Western part of Dainava forest LT05

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1 Western part of Dainava forest LT05 Contents Western part of Dainava forest LT05... Description of the area... Merkinė - Lizdai... Radyščius Vilkiautinis... Status of the target species... 2 Restoration activities... 3 Created aquatic habitats... 3 Restored aquatic habitats... 4 Building dams... 5 Restoring terrestrial habitats... 6 Designation of new Natura Release of E.orbicularis juveniles... 8 Description of the area Merkinė - Lizdai Hilly area with small agricultural fields, meadows and natural overgrown depressions close to Merkinė town, was planned to restore a cluster of ponds. Mainly forested landscape to the north from Merkinė town, with some wetlands, forming a natural corridor in the forest, no habitat restoration activities planned in this part. Radyščius Vilkiautinis Most of the area is open with arable land, meadows, pastures and a bigger part with abandoned places around Radyščius village. Single farms are situated in this area. The area consists of several different types of wetlands. Natural ponds are mainly overgrown and dried out. One huge wetland (a melioration ditch which was dammed a few decades ago currently the main habitat of Vilkiautinis turtle population ( , (WGS)) combined

2 with a lot of close open places and sunny slopes are located here. Most of the slopes are densely overgrown with meadow vegetation and others and aren't suitable as nesting sites for turtles. The slopes become overshadowed by pine trees and shrubs. Status of the target species There are 5 places where the local people observe turtles between Merkinė and Lizdai in the last decade. The sizes of the turtle populations are very small with few single individuals. Most of the local populations have a conservation status of 5 (nearly extinct) or even nowadays 6 (extinct). The habitats are naturally overgrowing. In Radyščius - Vilkiautinis for situation at northern border of species distribution quite big local turtle population, with the current data can be estimated more than 50 individuals (adults as well as some subadults and juveniles). Despite of the good population size the local population has a conservation status of 2 due to the big risk of fishing activities. The local population of the huge wetland ( , (WGS), Vilkiautinis turtle population) is known over a longer period. Local people notice turtles sometimes. Especially the fishermen observe and catch turtles regularly. Presumably a bigger number of turtles die in basket traps for fishes or after hurting with a fishing hook. Before this wetland was created local people used to notice the turtles in the surrounding natural wetlands, which are overgrown nowadays. The first individual registration in 20 indicates a bigger population with a different age structure which isn't typical for northern populations. More investigations are needed for the clarifications of the current status of the Vilkiautinis-population. Apart from the intensive fishing activities in one part of the wetland the general situation of the big wetland is quite favourable. Some parts of the wetland are densely overgrown but still a lot of parts are (more) open and consists of adequate habitat structures for the turtles for fulfilling their habitat requirements the whole year round. Possible and used nesting sites are close to the big wetland but many of them are quite unsuitable because of the locality, the substrate and the vegetation around. The turtles often lay eggs on the surrounding gravel roads. This indicates a lack of adequate egglaying sites.this population has probably the function as source population for the much smaller or even extinct neighbouring populations e.g. Bardziunai. There is a population of Bombina bombina in Radyščius village ( , (WGS)), also some individuals are found in the wetland of Vilkiautinis turtle population and the small wetlands around it. Breeding success of a small population of Triturus cristatus is observed in the small wetlands around Vilkiautinis wetland (the wetlands are rather overgrown). Rana lessonae form big populations there. Lacerta agilis is found on the sandy slopes. 2

3 Restoration activities Created aquatic habitats Table. Created aquatic habitats C No. Name of a pond Coordinates (WGS) Water surface (m 2 ) Max. depth 0 V , ,5 Radyščius , ,5 Radyščius 2a , ,5 Radyščius 2 b , ,5 Radyščius 2c , ,4 3

4 Restored aquatic habitats Table 2. Restored aquatic habitats C2 No. Name of a pond Coordinates (WGS) Size(m 2 ) Depth(m) Radyščius A , ,5 4

5 Building dams Table 3. Damming of ditches C3 No. Name of a dam Coordinates (WGS) Coordinates (WGS) Time of building 2M 54, , spring 2 Radyščius patvanka 54, , winter 5

6 Restoring terrestrial habitats Table 4. Creating of egg laying sites No. Name of an egg laying site Coordinates (WGS) Coordinates (WGS) Time of restoring Egg laying site 54, , autumn 2 Radyščius vėžlių dėtavietė 54, , winter 3 Radyščius A vėžlių dėtavietė 54, , winter 4 Radyščius 2 vėžlių kiaušinių dėtavietė 54, ,06563 winter 6

7 Designation of new Natura2000 The main turtle pond of Radyščius Vilkiautinis was proposed as a new Natura2000, however it was not possible to convince the landowners to establish protected area there. In the Steering Committee meeting it was decided that at the current stage no constraint for the landowners should be used, so the data for designating Natura 2000 is transfered to MoE. MoE, as responsible institution, will send official notes to the landowners, explaining, what are the responsibilities and benefits from strictly protected species that lives in their land. If after communication with the landowners they become more positive towards designation of protected area Natura2000 will be designated. 7

8 Release of E.orbicularis juveniles 3 juveniles of E.orbicularis hatched in 20, 7 hatched in 202 and 6 hatched in 203 were released to the main turtle pond of Radyščius Vilkiautinis to be sure that the first hibernation will be successful. The restored habitas are in a distance of few hundred meters, so the turtles can find them easily. 8