Management of Marine Natura 2000 Sites as Exemplified by Seabirds Wintering in the Baltic Sea: The Case of Poland

• Published in: Diversity
• Main Authors: Dominik Marchowski, Łukasz Ławicki, Jacek Kaliciuk
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2022
• Subjects: seaducks; Natura 2000; velvet scoter; long-tailed duck; management of threatened species; biodiversity strategy; Biology (General); QH301-705.5; Melanitta fusca
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3390/d14121081; https://doaj.org/article/ad5505c7c2ea4c66a017a8690ce0a32a

Based on the example of wintering waterbirds in the Baltic Sea, we show an approach that is useful in defining priority species for management. The Value Factor (VF) is the quantitative method for evaluating the importance of an area for a species. Every year, 4,400,000 waterbirds winter in the Baltic. Among these, the highest priority species are velvet scoter Melanitta fusca (hereafter VS, VF = 153) and long-tailed duck Clangula hyemalis (hereafter LTD, VF = 204): 74% and 40%, respectively, of the world’s populations, and over 90% of the EU populations of both species spend the winter in the Baltic. Management plans (hereafter MP) regulating the protection of marine Natura 2000 sites (hereafter MPA) and dedicated to the protection of VS and LTD have been implemented in 65% and 51%, respectively, of MPAs in the Baltic. Poland, a key country for the survival of these species, has not implemented a single MP despite the existence of documentation confirming their crucial importance for seaducks, and the pressures occurring there. We suggest using the VF concept to define priority species. On this basis, it will be possible to identify gaps in the protection of the most seriously threatened species and implement conservation measures at the most appropriate sites.