Project CoordinatorVoldemar Rannap Estonian Ministry of Environment Tel: +372 53 411 962 voldemar.rannap@envir.ee |
Frontpage » Departments & activities » LIFE-Nature » Protection of Great Crested Newt » Events
Restoration of breeding ponds is one of the most large-scale actions of this LIFE project. Firstly, the number of ponds suitable for breeding is too small and the ponds are situated too far apart. This means that if a pond disappears, the great crested newts attached to that pond also disappear automatically. Secondly, there is a danger of inbreeding, as the number of specimens is limited and the closest neighbours are situated very far. Each new generation produces more specimens with harmful mutations, thus debilitating the population significantly. The aim of the project is to restore a total of 240 water bodies in Estonia, 12 in Denmark and 28 in Finland. In addition, some of the existing water bodies are emptied of fish, and ponds are cleaned of mud and pond banks are cleared of reed and scrub. In the years 2004-2005, 101 breeding ponds were restored in Estonia and 11 in Finland. As the year 2006 was exceptionally dry and hot, it was a perfect year for digging work. In Estonia, a total of 96 great crested newt breeding ponds were restored in Otepää and Haanja nature parks, at Karste, Väike-Nedsäjä, Piusa and Sadrametsa. In Denmark, 9 great crested newt breeding ponds were dug in 2006, and the Danish Forest and Nature Agency dug additional 4 ponds in project areas. In 2007, 43 breeding ponds were restored in This action is further described in the ‘Reports’ section of the homepage (reports 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 – Action C1).
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