Protecting Habitats of the Aquatic Warbler in Rozwarowo Marshes SPA, Poland       

Summary

Restoration of coastal peatlands both reduces nutrient input to the Baltic Sea and is important for biodiversity conservation. The aquatic warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola) is a globally threatened species and of high conservational importance. By bringing together restoration practices and working with creating incentives for landowners to adopt sustainable methods to protect these habitats (through adopting payment schemes), both short-term improvement and long-term improvements are created.

This project aimed to protect the habitats of the aquatic warbler, including typical fauna and flora of mesotrophic fen mires, and to reduce nutrient input into the coastal Baltic Sea waters. This was done by assessing nutrient inputs, improving water management and developing recommendations for modified agri-environmental payments. In total, 124 ha were rewetted by constructing dams, and the foundational inventories, recommendations and models were used to continue the work with a LIFE project proposal.