Lake Pape - The project
© WWF-Canon / Olivier VAN BOGAERT
Restoring and protecting the natural processes that maintain Lake Pape's ecosystem
The first step was to restore the channelled Ligupe and Paurupe streams so that they once again flowed into the lake and so reverted the process of eutrophication.
The next step, and still main focus of the project, was to launch an ambitious programme to restore the grasslands surrounding Lake Pape, and their ecological functions, in the most natural way.
The reintroduction of large grazing animals such as wild horses, aurochs (wild ox), and European bison was identified as the best option to keep the grasslands half-open - the only way to maintain their ecological functions - and prevent them from being overgrown by regenerating forests.
As Ints Mednis explains: "large herbivores do the grazing themselves, there is no need anymore for farmers to cut the grass, feed their livestock with it, and send the animals in the mowed fields, which is common agricultural practice."
Reintroducing important species
In 1999, 18 wild horses - also called tarpan - were introduced in the area. Their number increased to 42 by the end of 2002, and currently stands at 47. This year the first auroxen - 25 animals - were also brought in the Lake Pape area, followed by 5 European bison last June.
The existing grazing area is regularly expanded to ensure that the increasing number of herbivores can use the larger area for nature restoration. It currently covers an area of 400 hectares. With large herbivores attracting more and more visitors, only guided tours are allowed in the grazing area. Local guides hired by WWF ensure that visitors do not go too close to animals, thus avoiding potential conflicts.
