeding pairs is expected within the three year period following the construction of the breeding sites. At least one pair of Kingfisher is expected to breed at each of the localities (3 new breeding pairs in total). For both species regular occupancy of the sites is anticipated in the long-term.

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At five selected gravel bars that are fairly large (size between 0.79 and 2.67 ha, mean 1.59 ha) and high enough (≥ 1.5 m above the average water level) woody vegetation encroaching the areas of bare shingle will be removed manually. At present more than 50% of their total surface area is covered by this type of vegetation, composed mainly of willows approx. 1.5 to 5 m high. Total surface area of gravel bars included under this action is 7 ha. Selected gravel bars are situated along Maribor-Ptuj (3 localities) and Markovci-Zavrč (2 localities) river sections. Works at all 5 localities will be carried out twice.
 
Based on the results of the first census conducted in 2006, breeding of at least additional 8-10 pairs of Little Ringed Plover is expected after the adoption of proper management of the selected gravel bars, corresponding to a population increase of 30-40% compared to the current numbers. Given that optimal breeding conditions will be provided in the long-term, breeding in such numbers is expected to occur annually, even in years of less favorable water regime.

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At selected localities, the access to gravel bars will be prevented / reduced through: (1) installation of blockades, i.e. gates, heavy barriers etc. or excavation of ditches on roads and tracks leading towards them and (2) setting up of notice boards explaining the purpose of the measure undertaken. The first step is intended to completely prevent access of motor vehicles (cars, motocross motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, tractors etc.), while the second will give the reasons why this is necessary and at the same time discourage people from walking on gravel bars during the breeding season of gravel bar-specialized birds.
 
By this action alone, breeding of at least additional 5-8 pairs of Little Ringed Plover and 4-6 pairs of Common Sandpiper can be expected, corresponding to a population increase of 25% and 15% compared to the current numbers, respectively.

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Mankind has several benefits from sources and processes in natural ecosystems. The benefits are ecosystem services or functions. The specific ecosystem functions that are apparently beneficial to humans are called ecosystem services. But at the same time we cannot exclude any ecosystem functions from this category. Ecosystem services provide life support services for both humans and other species. Recognition and standardization of most important ecosystem services was done by the United Nations study carried out by more than 1,300 researchers from all around the World. Four general ecosystem services were recognised – supply, regulation, support and culture. The term ecosystem is used to denote the biological community together with the abiotic environment in which it is set.
 
Under this action, a cumulative effect of all project activities on all four ecosystem services will be assessed. In fact all ecosystem services are conditioned by biodiversity and interspecific relationships. Larger the biodiversity and the quantity of interspecific interactions, better the ecosystem stability and its services. Therefore, results of all monitoring actions (D.2-D.5) over the project lifetime will be integrated to get a general ecosystem overview.
 
We expect that the ecosystem functions/services will be improved by the implementation of this project and that biodiversity and quantity of interactions will increase in ecosystems under restoration.

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Specific indicators to measure the impact of project actions on bird species are:

Numbers, distributions and general habitat use of breeding and non-breeding populations of project’s targeted bird species in the Lower Drava River project area will be well known at any time of year and stored in a database. The main human-induced threats will be identified and their importance for bird populations at most important localities understood. Precise numbers of Common Tern breeding pairs will be known as well as other parameters necessary for management of breeding islets. All existing river banks and gravel bars will be surveyed annually and their importance for breeding riverbed birds understood, as well as survival of Little Ringed Plover broods and chicks at those sites with regard to human disturbance. Habitat changes during and after the restoration of Ormož Basins Nature Reserve will be quantified and their effect on birds will be evaluated.

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As one of the key groups of species for setting conservation priorities in Europe, the beetles appeared to be very important. Within this project we selected three species, one aquatic (Graphoderus bilineatus) and two saproxylic (Osmoderma eremita, Cucujus cinnaberinus). They are the most relevant for conservation of target riverside habitats. Due to currently poor knowledge on selected species in Slovenia and Europe, we plan to sub-contract a qualified team of researchers to conduct research which is needed for further conservation actions.
 
Considering beetles the expected results of action D.3 will be:
 

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Besides species covered in actions D.2 & D.3, the impact of restoration activities will be assessed (by a team of qualified researchers sub-contracted by DOPPS) on the fish species that are all listed in Annex II of Habitats Directive: Umbra krameri, Aspius aspius, Rhodeus sericeus amarus, Cobitis taenia.
 
For fish species, results will be local densities of particular species in number of individuals/m2 of the river habitat. For Asp, we expect that after the restoration it will be more abundant – more individuals will be caught due to higher juvenile survival. We expect that Umbra krameri, Cobitis taenia and Rhodeus sericeus amarus will populate the restored branches and that in three years after the restoration their local densities will increase.

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The action will be carried out as an analyses of socio-economic indicators at the project beginning and end. The progress and final reports will be produced by the sub-contrator at the end of both stages. From the content point of view, it is expected that project activities will result in the creation of new jobs as well as an improvement of conditions for increasing the potential for sustainable development in tourism (ecotourism) in the region. This will develop additional tourist products and events, and new infrastructure for visitors.

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Notice boards will be prepared and erected at a minimum of 6 sites within the project area and thus:
 

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The project web site will be prepared and published by the end of first three months of the project implementation with the main information about the project and its contents. It will be regularly updated with new project findings, results and documents. On-line streaming of the breeding Common Tern colonies will be periodically published at the web site after the implementation of the actions C.2 and C.7. Before the end of the project, the web site will be finished with adding all the relevant documents, publications and reports, useful for further use of the target audiences and general public.

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Layman’s report will be prepared between July-August 2017, printed in the circulation of 1,000 copies and available on the project web site, aiming to present the results of the project to the public. To focus national and international target groups, it will be prepared as bilingual publication in Slovene and English. Printed version will be mainly used for presentation to the professionals, authorities, stake-holders (including hunters and fishermen) and other interested or directly involved target audiences while for general public and other target groups, the web site availability of Layman’s report is crucial.

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The basic visitor facilities will be set-up in the Ormož Basins Nature Reserve in order to support the long-term conservation project goals and contribute toward improvement of the knowledge about project issues and conservation of the Drava as well as the conservation awareness and the positive relatedness towards nature which can be developed upon the people’s direct contact with nature and additionally:
 

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The action consists of the following activities:
 

The newly established interpretation infrastructure will be promoted by the municipal tourism authorities as a part of the tourism offer with high educational and awareness value.

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One of the most efficient ways of presenting a specific natural area such as the Drava River and the natural processes, values and threats is by using various forms of audiovisual products. One of our project targets is to produce a documentary film, a form specific by its straightforwardness, integrity and comprehension. Result of the action will be:
 

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Two publications are foreseen in the project to cover the main themes and communication target groups, as follows:
 

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Three types of activities targeted at different groups and profiles will be carried out to achieve better knowledge about Natura 2000 area Drava (SPA and SCI) and better possibility for further spreading of this knowledge.
 

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Twenty public presentations and ten public excursions will be carried out. Public presentations will be carried out by the presenter (DOPPS-BirdLife Slovenia staff) using Powerpoint presentations. For this purpose two presentations will be prepared. The first one will contain detailed information about the actions, reasons for them and expected results of LIFE project, whereas the second one will focus on the achieved results of the project. In both presentations extensive information on biodiversity and important fauna, flora and habitat types on SPA and SCI Drava will be given.
 
Public excursions will be led by DOPPS-BirdLife Slovenia staff to those parts of project area where actions will be carried out. Locations of three excursions will be: Lake Ptuj, Lake Ormož and restored area of the future Ormož Basins Nature Reserve.

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In the course of the project, the established system of planning, communicating, supervising and reporting the activities will be used, developed at DOPPS within previous projects, which will enable us to manage and control the project and ensure successful implementation of the foreseen activities. The project will be carried out by the project team.
 
During the project period, four reports will be prepared and delivered to the Commission and monitoring team, as follows:
 

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At least seven river restoration projects have been implemented in the Drava River Basin so far, aimed at restoration of the river dynamics by widening the river bed and reconnecting the former sidearm systems.
 
Within this project, we will be networking with the on-going LIFE projects beneficiaries and partners in Slovenia and Austria. Our planned activities include exchange of experience and cooperation to find more efficient and better solutions to the similar problems we are facing at the Drava.
 
In general, the exchange of the experience will be carried out using modern communication tools, mainly internet, thus also helping to reduce the carbon footprint of the project. To facilitate the communication and to experience the results of other projects, we also plan up to 8 short excursions of the project staff to the project areas of selected projects.
 
At the same time we are open for networking with new or at this stage unknown projects with similar contents.

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An independent auditor will be nominated by the coordinating beneficiary and will verify the financial statements before they are provided to the Commission in the final project report. The audit will verify the respect of national legislation and accounting rules and also certify that all costs incurred respect the LIFE+ Common Provisions.

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After-LIFE Conservation Plan will be produced and annexed to the final report, stating the future conservation measures and tools necessary to assure the achieved project goals are sustained in a long term, particularly the favorable conservation status of the protected species.

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