12.06.2023
The Rail Baltica project will entail the restoration of forest habitats as one of the environmental compensation measures. AS Projekteerimisbüroo Maa ja Vesi won the design tender for the first areas for habitat restoration, organised in cooperation with the State Forest Management Centre.
From 2018 to 2021, Rail Baltic Estonia commissioned an extensive study of the wildfowl population in Southern Pärnumaa by the Estonian Ornithological Society, with the aim of collecting data that would help alleviate the pressure on the habitats of protected bird species and restore them even before the construction of Rail Baltica. The research, conducted over three years on nearly 10,000 hectares, provided a better picture of where the wildfowl habitats and play areas of Southern Pärnumaa are located, how the birds move, what already affects them today, and how the arrival of the new railway could affect them.
“We have finally reached the first design agreement, which will allow us to move forward with the restoration of wild habitats after the design. It is important that in an area where an estimated two percent of Estonia's wild population is located, this Category II protected species is taken into account even before the railway is designed and built,” said Rail Baltic Estonia's Environmental Manager Kart Mae"These are the first so-called springboard areas to ensure forest coherence between different forest populations. It is likely that restoration work will also need to be carried out in other springboard areas in the region, but the more precise need and scope will become clear during the impact assessments," Mae added.
The works intended to improve the wild habitat will be completed after the design process is completed. The areas are located on state land, and RMK is carrying out nature conservation work on state land.
"The design gives us an accurate overview of the condition of the ditches in the area and the certainty that closing the ditches will improve the water regime to the planned extent. The aim of the wetland restoration is to improve the condition of wildlife habitats so that wildlife can better adapt to the disturbance caused by the construction of the railway line and have enough suitable space to live and play," said the head of the RMK Nature Conservation Department Coffee Shop.
A design contract was signed by RMK with Design Office Maa ja Vesi AS for the restoration of two permanent forest habitats in Pärnu County. The contract value is 41,224 euros.
The aim of the projects to restore the natural water regime in both the Lodja permanent forest habitat in Saarde municipality and the Nepste permanent forest habitat in Häädemeeste municipality is to mitigate and compensate for the negative impacts on the forest in southwestern Pärnu County caused by the construction of the Rail Baltic high-speed railway in such a way that the favourable conservation status of the Luitemaa – Laiksaare subpopulation of the forest is maintained. To achieve this, it is necessary to restore the natural water regime in both locations.
The object located in Saarde rural municipality is located on state land and its area is 213 hectares, the length of the object's ditch network is 17,5 km. The object located in Häädemeeste rural municipality is located on state land and its area is 137 hectares, the length of the object's ditch network is 9,5 km.
After design work, which will be completed in 2024, habitat restoration work is expected to begin in 2025.
The population of wild habitats has declined everywhere. While in 2004 the number of wild roosters in South Pärnu County was estimated at 45-60 individuals, according to the latest censuses, 30 males are playing in the studied area. There are an estimated 1300 wild roosters in Estonia as a whole. The number of male birds provides a simple indication of the viability of the population. The main reason for the loss of wild habitats is increased human activity, such as logging and forest drainage. Predation also reduces the number of wild roosters.
Wild habitat restoration work is funded to the tune of 85% from the Connecting Europe Facility.
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12.06.2023
The Rail Baltica project will entail the restoration of forest habitats as one of the environmental compensation measures. AS Projekteerimisbüroo Maa ja Vesi won the design tender for the first areas for habitat restoration, organised in cooperation with the State Forest Management Centre.
From 2018 to 2021, Rail Baltic Estonia commissioned an extensive study of the wildfowl population in Southern Pärnumaa by the Estonian Ornithological Society, with the aim of collecting data that would help alleviate the pressure on the habitats of protected bird species and restore them even before the construction of Rail Baltica. The research, conducted over three years on nearly 10000 hectares, provided a better picture of where the wildfowl habitats and play areas of Southern Pärnumaa are located, how the birds move, what already affects them today, and how the arrival of the new railway could affect them.
“We have finally reached the first design agreement, which will allow us to move forward with the restoration of wild boar habitats. It is important that in an area where an estimated two percent of Estonia's wild boar population is located, this Category II protected species is taken into account even before the railway is designed and built,” said Rail Baltic Estonia's Environmental Manager Kärt Mae. “These are the first so-called springboard areas to ensure forest coherence between different wild boar populations. It is likely that restoration work will also have to be carried out in other springboard areas in the region, but the more precise need and scope will become clear during the impact assessments,” added Mae.
The works intended to improve the wild habitat will be completed after the design process is completed. The areas are located on state land, and RMK is carrying out nature conservation work on state land.
“The design gives us an accurate overview of the condition of the ditches in the area and the certainty that closing the ditches will improve the water regime to the planned extent. The aim of the wetland restoration is to improve the condition of wildlife habitats so that wildlife can better adapt to the disturbance caused by the construction of the railway line and have enough suitable space to live and play,” said Kaupo Kohv, Head of the Nature Conservation Department of RMK.
A design contract was signed by RMK with the Design Office Maa ja Vesi AS for the restoration of two permanent forest habitats in Pärnu County. The contract value is 41224 euros.
The aim of the projects to restore the natural water regime in both the Lodja permanent forest habitat in Saarde municipality and the Nepste permanent forest habitat in Häädemeeste municipality is to mitigate and compensate for the negative impacts on the forest in southwestern Pärnu County caused by the construction of the Rail Baltic high-speed railway in such a way that the favourable conservation status of the Luitemaa – Laiksaare subpopulation of the forest is maintained. To achieve this, it is necessary to restore the natural water regime in both locations.
The object located in Saarde rural municipality is located on state land and its area is 213 hectares, the length of the object's ditch network is 17,5 km. The object located in Häädemeeste rural municipality is located on state land and its area is 137 hectares, the length of the object's ditch network is 9,5 km.
After design work, which will be completed in 2024, habitat restoration work is expected to begin in 2025.
The population of wild habitats has declined everywhere. While in 2004 the number of wild roosters in South Pärnu County was estimated at 45-60 individuals, according to the latest censuses, 30 males are playing in the studied area. There are an estimated 1300 wild roosters in Estonia as a whole. The number of male birds provides a simple indication of the viability of the population. The main reason for the loss of wild habitats is increased human activity, such as logging and forest drainage. Predation also reduces the number of wild roosters.
Wild habitat restoration work is funded to the tune of 85% from the Connecting Europe Facility.
How did this story make you feel?
