Conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity in Lake Druksiai: transboundary wetland complex of international importance Priority South Application round 2 Lead partner Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University LITHUANIA,  Vilnius,  Akademijos g. 2 Contact person Tel.: +370 5 272 92 57 Fax: +370 5 272 92 57 Email: ekoi@ekoi.lt Brief summary of the project The project 'Conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity in Lake Druksiai: transboundary wetland complex of international importance' aims to safeguard and enhance the biodiversity of this territory through conservation and sustainable management of the critical habitats and species, and to improve public awareness. High biological diversity is characteristic of Lake Druksiai (shared by Lithuania and Belarus). It is the largest lake in Lithuania, holding types of habitats which are rare in Europe and which are protected according to the EU Directive on Habitats, more than 30 bird species listed in the Annex I of the EU Bird Directive, relict species of crustaceans and fishes, other rare in Europe species of flora and fauna. Lake Druksiai is the cooler of the Ignalina nuclear power station. Functioning of the station and other human loads negatively impacted this internationally important ecosystem. The functioning of the nuclear power station will be stopped in near future following requirements of the European Commission. Closing of the station will cause further impacts on biodiversity in this cross-border area due to new recreational and industrial developments. The objectives of the project are designation of key areas of Lake Druksiai supporting vulnerable species of the European conservation concern, development of the joint biodiversity database and elaboration of necessary conservation recommendations, preparation of the joint nature management plan and improvement of environmental education of local communities. The project will be implemented by the following organizations: Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University, Institute of Botany, Institute of Zoology of Belarusian Academy of Sciences and the public organization 'OMPO Vilnius'. The project will result in detailed inventory and mapping of key habitats of Druksiai wetland complex supporting vulnerable species, joint biodiversity database (including records of all rare species and their conservation recommendations) available for local environmental agencies, development of the joint nature management plan of the whole cross-border site, reduced impacts of the functioning and termination of the nuclear power station on biodiversity and enhanced cooperation among Lithuanian and Belarusian research organizations, authorities and NGOs. It will significantly contribute to implementation of international and EU commitments of Lithuania and Belarus in the field of environmental protection and sustainable development. Project results will be disseminated among local communities and municipalities (Visaginas town, Ignalina and Zarasai Municipalities of Vilnius County, and Braslav District of Vitebst Region), regional and national authorities responsible for conservation and management of Lake Druksiai. Duration 12(9.2005 - 8.2006) Budget (EUR) 49707.00 ERDF contribution: 37280.25 National co-financing EU Member States: 12426.75 INTERREG IIIA Budget of project: 49707.00 Non-eligible financing: .00 Funding from EU programmes for third countries: 40855.00 National co-financing for funding from EU programmes for third countries: 0 National financing (third countries): 0 Private financing (third countries): 0 Total budget: 99462.00 Partners Name of Institution, Town Country Region Contact information Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University LITHUANIA 0 Tel.: +370 5 272 92 57 Email: ekoi@ekoi.lt Institue of Zoology NAS Belarus BELARUS 0 Tel.: + 375 17 284 14 76 Email: nagorskaya@biobel.bas-net.by Institute of Botany LITHUANIA 0 Tel.: +370 5 271 16418 Email: botanika@botanika.lt OMPO Vilnius LITHUANIA 0 Tel.: +370 5 2699761 Email: . Progress report Following the main project aim to ensure the conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity of Lake Druksiai, a set of activities have been implemented during the reporting period. First of all the inventories of the habitats and species of the European Community concern have been completed by the experts of the Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University (IEVU), Institute of the Botany (IB) and the Institute of Zoology of Academy of Sciences of Belarus (IZB). All finding places as well as the most important sites of the territory have been mapped, and this information was a background for the plannnig of the management measures and conservation steps of the site as well as further monitoring of biodiversity of the ecosystem of Lake Druksiai. All collected data have been place into the special database also made by the project experts. The site management plan and monitoring programme for birds also have been completed by the project experts. For the public information on the natural values of the sites as well as dissemination of the project results, the popular brochure have been prepared by the project experts and published for the distribution among the main stakeholders of the region. The poster/calendar also has been published for the introduction of the general public with the site of EU importance. The brochure together with a poster/calendar have been sent to the Zarasai, Ignalina and Visaginas municipalities, nature protection authorities of the national and regional levels, local and national NGOs, scientific institutions, State Border Guarding Authorities, State Forest Enterprise and finally - administration of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant. Close window