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Description
The aim of the project is restoration of four sites with degraded wetlands - peat bogs and peat bog ecosystems. Model wetland will be reconstructed at school premises in Štiavnické Bane for educational purposes.
The primary purpose of revitalization measures is the restoration of natural processes in peat bog ecosystems and their inherent functions such as free movement of water, accumulation and retention of water in forest ecosystems around peatlands, creation of refugees and breeding sites for amphibians and reptiles, supporting favourable status of wetland habitats and species and improvement of microclimate regulation.
Public awareness campaign will be organized during the Project to increase environmental behaviour mainly of children and students but also layman public. For this purpose two information points will be built as centres of educational activities focused on wetlands.
The project will focus on following target groups:
- General public who will be aware of the importance of wetlands in the fight against climate change,
- Young people who will have knowledge on wetlands and biodiversity and will gain practical experience with the implementation of measures,
- Academics who will be able to implement an improved curriculum for students in the field of science and ecology.
Summary of project results
The Project aimed to address following challenges in the field of climate change adaptation and mitigation:
- enhance of ability of degraded peat bog ecosystems to adapt to climate change,
- restore and preserve of peat bogs unique biodiversity including rare plant species, such as carnivorous species (Drosera rotundifolia),
- scientific and information outputs gathering and assessing data on environmental status of targeted wetlands,
- raise awareness on wetlands among young population, academics and general public.
Following Project activities were implemented within the Project:
- drone and field mapping of initial environmental status of targeted wetlands,
- installation of monitoring net in restored peat bogs gathering environmental data on daily basis,
- restoration of wetlands – peat bogs ecosystems by water retention measures such as wooden thresholds, steps, partitions, road bridging and land management measures such as removal of biomass, removal of overgrown trees, grazing of the territory by sheep and goats,
- elaboration of hydrology studies and publications on wetlands including publication for children,
- awareness raising campaign using 3D model of water retention measures implemented. Four information boards to educate local people on targeted wetlands were installed in Project localities.
Overall, 4 peat bog ecosystems were restored on the area of 214,513.59m2.
The Project improved environmental status of 4 Slovak peat bog ecosystems. More than 60,000 local people benefit from ecosystems improvement measures. Academic and layman publications reached Project target groups such as children, students, general public and experts.
Summary of bilateral results
Bilateral Partner, the Norwegian University of Life Science in Ås (NMBU), provided experience and expertise on the assessment of the impact of the Project on students and the young generation on the perception of the problem of climate change. This social study was applied on Slovak University students directly involved in field research Project activities. Research indicated that taking part in saving the wetland, alongside researchers, is beneficial to support environmental behaviour of young generation and to create “environmental citizens”.Project Partners plan to publish the achieved results of this study in the form of per-review article to share them with academic community worldwide.Bilateral cooperation was strengthened by organizing two trainings for Slovak experts in Norway to share good practice on wetland restoration and environmental education.