LIFE III – NATURE

Project summary

Project title : Conservation of otter population ( Lutra lutra) in Goričko – Phase 1

Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) has been listed as an endangered species in the Bern Convention (Appendix II), as well as in the FFH Directive (The Council Directive 92/43/EEC), Annex II and Annex IV; hence special protection measures for the species have to be ensured.
According to data collected so far in Slovenia the most continuous and viable population of Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in the country seems to live in its north-eastern part, Goričko. It is of vital importance for its viability to assure the permeability of habitat and movement corridor across the State border to the west (Styria - Austria) and to the east (Hungary). The greatest threat to the corridor mentioned is interfering »black« corridor, consisted of the main road and recently constructed Interstate railway section with its indirect impacts to natural otter habitats. Additional threats are degraded habitats due to the agro-operational works, including ameliorations and regulations of watercourses which took place in last decades. Ecological needs of the otter have not been taken into consideration sufficiently by the spatial planners in the course of the operations.
Lutra lutra is also an umbrella species for freshwater ecosystems and, with its characteristic outlook, it could play an important role as a flagship species in protection of freshwater habitats and living environment in widest sense.
The main activities of the project are focused to two directions: to improve the habitats of the otter and the permeability of its movement corridors in one hand, and to assure habitats of good quality in “otter havens” in the valley of the river Mala Krka, which runs parallel to the main corridor and where an Visiting centre with educational path and other educational and public awareness activities will be situated.
Objective
To assure the viable population of Lutra lutra by maintaining and restoring its habitats in a favourable conservation status in the area of future Nature Park Goričko.
Estimation of actual population size of Lutra lutra in the Slovenian part of Trilateral Joint Nature Park Goričko in course of establishing.
To preserve, improve and safeguard the connectivity of main habitats of Lutra lutra population and its movement corridors over common territory in Austria, Slovenia and Hungary.
To maintain and enhance the biological diversity of freshwater habitats in target area.
To urge local and regional authorities to implement the conservation measures for the otter in all necessary levels of regional development plans.
To use Lutra lutra as a flagship species for raising public awareness on the importance and ecological role of the otter for the conservation of freshwater ecosystems and to contribute to the environmental education on a wider scale.
To present the implementation of the EU conservation and environment legislation, including FFH Directive, Water Framework Directive, the network of Natura 2000 sites and project OHNE (Otter Habitat Network Europe) in everyday praxis.
Actions and means involved
Survey of Lutra lutra, its habitats, additional inventory of fauna, flora and habitat types in freshwater ecosystems of target area;
Determination and mapping of “black points” along otter movement corridor and putting out action plan for improving them;
Actual implementation of mitigation and protecting measures on otter migrating corridor;
Estimation of the size of otter population, its structure and distribution in the target area by regular monitoring and a DNA fingerprinting method;
Establishment of Visiting centre with educational path and other accompanying actions (exhibition, public awareness campaign, action “Friendship with the otter”, multimedia CD-ROM presentation, otter hotline, information points etc.);
Expected results
Viable population of Lutra lutra and favourable conservation status of its habitats in the area of future Nature Park Goričko.
Functional movement corridor of good permeability for Lutra lutra between Austria, Goričko (Slovenia) and Hungary;
Improved knowledge of the otter population and its transboundary connections in target area;
Higher public awareness level concerning the otter, its role and meaning for preservation of freshwater ecosystems in the local and regional scale.
From a pSCI for the otter a SAC (for later NATURA 2000 site) will be proposed and the area monitored.

Functional Visiting centre with public awareness activities regarding conservation of species Lutra lutra and proper methods of maintaining its habitats.

Total project costs : 1.050.780 EUR

Co-financiers’ contribution : 367.291,00 EUR (34,95%)

Applicant's share of project costs : 157.498,50 (14,99%)

EU contribution : 456.243,50 EUR (43,42%)

Partners’ share of project costs : 69.747,00 EUR (6,64%)

Budget item	Total costs EURO
1. Personnel	615.828,00
2. Travel	30.598,00
3. External assistance	92.588,50
4. Durable goods	102.450,00
5. Land purchase/lease	0,00
6. Consumable material	119.950,00
7. Other costs	53.608,00
8. Overheads	35.758,00
TOTAL	1.050.780,50

PROJECT AREA

THREATS

Threat 1: Degradation of habitats and movement corridors

Threat 2: Pollution of waters

Threat 3: Habitat fragmentation and degradation by transport infrastructure (roads, railway)

Threat 4: Road kills

Threat 5: Drowning in underwater traps

Threat 6: Insufficient knowledge about the distribution, threats and conservation demands of the otter in the wider territory of Slovenia and especially Goričko

Threat 7: Insufficient information about otter presence in target area

Threat 8: Insufficient cross border co-operation with neighbouring countries (Austria and Hungary)

Threat 9: Increasing frequency of damage cases done by the otters in fishponds

Threat 10: The ecological demands of Lutra lutra are not taken into consideration

Threat 11: Law level of public awareness regarding conservation of endangered species

Project objectives:

▪ Conservation of viable population of Lutra lutra by maintaining and/or restoring of its habitats at a favourable conservation status in the area of future Nature Park Goričko.

▪ Estimation of the number of individuals of Lutra lutra in the Slovenian part of Trilateral Nature Park Goričko as precisely as possible according to the modern methods applied.

▪ To preserve, improve and secure the connectivity of main migrating and habitat corridors of Lutra lutra in the population sharing the common territory with Austria, Slovenia and Hungary.

▪ To maintain and conserve the biological diversity of freshwater habitats in target area.

▪ To urge local and regional authorities to implement the conservation measures for the otter in the development plans.

▪ To improve and assure the coexistence between local people and the otter in the target area.

▪ To rise the level of public awareness regarding nature conservation and endangered animal species with the emphasis on Lutra lutra, to spread the idea of otter conservation among local people and link it up with the public attitude toward freshwater ecosystems.

▪ To contribute to the sustainable development, development of ecotourism in accordance with nature conservation principles and proposed Natura 2000 site.

▪ To use Lutra lutra as a flagship species for raising public awareness on the importance and e cological role of the otter for conservation of freshwater ecosystems and to contribute to the environmental education on a wider scale.

▪ To present the implementation of the EU conservation and environment legislative in the specific case of otter conservation.

▪ To contribute to project OHNE (Otter Habitat Network Europe) established by German Campaign for Otter Protection (Aktion Fischottershutz e. v.)

▪ To implement the idea of Natura 2000 and designate a special conservation area (later an SAC/ Natura 2000 site) for the otter.

ACTIONS

ACTION A.1 : Detailed survey of otter population with qualitative analysis of otter habitats, determination and mapping of critical points on the corridor in the territory of Goričko
ACTION A.2: Establishment of the Steering Committee and designation of the responsible person
ACTION A.3: Additional inventory of fauna, flora and habitat types of freshwater ecosystems (standing and running waters) in target area
ACTION A.4: Determining water quality and survey of pollutants

ACTION A.5: Action plan for mitigating measures on the estimated critical points in the otter habitats and within its moving corridor

Action	1. Personnel	2. Travel	3. External assistance	4. Durable goods	5. Land purchase/ lease	6. Consumable material	7. Other costs	8. Overheads	TOTAL
A1	36740,00	5475	0	42150	0	3750	4150	4850	97115,0
A2	3040,00	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3040,0
A3	15840,00	3995	0	0	0	0	0	1216	21051,0
A4	41092,00	4635	15120	5500	0	520	525	3620	71012,0
A5	10740,00	0	0	0	0	70	0	1052	11862,0
Total costs, EURO	107452	14105	15120	47650	0	4340	4675	10738	204080

ACTION C.1: Setting the marking objects for Lutra lutra
ACTION C.2: Otter (Lutra lutra) - spraints fingerprinting
ACTION C.3: Setting the OTTER traffic signs of warnings
ACTION C.4: Mitigation measures in Community Moravske Toplice
ACTION C.5: Mitigation measures and improvement of otter habitats in Community Gornji Petrovci
ACTION C.6: Mitigation measures in Community Dobrovnik
ACTION C.7: Mitigation measures in Community Kobilje
ACTION C.8: Mitigation measures in Community Kuzma
ACTION C.9: Mitigation measures in Community Cankova
ACTION C.10: Mitigation measures in Community Puconci
ACTION C.11: Mitigating measures in Community Hodoš
ACTION C.12: Mitigation measures in Community Šalovci
ACTION C.13: Nature observation spot in Community Rogašovci

Action	1. Personnel	2. Travel	3. External assistance	4. Durable goods	5. Land purchase/ lease	6. Consumable material	7. Other costs	8. Overheads	TOTAL
C1	4780,00	156	1100	0	0	900	0	0	6936,00
C2	22760,00	440	0	0	0	16100	0	1380	40680,00
C3	5600,00	144	1650	4500	0	1400	0	0	13294,00
C4	5060,00	0	1100	0	0	2000	0	0	8160,00
C5	23480,00	1430	6012,5	0	0	4600	0	100	35622,50
C6	20160,00	0	3825	0	0	8500	0	180	32665,00
C7	18540,00	0	8200	0	0	0	0	150	26890,00
C8	19240,00	0	6420,5	0	0	4600	0	150	30410,50
C9	21220,00	0	4375	0	0	3400	0	200	29195,00
C10	22380,00	0	2200	0	0	4650	0	200	29430,00
C11	15540,00	0	3825	0	0	2800	0	120	22285,00
C12	8540,00	0	1100	0	0	850	0	150	10640,00
C13	4360,00	0	0	0	0	1850	0	200	6410,00
Total costs, EURO	191660	2170	39808	4500	0	51650	0	2830	292.618,00

ACTION D.1: Regular monitoring of otter population on the otter-marking sites in the traditional and restored habitats

Action	1. Personnel	2. Travel	3. External assistance	4. Durable goods	5. Land purchase/ lease	6. Consumable material	7. Other costs	8. Overheads	TOTAL
D1	35040	2704	1380	8400	0	3280	0	0	50804
Total costs, EURO	35040	2704	1380	8400	0	3280	0	0	50804

ACTION E.1: Visiting the Otter centre in Hankensb ü ttel (Germany) or other
ACTION E.2: Determination and designing the logotype of the project
ACTION E.3: Constructing and establishing a Visiting centre – OTTERCENTRE
ACTION E.4: Arranging educational path »With the otter to the natural water«
ACTION E.5: A human dimensions public research
ACTION E.6: Establishing the action »Friendship with the otter and water«
ACTION E.7: Establishing information points
ACTION E.8: Project reports
ACTION E.9: Creation of WEB site
ACTION E.10: Production of a documentary TV film
ACTION E.11: Production of CD-ROM with multimedia presentation
ACTION E.12: Establishing »otter hotline«
ACTION E.13: Information and education leaflet for owners of fishpond
ACTION E.14: Information and education booklet about Lutra lutra
ACTION E.15: SEMINAR for spatial planners with accompanying exhibition and brochure; proposal of protection measures for a common management plan fot the otter in the frame of Trilateral park discussed.
ACTION E.16: EIA workshop
ACTION E.17: Proclaiming Municipality Gornji Petrovci for »otter friendly municipality« at the conclusion of the project (with press conference)
ACTION E.18: Presentation of overall course of the project and its final results, in Brussels
ACTION E.19: Workshops for technicians of participating communities

ACTION E.20: Exhibition in the castle Grad

Action	1. Personnel	2. Travel	3. External assistance	4. Durable goods	5. Land purchase/ lease	6. Consumable material	7. Other costs	8. Overheads	TOTAL
E1	1460,00	2600	0	0	0	0	0	300	4360
E2	4380,00	0	3500	0	0	4250	0	600	12730
E3	46608,00	806	4937,5	28200	0	48800	0	8500	137851,5
E4	29980,00	1144	11793	0	0	6880	0	3700	53497
E5	12320,00	286	0	0	0	250	0	0	12856
E6	15268,00	552	0	0	0	0	0	0	15820
E7	6200,00	143	0	0	0	0	0	850	7193
E8	16360,00	0	0	2500	0	0	0	2350	21210
E9	2920,00	0	1500	0	0	0	0	0	4420
E10	8640,00	450	0	0	0	0	21970	0	31060
E11	2920,00	0	3500	0	0	0	0	0	6420
E12	2860,00	143	0	250	0	0	950	0	4203
E13	3620,00	0	1300	0	0	150	0	0	5070
E14	5900,00	0	5500	0	0	0	0	0	11400
E15	6380,00	143	1800	0	0	0	0	0	8323
E16	5260,00	286	1050	0	0	350	80	1300	8326
E17	2980,00	286	0	0	0	0	0	400	3666
E18	3680,00	2250	0,00	0,00	0,00	0,00	0,00	350,00	6280
E19	7104,00	520	0	0	0	0	0	0	7624
E20	5140,00	230	1400	800	0	0	0	360	7930
Total costs, EURO	189980	9839	36280,5	31750	0	60680	23000	18710	370239,5

ACTION F.1: Accounting service
ACTION F.2: External financial auditing
ACTION F.3: Local lodging with small office for the time of the project, for project co-workers and researchers
ACTION F.4: Project managing

Action	1. Personnel	2. Travel	3. External assistance	4. Durable goods	5. Land purchase/ lease	6. Consumable material	7. Other costs	8. Overheads	TOTAL
F1	16128,00	0	0	0	0	0	0	480	16608
F2	0,00	0	0	0	0	0	8900	1500	10400
F3	640,00	0	0	6950	0	0	17033	0	24623
F4	74928,00	1780	0	3200	0	0	0	1500	81408
Total costs, EURO	91696	1780	0	10150	0	0	25933	3480	133039