Restoration Ecology Group

This week, in cooperation with the Insect Ecology Team of the Faculty of Science of the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, we established experimental plots on the roof of a store in Nový Smíchov. The experiment aims to test whether the semi-parasitic plant Rhinanthus alectorolophus can survive the extreme conditions of the roof environment and effectively suppress problematic grasses. Rhinanthus requires stratification, i.e. exposing the seeds to cold to germinate. For this reason, it was necessary to establish the plots in the autumn to allow the seeds to go through the cold period. This experiment provides a unique opportunity to explore how semi-parasitic plant species can contribute to ecological stability and biodiversity in non-traditional habitats such as green roofs. The results of the experiment will have the potential to influence approaches to vegetation maintenance on rooftops to promote the sustainability and ecological functions of these spaces.

This project is co-financed with state support from the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic under the Programme Prostředí pro život. This project was funded under the National Recovery Plan from the European Instrument of Recovery and Resilience Facility.

#BioStřechy

Back to school is a weekend event for secondary school teachers, which is regularly organized by the Faculty of Science USB. Our working group participated in the program also this year. This time, we included only a short advertisement for the TEAM#UP project. Lenka presented the created teaching materials, and possibilities of teachers' involvement in their preparation, providing feedback and use in teaching.

#TeamUp2Restore

Not even in autumn we are getting bored. Today, for instance, we have established an experimental biodiversity green roof intending to research and promote biodiversity in the built-up area. The basis of the vegetation cover are stonecrops (Sedum spp.), which usually form a resilient community on the shallow roof substrate. In our selection, we focused on species native to the country. The experiment also includes a regional seed mixture obtained by brush harvesting from a nearby meadow, with the addition of hand-collected seeds of local herbs. We also spread lichens over the surface to promote biodiversity and reduce the overgrowth of grasses. The lichens were used particularly in spots less suitable for growing vascular plants. Next year, we will add more elements to the roof, such as dead wood for insects. We would like to thank GreenVille s.r.o. for their collaboration in creating the roof.
After finishing the work on the roof, we visited one of the highest green roofs monitored throughout the season. To our surprise and despite the late October, scattered flowers of not only stonecrops but also spontaneously established species were still appearing due to the warm weather.

This project is co-financed with state support from the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic under the Programme Prostředí pro život. This project was funded under the National Recovery Plan from the European Instrument of Recovery and Resilience Facility. 

On October 23rd and 24th, the traditional conference Research Actualities in Bohemian Forest took place in Srní, Šumava National Park. Among the many interesting presentations, Karel and Anička presented the initial results of the monitoring after the first season of our project Restoration of springs - retention of water in the landscape directly at the source. Since May, we have been monitoring the impact of revitalization not only on vascular plants but also on mosses, fungi, macrozoobenthos and last but not least on water temperature and chemistry. Thanks to all the colleagues involved in this project!

During the half-day excursion, we then had the opportunity to visit several sites - including revitalized peat bogs, both on the Czech and German sides of the Bohemian Forest.

This project is funded with the support of the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic within the Programme Prostředí pro život.

#RestoreSprings

Last week, the second in-person Steering Committee meeting of the TEAM#UP project was held in Budweis, Czech Republic. During the meeting, updates on progress and future steps in the respective WPs and a real-time tutorial on creating virtual documentation were presented. The presentations stimulated fruitful, although short, discussions that can be further developed in future meetings of the respective WPs. 

The participants of the meeting had the opportunity to visit two field excursions. The first one was a visit to the Faculty garden on the campus of the Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia. The Faculty garden was intended to be a parking lot but was turned into a space for wildlife, education and relaxation. It is composed of several habitats including flowering meadows, a water pool, and a sand dune. 

During the bus excursion, participants could enjoy the southern Bohemian landscape full of fish ponds, and learn a bit about the history of the region from the guide Karel Prach. They first visited a National Nature Reserve Červené Blato, a forested bog that has been undergoing natural regeneration for over a century. The largest population of bog pine can be found there. The second stop was at the Nature Monument Dračice sand pit that has been undergoing natural regeneration for over 30 years. This sand pit is interesting and important for geomorphological structures and outcrops and hosts a number of rare and endangered species. 

The meeting was successful and inspiring; it highlighted all the great progress the project has made so far and the activities and achievements we are moving toward! 

On Thursday 22 August, the workshop Regional seed mixtures in ecological restoration took place in Benešov and also in the nearby Konopiště Castle Park. We organized the workshop within the TEAM#UP project for multiple reasons:

1. to encourage the students of our partner school, Agricultural College and Agricultural Secondary School Benešov, to participate in the student projects and student exchanges of the TEAM#UP project.

2. to encourage practitioners to take part in our survey mapping the national network in ecological restoration and to actively participate in this network.

3. to collect seed biomass for the establishment of a demonstration site in the Agricultural College and Agricultural Secondary School Benešov, where their students will then have the opportunity to work on their student projects.

4. to make the TEAM#UP project more visible.

In the first part of the workshop, Kamila Vítovcová introduced the issue of regional seed mixtures more broadly, followed by three interesting lectures on practical experience with the production of regional seed mixtures and the establishment of flowering stands using these mixtures in Šumava (Jakub Horomas), Prague (Michal Kubelík), and the surroundings of Prague (Pavel Jeřábek). The discussion on each presentation was rich and it is evident that this topic is very important and actual. 

In the afternoon part of the workshop, we moved to the Konopiště Castle Park, where species-rich stands suitable for seed brushing were selected. There were four machines presented for seed harvesting: hand-guided Grass Graber and a hand-held harvester, both operated by the Czech Union for Nature Conservation Šumava, hand-guided Seed Monster from Prague, and a snow blower converted into a brush harvester. 

The feedback from the participants on site was positive, which makes us very happy. 

#TeamUp2Restore

Photos: Jakub Hromas, Anna Müllerová, Kamila Vítovcová, Lenka Šebelíková

On August 18, 2024, the Nature Restoration Law came into effect and with it, much needed hope for European communities.

The European Nature Restoration Law, as part of the European Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, includes developing National Restoration Plans in EU Member States. However, to implement these plans on a national-scale, there is a need for a more thorough integration of ecological restoration methods in school curricula and training courses in order to provide students and professionals with the green skills necessary to transition to a sustainable and more-climate resilient society.

For this reason, the European Commission has been encouraging and supporting Member States to modernize Vocational Education and Training (VET) and continuing education programs.The Erasmus+ funded project TEAM#UP, a partnership of 15 institutions from five European countries, is a great example of this process. It aims to provide educational material on ecological restoration and make these available on an open educational resource platform. Working with diverse partners from VET schools, universities, and the private sector across Czech Republic, Germany, Norway, and Spain, TEAM#UP aids in facilitating the skills development and training necessary for upscaling ecological restoration practices across Europe.

Get to know us and learn more about our project at www.teamup2restore.eu

Funded by the European Union. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA is responsible for the views expressed.

The TEAM#UP project has recently completed its first year. We have decided to celebrate this anniversary by publishing our second newsletter, where you can read about our progress and, if you are interested, subscribe to other newsletters. Because this is just the beginning!

#TeamUp2Restore