Life Helle Eifeltler Tender

Duration 01-JAN-2021 to 31-DEC -2027Total budget 4690177.00 EU contribution 2814106.00 Project descriptionBackgroundThe violet copper Lycaena helle butterfly has poor conservation status in the continental region throughout Europe while in Germany in the continental and alpine regions its status is unfavourable to poor. As a glacial relic and boreo-montane species populations in low mountain ranges are threatened by climate change. Other hazards include land usemanagement regimes not adapted to the species drainage of source and wetland sites habitat loss fragmentation and isolation and sub-populations in small habitats with low abundance and coverage of plants providing food. Enlargement optimisation and connectivity of habitats are essential to increase the species resilience. However many of the butterflys habitats in the district ofEuskirchen are in suboptimal or bad condition.Similar problems have affected the marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia butterfly which is extinct in several EU Member States. Populations in the continental and Atlantic regions of Germany and Europe have poor conservation status in North Rhine-Westphalia the species is in danger of extinction. Habitats in the North Rhine-Westphalian Eifel originally formed stepping stones to E. aurinia populations in southwest Germany in Wallonia and northern France and in the Westerwald and Rhn but they are now almost completely abandoned. A lack of potential habitats means spontaneous repopulation from the adjacent High Ardennes Belgium and Schneifel Rhineland-Palatinate is unlikely.ObjectivesThe LIFE helle Eifeltler projects goal is a substantial and lasting improvement in the conservation status of violet copper and marsh fritillary populations in the continental region of Germany with a positive impact on adjacent populations in Belgium. The project aims to close gaps in the species distribution range optimising and connecting habitats as well as reintroducing E. aurinia.The bog fritillary Boloria eunomia and two severely endangered bird species the meadow pipit Anthus pratensis and the whinchat Saxicola rubetra will also benefit from the projects measures as they have similar habitat requirements. B. eunomia is not listed in the EUs Habitats Directive but it is classed as severely endangered on the Red List of Germany.Specifically LIFE helle Eifeltler aims to Stabilise and improve populations of L. helle in the Northern Eifel in the district of Euskirchen and re-establish E. aurinia Establish enlarge and optimise habitats as well as connecting existing populations Reintroduce important rare or endangered habitat-typical plant species e.g. Arnica montana listed in Annex IV of the EUs Habitats Directive enhancing the conservation status of L. helle and E. aurinia habitats. This will also improve the conservation status of these plant species and Sensitise the ge