Project title: The implementation of floating artificial islands for improvement of breeding conditions for waterbirds and increase of biodiversity in fishpond ecosystems
Project number: 3211100016
Project schedule: 2022-2024
Programme: EEA AND NORWAY GRANTS, CZ-ENVIRONMENT, call RAGO
Project coordinator: Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Mgr. Zuzana Musilová, Ph.D.
Project partners: VRV a.s., NINA
Associated partners: AOPK ČR, KÚ JČK, Sev.en Energy AG, MŽP ČR
Contact person: Michaela Kopřivová Stejskalová
Budget: 12 968 000 CZK
Project website: https://ragoostrovy.fzp.czu.cz/en
Abstract:
Intensively managed fishponds are considered the most important breeding habitat for waterbirds as nesting sites as well as for rearing of young. In last decades, environmental change (incl. climate change) has deeply impacted waterbirds’ population dynamics. Most key drivers of population change, such as reproduction success, are strongly affected by environmental conditions on the breeding sites. Importantly, the lack of suitable nesting sites leads to competition for this critical resource. In this context, this project aims to increase the ecological value of man-made wetlands (i.e. mainly fishponds and post-mining water reservoirs) by creating new suitable nesting sites and enhancing the ecological conditions of fishponds to meet the breeding requirement of a group of selected waterbird species (ducks, gulls and terns) of interest. The intervention proposed in this project consists in the implementation of floating artificial islands in intensively managed fishponds through Nature-Based Solutions. These islands will directly provide the actual space for waterbirds to breed on but, importantly, will also create and enhance the entire local ecosystem by supporting the macrophyte vegetation and provide suitable habitat for the development of other fresh water organisms.
Regarding the technical part of this project, the cooperation with the main partner, VRV a.s., is critical to successfully achieve the goals of the project. The partner has developed the artificial islands technology during the previous project regarding the water conditions in reservoirs in Czechia (TH02030633 – utility model 34438). These islands have already been tested and are suitable for implementation in temperate climate zone.