NATURA 2000 SITES IN POLAND AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE FUNCTIONING OF FARMS

The paper described the network of Natura 2000 sites in Poland, the state of spending funds on Package 4. “Valuable habitats and endangered species of birds in Natura 2000 sites of the Agri- -environmental-climate measure implemented under the RDP 2014-2020” (Package 4. of the AECM under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020) as of 31.12.2017 and also assessed the functioning of farms belonging to beneficiaries of this package against a background of farms from outside Natura 2000 sites, which kept accounts for the Polish FADN in the years 2015-2017. It has been determined that, in Poland, the share of areas covered by the Natura 2000 network in the land area of the country is 19.6%, however, in the case of voivodeships and districts, it is varied. In addition, it has been determined that the state of spending funds under Package 4 has, so far, been PLN 518.8 million and has accounted for 29.6% of total funds spent as part of the AECM under the RDP 2014-2020. It turned out that farms belonging to beneficiaries of Package 4, against a background of other farms which kept accounts for the Polish FADN in the years 2015-2017, were characterised, inter alia, by lower production intensity and lower productivity of production factors. Moreover, those farms obtained lower income per 1 ha of UAA. Analyses have been carried out based on the data from the General Directorate for Environmental Protection, the Central Statistical Office in Warsaw, the Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture, the Polish Farm Accountancy Data Network (Polish FADN) and the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation National Research Institute

Retos y experiencias de restauración fluvial en el ámbito de la Red Natura 2000

Este libro recoge las ponencias de las jornadas tituladas Gestión y restauración de la Red Natura 2000 en el ámbito fluvial. Retos, oportunidades y experiencias que, organizadas por el Centro Ibérico de Restauración Fluvial (CIREF) y Wetlands International, se celebraron el 14 de septiembre de 2017 en Busturia, en el corazón de la Reserva de la Biosfera de Urdaibai. El CIREF es una asociación sin ánimo de lucro que nació en 2008 bajo el impulso de personas relacionadas con la investigación, gestión y conservación de los ríos desde el ámbito académico y de la administración, siguiendo el ejemplo de otros países como Inglaterra (River Conservation Center, RCC), Italia (Centro italiano per la Riqualificazione fluviale, CIRF) o Dinamarca (Danish Centre for River Restoration, DCVR) y otros, con quienes conformamos el European Centre for River Restoration (ECRR). La conservación y restauración de los ecosistemas fluviales es, sin lugar a dudas, uno de los grandes retos ambientales actuales. Los ríos, arroyos y ramblas ibéricos se encuentran, en mayor o menor medida, alejados de su nivel óptimo ecológico. De hecho, en la Península Ibérica al menos una tercera parte de estos ecosistemas están fuertemente degradados, tanto en su estructura como en su funcionamiento. A pesar de los importantes avances realizados en la depuración de las aguas, la afección morfológica de los ríos y llanuras de inundación no sólo es grave, sino que continúa en la actualidad. Así, han desaparecido el 60% de los humedales y miles de kilómetros de llanuras de inundación que podrían ayudar a reducir, por ejemplo, los efectos de las inundaciones. A estas alteraciones se han de sumar el elevado número de embalses y azudes que modifican notablemente el hábitat, provocan la alteración del régimen hidrológico y fragmentan la continuidad de ríos y arroyos

Grazing exclusion and vegetation change in an upland grassland with patches of tall herbs

Questions The hydrophilous tall herb community is an important refuge for grazing‐sensitive broad‐leaved flowering plants. It is distributed throughout upland Europe but overgrazing has contributed to an unfavourable conservation status. To guide tall herb restoration, we asked: (a) Does using grazing exclusion where the tall herb habitat is confined to cliff ledge patches promote an expansion into the grassland below? (b) Does this management negatively affect vascular plant diversity? Location Ben Lawers NNR, Scotland. Methods Large herbivores have been excluded from a 180‐ha area containing patches of outcrops rich in tall herb habitat. Using 1999 and 2017 surveys of permanent plot transects located in the grassland below (Before–After design), we quantify impacts on community composition and tall herb abundance. Results Species diversity remained constant although total species richness declined slightly and tall herb species richness increased significantly. There was a large expansion in tall herb cover (+29.67%) and a corresponding decrease in grass cover (−26.16%), as well as smaller increases in bryophytes and small herbs and a reduction in bare ground. Community composition shifted significantly from species typical of upland calcareous grassland towards those found in tall herb habitats. Seven tall herb species were amongst those showing the greatest increase in cover, along with taller grasses and understory herbs. Grazing tolerant grasses and low‐growing, prostrate and annual herbs decreased. Competition for light, rather than resilience to herbivory, now has a major influence on the vegetation. Conclusions Using grazing exclusion where the tall herb habitat is largely confined to patches on cliff ledges facilitates an expansion into the upland grassland below. Although this management favours species tolerant of shadier conditions, there is no evidence of a negative impact on vascular plant community composition. It is therefore an effective strategy for promoting the restoration and favourable condition of this grazing‐sensitive habitat