Background The deeply indented coastline of Estonia includes several coastal habitat types supporting a rich biodiversity. The key habitats targeted by the project include Nordic alvars, Baltic islets, Baltic coastal meadows, semi-natural dry grasslands (important orchid sites) and coastal lagoons. Dependent on the maintenance of the open character of these habitats are species such as the rare lesser white-fronted goose (Anser erythropus), the corncrake (Crex crex) and the natterjack toad (Bufo calamita). Numerous species of breeding bird and meadow plant are also associated with the mosaic of habitats. In Estonia some 80% of the former area of coastal grassland has been lost in the past 50 years, with the rate of loss accelerating in recent decades. A major reason for this loss is the abandonment of agricultural practices such as mowing, reed cutting and grazing by cattle, sheep and horses. |The re-establishment of traditional land management practices could reverse these negative trends. Some work had already begun to engage local communities and re-establish livestock grazing on the wet meadows, but with more than 1000 hectares to be restored in the Silma area alone, additional help was urgently required. Objectives The project planned to work on three sites: Silma Nature Reserve and the two island reserves Osmussaare Landscape Reserve and Vormsi Landscape Reserve. Together these contain a significant share of the coastal meadow habitat in Estonia. Livestock and machinery would be purchased to help farmers re-instate appropriate levels of mowing and grazing, which would be funded through an annual management fee (co-financing contribution from the Ministry of the Environment). First there was a need to remove the build-up of reed growth and scrub, and to re-excavate overgrown lagoons and shallow meadow depressions. The natterjack toad would be re-introduced to this restored lagoon habitat. Overall the project would improve the habitat on about 1100 ha of coastal meadows, 100 ha of lagoons and 40 ha of small islets. The habitat-based approach over a large area and numerous sub-sites will improve the conditions for the key species targeted and will enhance overall biodiversity. Monitoring of project performance will be based on the indicator species for habitat quality, and the use of GIS will assist with the development of action plans. The project aimed to further develop a system of co-operation with the local community by promoting traditional economic activities, crafts and tourism and by increasing the readiness of the farmers to participate in future agri-environment programmes. Two nature trails, several booklets and a video will be produced to help increase awareness of the value of the habitats and the need for management. All three project sites would become part of the Natura 2000 network. Results Overall, most of the project objectives were achieved. The main results achieved by the project are: - Purchase of livestock and machinery to help farmers to re-instate appropriate levels of mowing and grazing (2 tractors with agricultural equipment, 157 beef cattle, 100 sheep and 7 horses) that helped in the restoration and management of the coastal habitats (coastal meadows, coastal lagoons and alvars). Such purchases should guarantee their continued management in the near future. - Restoration of overgrown lagoons and creation of 10 shallow ponds for natterjack toad (Bufo calamita) reintroduction in Vormsi. - Restoration and management in total of 1100 ha of coastal meadows and 10 ha of shallow lagoons and nearly 50 km of fences were built. Grasslands on small islets were also restored as part of LIFE project actions. - All three project sites have been included entirely to Natura2000 network during the project. - Increasing of the quality of semi-natural coastal grasslands habitats (according with the monitoring actions). Typical coastal grasslands plants’ community with Juncus gerardii, Agrostis capillaris, Eleocharis sp., Scoenus sp., Carex sp., has partly developed on many restored sites. The area and abundance of Phragmitres australis has decreased on all the project sites and the plant species diversity has increased. On the majority of the areas the proportion of grassland bird species, Alauda arvensis, Anthus pratensis, Vanellus vanellus, Tringa totanus, Motacilla flava, has increased and proportionally the reed beds and shrubs species has also decreased. - The creation of a GIS tool used in planning the conservation and management activities of the coastal habitats and that was made openly available on the web. Action plans for the restoration and management were drafted for the three project areas, tested and can be used as best practice examples in similar cases; their basic structure and content was demonstrated to work also for planning the management of larger conservation areas. - The project organised six workshops and two study visits for the farmers and landowners. It also arranged two study trails and created two guides for the Silma and Vormsi project area. A study DVD, “Balance between man and nature”, was also produced (in Estonian with English subtitles).