Life Vallees Ardennaises Tender

Duration 01-SEP-2020 to 01-SEP -2028Total budget 8975945.00 EU contribution 5385567.00 Project description BackgroundThe conservation status of habitats and species found in the deep forest valleys of the Ourthe Amblve Vesdre and Our basins in Belgium has been adversely affected by several human-related disturbances both direct and indirect. This has caused the reduction and loss of habitat as well as the isolation and extinction of local species populations. Furthermore it has degraded the ecological integrity of natural habitats and resulted in a loss of ecological connectivity with severe impacts on local biodiversity. The main disturbances are the loss and fragmentation of natural alluvial and slope forests resulting from spruce Picea abies plantations construction of artificial dams preventing free movement of aquatic species and degradation of river habitat quality caused by artificial modifications of river beds and banks release of fine sediments into the rivers caused by plantation management measures such as clear-cuts and spontaneous colonization of aquatic and riverine habitats by invasive alien species e.g. Impatiens glandulifera Fallopia japonica and alien crayfish species.ObjectivesThe objective of LIFE VALLEES ARDENNAISES is the ecological restoration of rivers and forests in the deep valleys of the Ourthe Amblve Vesdre and Our basins.Specifically the project will Restore forest habitats including alluvial slope ravine and beech forests through clear-cutting 150 ha of spruce plantations on alluvial soils and steep slopes Improve the ecological connectivity of watercourses by remediation of 38 physical obstacles Improve the conservation state of forest habitat remnants e.g. alluvial slope ravine and beech forests on a total area of 300 ha and of aquatic river habitats covering a total length of 2 600 m Strengthen two remnant populations of the thick shelled river mussel Unio crassus in the Our and Ourthe occidental rivers and reintroduce the freshwater pearl mussel Margaretifera margaretifera in the upper Our basin and Raise awareness among land owners stakeholders and citizens about the value and utility through an ecosystem services approach of the habitats and species involved as well as the importance of protecting and restoring them.ResultsExpected results Removal of spruce plantations from 150 ha restoring this to 60 ha of alluvial forests 55 ha of acidophilous i.e. acid-loving beech forests 25 ha of slope and ravine forests 5 ha of siliceous rocky slopes and 5 ha of upland siliceous screes Better ecological connectivity between patches of alluvial forests and slope forests through the strategic choice of location of the restored sites Improved ecological integrity in 125 ha of alluvial forests 125 ha of acidophilous beech forests 40 ha of slope and ravine forests 2.5 ha of siliceous rocky slop