RomânăThe team of the our project LIFE FOR MARSH has participated in the final conference of the Anglesey and Llyn LIFE Project, implemented by Natural Wales Resources, which took place between the 9th and 11th of October 2013 in the United Kingdom. The action is part of the experience exchanges with other LIFE projects (F3), aimed at taking advantage of the lessons learned through other similar initiatives. The management team of the LIFE project in Wales also invited another two project from Germany and Poland, a special networking opportunity for the Carpathian Foundation specialists.
The conference had as main purpose the presentation of successful restoration techniques, which led to a favorable conservation status of the fen habitats, previously neglected. The conference program was constituted of case studies, presentations, discussions and site visits, all being a lively proof of the success of this project.
Each day started with theoretical presentation on the main topics, followed by site visits for illustration purposes. The first day was dedicated to the theme of grazing, the process of getting the farming community on board, including a grazer’s perspective and vegetation management, including burning, large scale mowing and hand strimming, peat re-profiling and excavation. Moreover, Michael Zauft presented the LIFE Kalkmoor Brandenburgs project, implemented in Germany, another source of positive experiences in fens conservation, with viable solutions. In the after-noon, the Cors Goch National Nature Reserve, managed by North Wales Wildlife Trust was visited, in order to observe good quality alkaline and calcareous fens relatively undisturbed in a UK context.
The second day was centered on the hydrological management of the fens and getting the right water levels in the right places. It also introduced the example of the mega-scale restoration of alkaline and calcareous fen communities undertaken in Cae Gwyn, where a site visit was carried on. Lunch was served on-site together with the local farmers at the burger van financed by the project, an innovative method to attract farmers and graziers. Then, the specialists traveled to the Cors Bodeilio site, to see the sample surfaces instituted there, in order to study water connections and balance, grazing common land and nutrient stripping. In the evening. photographs taken on site by local school children were exhibited, accompanied by traditional music and a taste of the local snacks.
The last day captured the benefits of ecosystem services, brought by a fen and how restoration and maintenance of ecosystems can work with business and provide the services both require. Additionally, the sketch of the way the AFTER-LIFE plan will ensure the sustainability of this initiative was made.
This experience exchange proved to be extremely beneficial, as the practical knowledge shared by the Anglesey and Llyn project team can be transformed in successful replicas, by means of adaption to the Romanian context.
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