Wetland restoration - Velka Krcava and Zitavsky luh (Acronym: 2WetRest)

About this project

<p><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif">Project is focused on restoration of two wetlands situated in south-western and south-eastern part of Slovakia (total area of 155 ha). The natural water regime in both sites have been&nbsp; changed in the past&nbsp; decades by regulation of the rivers to prevent the floods and fertilize the agricultural land. Significant areas of alluvial meadows and pastures, permanent and periodical wetlands have been destroyed together with its unique fauna and flora.&nbsp; The traditional farmland was converted to conventional intensive agriculture&nbsp; land. Ground and underground water level has decreased for years, wetlands were degraded, lateral wetland connectivity was interrupted and important non-production environmental functions of wetlands&nbsp; are not filled. &nbsp;Both project areas are attacked by clima change impact especially by droughts and less frequent but&nbsp; dangerous floods.&nbsp; Actual way of water management allow us to simulate the spring floods just partially. We need to implement the project to improve the water regime of both project areas tend restore&nbsp; degraded wetlands. &nbsp;</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif">Expected Project results/outputs are:&nbsp;</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif">- 155 ha of restored wetlands in 2 wetland ecosystems&nbsp; (70 ha&nbsp; in Velka Krcava lake, 85 ha in Zitavsky luh);&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif">- water management infrastructure constructed (2 water sluices/gates constructed, 1 water sluice reconstructed, 1 flow diversion structure, 1 dyke repaired, 3000 m of water channel reconstructed; </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif">- 2 manipulation regulations elaborated and approved;</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif">- 2 wetland habitat and species monitoring reports elaborated;</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif">- 1 awareness raising campaign.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px">Basic target groups of the project are:&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: Calibri">general public&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: Calibri">and the population living in the area targeted by the project.&nbsp; In addition, the project results will prove and provide good practices examples for cooperation between public (state) institutions and no-profit sector (NGOs). </span></span></p>

Project partners

• Slovak Ornithological Society/BirdLife Slovakia Project partner· Slovakia