Project number: 3201200003
Project title: Targeted support for endangered butterfly species based on a combination of flexible habitat management and evaluation of detailed biological data
Donor (program): Státní fond životního prostředí – Norway grants 2014 - 2021
Call: SGS-1 RONDANE
Lead Partner of the project: CZU
Project partners: EKOCENTRUM PODHOUBÍ A EKOŠKOLKA ROZÁRKA, mateřská škola, z.ú. and RNDr. DI Karel Cerny – Gerichtlich beeideter Sachverständiger für Ökologie und Insektenkunde (Rakousko)
Project coordinator: Mgr. Tomáš Kadlec, Ph.D. and Ing. Michal Knapp, Ph.D.
Project adminstration: Ing. Jana Vorlová Kortanová
Schedule: 5/2021 - 04/2024
Total budget: 5 670 396 CZK
Project webpage: www.mistopromotyly.cz
Abstract:
The proposed project aims to support five declining species of diurnal butterflies in Prague. The project will contribute to solve the issue of declining insect biodiversity in the open habitat matrix, i.e., in common landscape outside of protected areas.
While most of the protected areas are provided with adequate habitat management, the surrounding landscape suffer from increasing land-use intensity or, on the contrary, sites are degraded (overgrown). As a result, protected areas become isolated islands within a hostile matrix.
We realize the huge conservation potential of various sites with the open landscape matrix, which can be realized through the improvement of existing sites or the creation of completely new high-quality habitats. We want to further increase the effectiveness of both approaches by applying flexible habitat management, based on detailed knowledge of the species biology. Flexible management is a feedback process, where the form of management interventions (their timing and spatial distribution) is a response to the current situation at the site and to the population trends of target species. Such an approach enhances the conservation potential of sites more efficiently compared to management based on a preestablished plans.
Within the project, Czech and foreign partners with extensive experience in the areas of habitat management, insect ecology research, implementation of environmental education and practical nature conservation or its popularization will collaborate.
The project will not only contribute to the support of populations of target species but also will gain publicity to modern nature conservation approaches and will ensure effective education.