Search for European Projects

Functional rehabilitation of the Jura mountains peatlands of Franche-Comté (LIFE Jura peatlands)
Start date: Jun 1, 2014, End date: Nov 30, 2020 PROJECT  FINISHED 

Background The Jura Mountains are one of the richest areas of bog in Western Europe. Across the whole range more than 400 peatlands cover a total of around 4 000 ha. Of these Jura peat bogs, 247 (covering 2 600 ha) are located in the region of Franche-Comté. The Conservatoire d’Espaces Naturels is deeply involved in peat bog conservation in Franche-Comté. It has already taken part in several related projects, including the LIFE project, ‘Tourbières de France’. Its focus area covers 53 sites, including 29 peatbogs, totalling an area of 1 220 ha. In Franche-Comté, 162 peat bogs covering 2 050 ha are enclosed within Natura 2000 sites. These sites are exceptionally rich in biodiversity, hosting three plant species, eight invertebrates and a large diversity of habitats of Community interest. However, human activities, such drainage and spruce plantation up, that continued up to the 1970s have resulted in severe hydrological disruption of ecosystems, leading to the loss of 50% of the habitat. Objectives The LIFE Jura peatlands project aims to improve the conservation status of habitats listed in the annexes of the Habitats Directive in the peat bogs of the Jura Mountains. It will develop conservation management plans and implement hydrology restoration and other supporting works on land accounting for 37% of the Franche-Comté Natura 2000 Network. Specifically, the project will restore the original hydrological state of around 60 bogs within 16 Natura 2000 sites. Interventions will include the restoration of stream banks, the blocking of drainage channels, tree felling and shrub clearing. The project will implement specific regeneration of zones affected by peat extraction and erect fences around sensitive areas. Strategic areas of land will be purchased from private landowners in order to make it possible to implement appropriate conservation methods across the whole target area. The experience gained during this project will be passed on to other Natura 2000 sites, while communication activities will also be undertaken to raise public awareness of the need to protect these ecosystems. Expected results: Long-term rehabilitation of 60 bogs covering 625 ha and accounting for 37% of the whole Franche-Comté Jura Natura 2000 network; Restoration of 11 km of stream banks; Blocking of 16 km of drainage channels; Tree felling and shrub cleaning over 51 ha; Extraction zone regeneration over 7 ha; Fencing of 950 m around sensitive areas; Purchase of 46 ha of private properties; and Definition of 10 management plans.
Up2Europe Ads