Improving the effectiveness of red deer management through cross-border guidelines
Leadpartner: Česká zemědělská univerzita v Praze (CZ)
Overview of co-operation partners:
- Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung vertreten durch Senckenberg Museum für Naturkunde Görlitz (DE)
- Správa Národního parku České Švýcarsko (CZ)
- Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst – Nationalparkverwaltung Sächsische Schweiz (DE)
- Technische Universität Dresden, Prof. für Forstzoologie, AG Wildtierforschung (DE)
Duration: 2024-2026
Project staff at the TUD: M. Sc. Vendula Meißner-Hylanová, Dr. Norman Stier
Funding: INTERREG Saxony-Czech Republic, co-financed by the European Union
Website: https://wolf.czu.cz/de/r-20204-redema-projekt
Initial situation:
Massive human intervention in the Central European landscape has disrupted the stability and connectivity of ecosystems. Forests have collapsed in both Nationalparks in recent years. A change in water conditions, an overpopulation of bark beetles, fires and excessive tourism have also had a negative impact. All of this is in synergy with wildlife populations, which are themselves under severe pressure but can also have a negative impact on the regeneration of forest stands. These wild animals include unguulates, which is at the centre of human interest and has a strong negative potential (natural forest regeneration is impaired by browsing). Animal behaviour has also changed due to the loss of retreat possibility as a result of increased tourism. The return of wolves and hunting are also having an impact. Natural forest restoration is of central importance in both NPs, but depends on the distribution, density and hunting of ungulates, which leads to a very complex set of relationships. So far, both NPs have independently carried out activities to determine the status of game and its possible regulation. Due to the complexity of the problem and the transboundary wildlife populations, joint multidisciplinary approaches are needed to restore forest cover and biodiversity in both unique areas.
Project description:
The project aims to significantly strengthen the lack of co-operation in red deer management. The project consortium will first assess the current status of red deer in the area of both NPs. In addition, factors influencing the red deer population will be analysed and the impact of red deer on forest regeneration will also be assessed. The main outcome of the project will be the development of a common strategy for red deer management in both NPs. The outcome will reflect the differences between the two states and take into account the role of other mammal species.
The following data is collected for strategy development:
- Population density, spatial distribution and structure of mammal populations (esp. red deer)
- Behavioural patterns of red deer (spatial activity and its change over 15 years)
- Influence of wolves on the red deer population (predation of red deer by wolves, spatial activity)
- Influence of hunting and tourism on the red deer population
- Impact of deforestation (by fire, bark beetles, logging) on red deer behaviour
- Influence of red deer on forest regeneration
The project will develop joint approaches for data collection, processing and analysis. Experts, the local public, visitors and local students will also be informed about the researched role of red deer in the area of the national parks.