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Description
The main objective of this project is to restore and expand habitats suitable for the support of rare and protected species and to reduce the occurrence of invasive species in the Bird park Kosteliska (Objective 2.3.1 of National Biodiversity Strategy of the Czech Republic). The bird park has been established in 2020 by acquiring part of the land and starting cooperation with owners of the other estates. The project aims especially at biotopes abutting the fishpond with the main objective of supporting its non-productive functions, primarily the ecostabilization (Objective 3.3.5).
The goal of the project is to use traditional agricultural methods such as grazing or mowing to start effective care of the area and boost a wide selection of habitats ranging from the pond itself, the pond banks, wet meadows and wetlands to dry sandy low hills. The principal activities of the project will be the suppression of invasive plant species and setting up cattle grazing. In some places, slight landscape adjustments will take place to achieve flooding of some areas or to enhance biodiversity and support elimination of invasive species. Although birds are considered to be the priority species of the project, it aims to influence the area so that there are the most favourable conditions for a broad spectrum of plants and animals. Further activities will focus on finding environmentally friendly ways of opening the bird park for visitors (both the residents and nature-loving tourists). The anticipated outcome of the project is a significant improvement to the state of the area including suppression of invasive and expansive species, expansion of naturally valuable habitats, setting up suitable care of the territory and raising greater awareness of the protected area.
Summary of project results
The ten-hectare part of the bird park was originally inaccessible and overgrown with invasive goldenrod (Solidago sp.), but now it is varied and diverse and hosts many species of animals and plants, including rare ones. Thus, the aim of the project was fulfilled, when we wanted to significantly increase biodiversity in the Kosteliska Bird Park on the area of at least 8 ha, to start long-term sustainable management aimed at significant suppression of invasive species, to restore and expand naturally valuable habitats and to improve conditions for rare and protected species of plants and animals. The bird park has become known to the general public as well as the need to protect and care for wetland habitats.
We have restored over 10 hectares of land in the Kosteliska Bird Park and grazing has been initiated. We have created a grazing infrastructure on about 10 ha where we graze cows bought from the project. Regular mowing has started, and currently only areas with denser vegetation and invasive or expansive species are mowed. Dense stands of scrub including invasive trees have been cut down to 1 ha. Cow grazing has been combined with sheep, goat and horse grazing. Ten small pools were created by terrain modelling. In some areas, sod was removed to allow the development of rarer plant species. Dozens of willows were pollarded and new willows were planted. We lightened a dense and dark forest.
A hydrobiological, ornithological, botanical and entomological survey of the area was carried out. Detailed monitoring has shown that the project site is a refuge for an increasing number of species, including some of the rarest in the Czech Republic. An example of this are the findings of the Aesculapian snake, which is the most endangered Czech snake and occurs in islets in a few places.
The project has started a long-term care of an area with high potential for biodiversity support.
As late as 2020, there was still a continuous, inaccessible stand of the invasive goldenrod, where there are now diversified pastures. Over three years of the project, care and restoration has opened up, segmented and lightened the area. Credit for this also goes to the six cows of Hungarian steppe cattle that graze the goldenrod throughout the growing season, from small plants to full bloom. Cattle grazing is efficient, economical, and sustainable. A variety of organisms across groups thrive on it.
On July 18, 2022, a press conference was held at the project sites with the participation of the Minister of the Environment, Ing. Bc. Anna Hubáčková, the director of ČSO, Mgr. Zdeněk Vermouzek, MEP Alexandr Vondra, and others. The purpose of the meeting was to present the discussed EU Nature Restoration Law, which is a crucial milestone in nature protection at the EU level. The project site – the Kosteliska Bird Park – was deliberately chosen as a demonstration site, as restoration has already been successfully underway there thanks to the Norway Grants.