Project part-financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund)

The Interreg IVB North Sea Region Programme


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Kleinensieler Plate

Degree of synergistic effects according to Natura 2000 aims

The Kleinensieler Plate is located in a Special Protection Area (SPA) after the Habitat Directive (Site name: Unterweser; site code: DE 2316-331). According to the Integrated Management Plan Weser (IBP Weser), the Kleinensieler Plate is assigned to operational area 2. Although the compensation measure was not designed to meet the requirements of Natura 2000, potential positive effects on several conservation objectives defined for operational area 2 (Table 3) and for the entire investigation area of the IBP Weser (Table 4) can be stated.

-Step 1: Estimate potential measure effects on conservation objectives for certain spatial units

Table 3: Natura 2000-objectives with specifications for operational area 2 (source: simplified after NLWKN, SUBV 2012)
  Operational area 2: Oligohaline zone in the lower Weser (Weser-km 40 - 65)
Specifications for operational area 2 Effect of measure 27 on conservation objectives? Short explanation
positive effect no effect negative effect
Conservation and development of specific estuarine habitats and (tidal) floodplains and their dynamic changes
Development, enlargement and upgrade of shallow water zones with moderate current climate ++     A shallow water zone with reduced tidal range was created.
Development of passable shore structures +     The project area is connected to the river by three overflow barriers temporarily passable for organisms.
Conservation and development of typical habitats of operational area 2 (e.g. mudflats, reeds, extensively used and salt-influenced grasslands, tidal floodplains)  in a dimension, spatial distribution and interconnection ensuring long-term appearance of typical species  ++     Typical habitats like mudflats and reeds were developed.
Conservation and development of habitats for viable populations and estuary and (tidal) floodplain specific species as well as species after Annex II Habitats Directive and bird species after Birds Directive
Conservation and development of undisturbed resting and moulting areas for migratory bird populations (high diversity, many individuals) considering all necessary functions     +     According to Küfog 2010, the Kleinensieler Plate became increasingly attractive in view of migratory birds during the last years. This especially refers to shallow water areas and silted up mud areas. Various birds of the coast use these areas for resting and feeding purposes.
Conservation of typical breeding bird communities and associated habitats (breeding birds of extensively used, salt- influenced grasslands and reeds)       +     According to Küfog 2010, the Kleinensieler Plate provides attractive breeding habitats for reed and wood breeders. Due to occurrences of many endangered species, the project area is labeled as breeding site of importance for Lower Saxony.
By comparison, the Kleinensieler Plate became less attractive for grassland breeders during the last years. The attractiveness before and during breeding time could be increased by creating shallow water areas on grassland areas and by introducing extensive agricultural use (structure diversity, low vegetation).
Preservation and development of nursery ground function for Twaite shad (e.g. preferential water quality for juveniles and larvae)   0   Shallow water zone does not provide suitable spawning grounds for Twaite shad.
Preservation and development of undisturbed resting and moulding areas for Pied avocet   +     Shallow water zones and silted up mud serve as feeding and resting grounds for Pied avocet (Küfog 2010).
Conservation and development of well-structured bordering waters and shore areas with wood, typical shore vegetation and reeds as hunting and feeding ground for Pond bat (Myotis dasycneme) (e.g. creek systems on Tegeler Plate, on Einswarder Plate, shallow water zone Kleinensieler Plate….),   +     A permanent water area with natural shore vegetation was created and potential prey for Pont bat (e.g. Chironomidae) was found in the shallow water zone.
Conservation of site specific requirements and area percentages of aquatic structures as habitats for typical benthic invertebrate fauna     +     Development of zooplankton populations in shallow water zone mostly independent from populations of lower Weser River; recently high abundances of endobenthos communities; shallow water zone functions as feeding, nursery and reproduction ground (Lange, Droste, Meyerdirks 2008)
Conservation and development of favorable conditions on estuary grassland in order to promote long term establishment of Bulbous foxtail   0   Not investigated.
Conservation of wide, salt-influenced reeds representing habitats for specialized invertebrate fauna (e.g. typical Auchenorrhyncha species)    0   Not investigated, but newly developed reed potentially represents suitable habitat.


-Step 2: Estimate potential measure effects on overall conservation objectives

Table 4: Natura 2000-objectives with specifications for entire investigation area of the Integrated Management Plan Weser (IBP Weser); source: simplified after NLWKN, SUBV 2012
Specifications for entire investigation area of IBP Weser Effect of measure 27 on conservation objectives?
positive effect no effect negative effect
Conservation and development of specific functions and processes of estuaries and (tidal) floodplains to reach favourable abiotic conditions and typical hydromorphological structures
Conservation and development of favourable
water structures and water bed dynamics
++    
Development of evenly distributed and reduced
current energy and tidal parameters
++    
Conservation and development of favourable
gradients of specific aspects regarding estuaries
and (tidal) floodplains (e.g. salinity, sediments,
current conditions, tidal range, close-to-nature
zonation of shore vegetation…); refers to inner
estuary and to area between estuary and floodplain
within fresh water zone.
+    
Improvement of water and sediment quality +    
Conservation and development of specific estuarine habitats and (tidal) floodplains and their dynamic changes
Conservation and development of habitats and
communities which strongly depend on the natural
dynamics of morphological processes
(e.g. mudflats, shallow waters, creeks… )
+    
Development of balanced area percentages
regarding mudflats, shallow waters, shallow and
deep sublitoral
+    
Conservation and development of tidal floodplains
with typical vegetation structures and
biocoenosis and favourable tidal and flooding
dynamics; especially floodplain enlargement
+    
Conservation and development of habitats for viable populations and estuary and (tidal) floodplain specific species as well as species of Annex II Habitats Directive and bird species of Birds Directive
Conservation of habitat functions for breeding
and migrant birds especially as feeding grounds
(also for bordering or networked areas)
+    
Conservation and development of habitat
requirements for migratory fish stocks and
cyclostomata within present territories and
networked areas
+    
Conservation and development of habitat
requirements for autochthon
fish communities with typical age composition
and typical percentage of estuarine species and
diadromous migratory fish species
+    
Conservation and development of long-term
viable populations of typical
fish species and cyclostomata
(estuarine and diadromous guilds)
+    
Reaching of favourable water quality for
reproduction, larval development and
viability of typical fish communities of different
salinity zones
+    
Conservation and development / reestablishment of
passability of the tidal river Weser and its
tributaries for migratory fish and benthic
invertebrates   
  0  



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