Wetlands Butterflies - Conservation and upgrading of habitats for rare butterflies of wet, semi-natural meadows

The main project objective was to secure the best possible conservation status and upgrade the quality of habitats of the target butterfly species at four Natura 2000 sites in Poland: Puszcza Kampinoska, Torfowiska Chelmskie, Bagno Calowanie and Torfowisko Sobowice. The project focused on the re-creation of meadows on the degraded areas. A range of species-specific habitat management activities were undertaken. The project introduced a biomass reception and utilisation system in the project sites. The project trained agri-environmental advisers, organised agri-environmental trainings for farmers and drew up agri-environmental plans. It also placed a strong emphasis on raising public awareness. A range of dissemination materials were produced and distributed to the stakeholders and wider public, six workshops for teachers were organised, around 100 teachers were trained, 30 excursions for school children were organized and an informative project website was set up. The project also established two new nature trails and also renovated one nature trail in the project site Bagno Calowanie. An attractive guidebook for each of these education trails was published. Finally, an international conference was held in Warsaw in co-operation with other similar initiatives/organizations.