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Description
The aim of the ROTATE Action is to support the biodiversity of organisms associated with traditional forms of forest management (coppicing, pollarding, leaf litter removal) in Central and Northern Europe. Interdisciplinary approach will ensure overcoming of existing barriers that prevent the introduction of knowledge into practice. The outputs will be processed in the form of scientific publications, workshops and conferences and in the form of an approved methodology that will reflect the needs of application guarantors. A wider transfer into practice and sustainability beyond the project is expected, which will be guaranteed by several application guarantors. The outputs will include monitoring of selected groups of organisms and ensuring long-term care of selected sites.
Summary of project results
The ROTATE project aimed to address the decline of many species in woodlands and the loss of traditional knowledge of forest practices due to socioeconomic changes in the 20th century. The ROTATE project aimed to support biodiversity in Central and Northern Europe by reintroducing the traditional forest management practices like coppicing, pollarding, and leaf litter removal.
The project established new monitoring plots in selected biologically valuable areas to study the impact of traditional forest management methods such as leaf litter removal on endangered butterfly species. Additionally, they conducted a socio-economic survey of farmers to assess their attitudes towards a government-subsidized pollarding program and worked on a methodology for conservationists on the importance of traditional forest practices for biodiversity in lowland forests.
The researchers prepared a methodology for reservationists about traditional management in forests, published scientific articles on the importance of these practices and created numourous other popularization materials, such as videos, film, book etc. The knowledge from this project can by used by the scientific community, students, conservationists, farmers, regions and general public.
Summary of bilateral results
The project would not have been successful without bilateral cooperation. Bilateral research and collaboration has strengthened the knowledge of all involved actors and strengthened the bilateral relations that can lead to continued cooperation.