Protection of snakes (ecological zones) and important insects

Protection of snakes (ecological zones) and important insects

In the systemDREVO Living MountainsSnakes and insects are considered key elements of the natural balance. Their job is to regulate pest populations, maintain food chains, pollinate plants, and ensure the health of forests, meadows, wetlands, and agricultural areas.

The main goal of the project isnot to protect individual species in isolation, but to create a continuous network of safe ecological strips (corridors) that allow animals to move freely between habitats.

1. TREE Snake Corridor

Ecological strips for snakes

Snakes are natural population regulators:

mice;

voles;

rats;

shrew;

young moles;

some insects;

amphibians (within the natural balance).

The absence of snakes almost always leads to an increase in the number of rodents and a secondary increase in forest and agricultural diseases.

Key elements of the Snake Corridor

stone ridges;

dry stone walls;

raindrop;

large logs;

piles of branches;

natural root systems;

sunny meadows;

underpasses;

small damp areas;

wintering shelters.

Main European species

2. Snake Habitat Passport

For each section the following are recorded:

coordinates;

habitat type;

wintering chambers;

molting sites;

breeding areas;

population density;

migration routes;

food base;

threats;

road intersections;

death of animals;

necessary protective measures.

3. DREVO Pollinator Corridor

Pollinator stripes

Connect:

forest;

fields;

meadows;

swamps;

floodplains;

gardens;

mountain slopes.

The composition includes:

continuous flowering;

no pesticides;

diversity of nesting sites;

watering places;

sandy areas;

old trees;

raindrop;

dry plant stems.

4. Main pollinators

5. Beneficial predatory insects

They reduce pest numbers without the use of chemicals.

6. Wood destroyers

These insects ensure the circulation of substances.

Only outbreaks that threaten commercial plantings should be removed. In natural forests, some dead wood should be preserved.

7. Rare insects

Priority is given to:

stag beetle;

Alpine barbel;

fragrant betony;

Apollo;

mnemonic;

swallowtail;

rare bumblebees;

rare wild bees;

antlions;

caddis flies of clean rivers;

rare dragonflies.

The following are created for them:

individual passport of the type;

local population passport;

habitat passport.

8. Ants

Ants are the engineers of the forest ecosystem.

Anthills:

destroy pests;

they carry seeds;

aerate the soil;

participate in the organic cycle;

serve as food for birds and mammals.

WOOD Ant Colony Passport

The following are recorded:

coordinates;

anthill dimensions;

age;

activity;

view;

feeding area;

threats;

history of observations.

9. WOOD Insect Passport

An individual passport is only applicable for:

rare species;

breeding lines of pollinators;

scientific programs.

For most insects the following are used:

Colony Passport— colonies (ants, bees, bumblebees);

Population Passport- local populations;

Habitat Passport— habitats;

Pollinator Corridor Passport- pollinator stripes.

10. Living Mountain Observatory

Monitoring is carried out using:

TREE AeroSense;

camera trap;

acoustic sensors;

automatic cameras;

spectral analysis of plants;

River Rover Scout (for coastal species);

citizen science;

TREE AI.

Automatically assessed:

emergence of new species;

flight dates;

bloom;

change in food supply;

insect migration;

impact of climate change;

effectiveness of restoration measures.

11. What is prohibited

The following is not allowed:

destruction of snakes without endangering human life;

destruction of wintering shelters;

burning dry vegetation;

removal of all dead wood;

use of a wide range of insecticides;

destruction of anthills;

plowing of natural flower meadows;

publication of coordinates of habitats of rare species;

disturbance of breeding sites of rare insects.

12. The main principle

Snakes protect the forest from rodents, and insects support the life of plants, soil, and the entire food web.

In the systemDREVO Living MountainsNot only individual species are protected, but also the entire ecological infrastructure:

Snake Corridors;

Pollinator Corridors;

Insect Habitats;

Ant Colony Network;

Dead Wood Network;

Flowering Meadows;

Wetland Insect Zones;

Forest Edge Corridors.

It is the continuous network of such natural strips that ensures the long-term conservation of biodiversity and the sustainability of mountain, forest and river ecosystems for future generations.