Deliverables

Recommendations on applying the Viva Grass Tool to the farm’s management

The recommendations presented in the document have been developed based on the provided results by Integrated Planning Tool, the experience of testing the Tool application in the 2 farm case study areas, multi-functional farm management plans as well as several rounds of discussions at various stakeholders’ events. The aim of the recommendations is to introduce a wide range of farmers with multi-purpose use of grasslands and highlights socioeconomic benefits of the grassland ecosystem services for farm development by Integrated Planning Tool.

Consolidated recommendations on applying the Integrating Planning Tool to the protected area level is developed and documented

The document is available only in Lithuanian.

Layman report “How much is the grass. Assessing the benefits grasslands provide for human well-being and visualizing them on an innovative GIS tool”

With this intriguing question “How much is the grass” we invite you to think about grasslands from an ecology and market economy perspective. We want you to see grasslands not only as beautiful meadows, but rather as a special service provider – let´s say, similar to your mobile network provider – which provides amazing and sometimes difficult-to-imagine services for us. More about those services and the most important findings and results of the project you can find in this brochure.

Recommendations on nature tourism development for Šilutė district

This paper analyzes the possibilities of Šilutė district municipality for natural tourism development and provides recommendations for improvement of Šilutė district municipal strategic development plan for 2015-2024. Recommendations are being prepared to encourage Šilutė district to develop the region as nature (birding) tourism destination, thus making the most of the area’s potential (birds, water opportunities), and ensuring the quality and preservation of the natural environment that provides these important resources for tourism.

The document is available only in Lithuanian.

Recommendations for Ogre local authority on improvement of local development policy for management of grasslands

Recommendations for Ogre local authority on improvement of local development policy for management of grasslands.

The document is available only in Latvian.

Recommendations for spatial planning documents of Cēsis municipality

The report provides a detailed description of the approaches and methods used in management planning, as well as recommendations of specific landscape management measures.

The document is available only in Latvian.

Management plan for farm Šovītes

In the management plan we provide recommendations, how to take care of the farm when having in mind the concept of ecosystem services. Also, we provide recommendations for better grassland management in terms of wider spectrum of ecosystem services. The plan is available only in Latvian.

 

 

Key findings from assessment of socioeconomic impacts

With this brochure we present key findings from the socio-economic impact assessment of the project activities. The assessment is built on an indicator approach allowing the monitoring of the changes at relevant spatial and administrative units over time. We also reflect on the trade-offs between different agricultural land management options to demonstrate the application of the concept of ecosystem services for viable grassland management planning.

Key findings from monitoring of environmental impacts

During the implementation of the LIFE Viva Grass project, several activities were targeted to improve the environmental conditions of abandoned grasslands in the Baltic States by carrying out restoration works at selected areas. Therefore, one of the project tasks was to monitor and assess systematically the direct and indirect environmental impacts caused by the project activities on grasslands. In 2015, the Initial Environment Report was prepared to benchmark the situation immediately before implementation of the project demo activities. The Initial Environment Report described the project areas with regard to the natural characteristics, land cover and land uses as well as presenting the results from the field work on soil and vegetation assessments. Towards the end of the activities, assessment was carried out to evaluate the change and progress in restoring abandoned grasslands. This brochure presents the key findings from the environmental impact assessment of the project activities.

People’s perception of grassland ecosystems and their services

With this brochure we would like to highlight the importance of people’s understanding and perception of grassland ecosystems and their services. As the project involved a great amount of informing, consulting and engaging with stakeholders to promote multi-functionality of the grasslands, we would like to reflect on the approach and the results achieved about people’s awareness of the issue.

Nature conservation management plan for Kurese nature farm

Project team prepared nature conservation management plan for Kurese nature farm – one of project’s pilot areas.  Kures farm has natural and cultural heritage, which is also the basis for defining the future objectives of farm management. In addition, the management of the farm must take into account the nature’s and heritage’s conservation objectives and the constraints which, on the one hand, restrict activities and, on the other, provide additional opportunities. The plan is available only in Estonian.

LIFE Viva Grass Recommendations on Ecosystem-based Planning and Grassland Management

The recommendations presented here have been developed based on the policy and best practice analysis, the experience of testing the tool application in the 9 case study areas (including farm, municipality and regional level) as well as several rounds of discussions at various stakeholders’ events. The aim of the recommendations is to improve the integrity of the decision-making and governance process for maintaining grassland biodiversity through optimising coordination between nature conservation and rural development policies, as well as integrating an ecosystem-based approach in land use and spatial planning. The recommendations are targeted towards policy-makers from competent authorities, as well as practitioners in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

INTEGRATED PLANNING APPROACH AND “VIVA GRASS INTEGRATED PLANNING TOOL”

With this brochure we give a brief introduction to the integrated planning approach taking into account ecological as well as socio-economic aspects and, to the benefits of considering ecosystem services (contribution of nature to human welfare) in different policy sectors, land use management and development planning. 

We also introduce and invite you to use the “Viva Grass Integrated Planning Tool” (the Tool) – a decision support tool developed in the “LIFE Viva Grass” project to support application of the integrated planning approach in landscape and spatial planning and sustainable grassland management. Furthermore, the Tool also serves an informative and educational purpose, showing the potential of grasslands’ ecosystem services and enabling comparison of different grassland types and evaluation of management practices. 

Saaremaa municipality recommendations: implementing the Green Network at the local level

Grasslands play a key role within green networks. Specifically, less intensified grasslands such as permanent and semi-natural meadows are characterized by a high provision of regulation and maintenance Ecosystem Services (hereinafter “ES”) related with pollination, the maintenance of habitats for key species or global climate regulation through carbon sequestration in vegetation and soils. The provision of multiple ecosystem services ES, understood as multifunctinonality, highlights the role of semi-natural grasslands as relevant elements of the Green Network of Estonia.

The present report aims at: summarizing the extent and conservation status of grasslands in Saaremaa Municipality; assessing the extent, conservation status and supply of ES within and outside of the current Green Network of Saare County (hereinafter GN); proposing scenarios for the inclusion and protection of grasslands in the GN by implementing the County level GN in the Saaremaa Municipality general plan.

Saaremaa Municipality is contributing to the development of the integrated planning tool from the local government perspective and will test the tool by implementing it through its strategic planning processes, specifically by integrating the tool outputs in the drafting process of the GN in the General Plan. The main interest of Saaremaa Municipality is to preserve its nature values and to gain more knowledge on grasslands’ economic growth potential for the local society.

Recommendations on incorporating grassland ecosystem services into environmental management and spatial planning in Lääne County

Grasslands play a key role within green networks. Specifically, less intensified grasslands such as permanent and semi-natural meadows are characterised by a high provision of regulation and maintenance Ecosystem Services (hereinafter “ES”) related with pollination, the maintenance of habitats for key species or global climate regulation through carbon sequestration in vegetation and soils. The provision of multiple ecosystem services ES, understood as multifunctinonality, highlights the role of semi-natural grasslands as relevant elements of the Green Network of Estonia.

The present report aims at: summarising the extent and conservation status of grasslands in Lääne Count; assessing the extent, conservation status and supply of ES within and outside of the current Green Network of Lääne County (hereinafter GN); Proposing scenarios for the inclusion and protection of grasslands in the GN by implementing the County level GN in the municipalities’ general plans; Evaluation of grass-based energy sources.

BIRDING IN LITHUANIA, NEMUNAS DELTA REGION

It is the first Lithuanian Field Guide to birding for everyone interested in birds. The Nemunas Delta region, no doubt, from the ornithological point of view is the most important site in the country, here the majority of bird species found in Lithuania breed, and in the migration periods this region becomes one of the main rest stops for millions of migrating birds. The Field Guide covers 22 areas in Western Lithuania, including 15 falling under the boundaries of the Nemunas Delta Regional Park, 5 sites are in the coastal zone between Kintai and Klaipėda, 2 – in the upper reaches of the Nemunas Delta (Pagėgiai municipality). The areas have been selected based on long term observations in this region by the ornithologists, and the list of notable species was down up according to the latest data. We hope that the detailed information provided in this book about birds in the Nemunas Delta region will facilitate your immerse in the enhancing world of nature.

KEEPING COUNTRYSIDE ALIVE – GRASSLANDS FOR HUMAN WELL-BEING

In this publication we provide inspirational examples how grasslands can be used differently to deliver benefits for social and economic life of local communities in the Baltic States while at the same time, they do not harm the ecosystem. We hope that the reader will take a new look at grasslands. Publication is available only in Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian.

HOW DO GRASSLANDS BENEFIT HUMANS: INTRODUCTION TO GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

With this small brochure, we would like to prove that the perception of grasslands only as an animal fodder provider, or just as a biodiversity pool, is rather narrow-minded. There are many other benefits, which we usually do not notice in our busy lives. Scientists have granted them the name “ecosystem services”. The aim of the brochure is to introduce the reader to the concept of ecosystem services, with particular emphasis on grasslands. We hope that the brochure will help you discover new aspects of grasslands, which you probably knew but maybe did not pay attention to! Now, go to the nearest meadow or pasture and look at it with fresh eyes and a different mind!

Potential for biomass and energy production from semi-natural grasslands in Lääne County

Although the area of semi-natural grasslands in Estonia has been progressively decreasing since the 1940s, there is still a considerable area and diversity of semi-natural grasslands. Only in Lääne County, 10 types of semi-natural grassland habitats are found.

REPORT “ASSESSMENT OF SEMI-NATURAL GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT DURING THE LAST 20 YEARS IN LÜMANDA MUNICIPALITY”

In the report “Assessment of semi-natural grassland management during the last 20 years in Lümanda municipality” we analysed the implemented measures on the grasslands management in Estonia and in
the former Lümanda municipality during the last 20 years. Analysis, based on interviews with stakeholders (farmers, land-owners, nature conservation, tourism, politicians, planners etc.) on values of
semi-natural grasslands and management practices, was compiled. Also trends in socio-economic parameters of municipality and reflection of semi-natural grasslands, and their management measures
in the strategic documents (spatial plans, management plans etc.) were analysed. Recommendations for a long-term management measures for semi-natural grasslands were compiled.