Orlivka Community Adaptation Plan to Climate Change Impacts Odesa 2015

The use of plant biomass as a renewable energy resource

One of the most cost-effective ways of alternative energy in the region of Danube Delta is the use of biomass as a renewable energy resource. Using an existing resource of plant biomass cane and willow, growing on abandoned land in the floodplain, creates conditions for Diversity of sources income of local people, communities to reduce the dependence on fossil fuel supply (first of all, natural gas) and helps to save on heating public facilities (schools, kindergartens, community centers, village councils, etc.). This allows using the saved money on the village’s needs. In addition, it will provide not only the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, when using fossil fuels (coal, gas), but also will help to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The introduction of harvesting and cane growing and processing of willow wood fuel briquettes / pellets in the village. Orlivka - will allow creating the new work places, and it will provide support from the local population and entrepreneurs. These actions will contribute to sustainable community development and will reduce its vulnerability to climate change. In addition, it would be reasonable to organize harvesting and processing of wood briquettes at these kinds of invasive plants as the amorphous and sucker silver, which are very active in spreading in the region, leading to a cluttering of land and loss of pasture. As an example, can be used successful story of WWF Project in Vylkove that connects biomass usage of cane plantations with restoration of wetlands (http://wwf.panda.org/uk/news_ukr/zmina_klimatu/?233170/Briquetting-line-launch-in-Vilcovo).

Adaptation Measures:

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  Promote implementation of technologies for the production of fuel briquettes or pellets from the local plant of biomass (cane, crop wastes (straw), wood) for heating municipal facilities, public buildings and private houses in rural areas;
  
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  • Promote modernization of heating systems (boilers) for started using fuel briquettes and pellets from local cane crop wastes (straw) and Forestry in administrative and social buildings.
  
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  As a pilot project for testing the transfer of municipal buildings heating systems from natural gas to wood chips, briquettes or pellets from a local phytomass (reeds, willow), install a solid fuel boiler heating for the kindergarten in Orlivka village, preserving the boiler house as a reserve.
  
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  Implement projects with combined growing of willow plantations for energy needs; Restoration of wetlands ecosystems with collapse in abandoned floodplains areas.
  
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  Support the development of biogas production and use, especially in the animal farms poultry farms.
  

5. Ecosystems, especially valuable natural areas / objects and biodiversity

Predictions about the reaction of different ecosystems to climate change characterized by considerable uncertainty. Major loss of biodiversity in southern Bessarabia habitats and invasion of aggressive and alien species. Change of hydrological regime, increasing the number of droughts, and fires can also have a significant impact on floodplain wetlands and can lead to a decline of resources such as fish, game and cane.

In the process of promoting biodiversity, adaptation to climate change and conservation the biological resources of the region, the major actions should be based on a possible expansion of the network sites of natural reserve fund (NRF) areas. For this purpose, attention should be paid to improvement management of existing and potential protected areas, identifying areas of high ecological / natural status, for implementation adaptation measures.

In a view of two wetlands of international importance (under the protection of Ramsar Convention) "Cartal Lake" and "Lake Kuhurluy" - are in close proximity to Orlivka village. At the same time, the absence of any object of natural reserve fund on the territory, creation of protected areas, implementation of control system, based on sustainable use of natural resources and adaptation to climate change - are a priority.

Adaptation Measures:

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  Implement new forms of using the areas with high ecological / natural status, removing them from economic circulation, for example, ecological park, which combines environmental, touristic- recreational, cognitive- educational measures.
  
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  Encourage the establishment of protected fund based Ramsar sites "Cartal Lake" and "Lake Kugurluy". Support the development and implementation of management plans for these areas (Ramsar management plans);
  
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  Contribute to development and implementation of projects for the rehabilitation / improvement of natural ecosystems of wetlands in abandoned areas of diked floodplain, cultivation of willow plantations for energy needs, the expansion of spawning habitat and floodplain meadows area , using them as hayfields and pastures;
  
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  Create an ecological park in the flood areas that demonstrate environmentally friendly and cost-effective integrated natural resources of wetlands, combining grazing (horses, buffaloes), production and harvesting of plant biomass, the development of tourism.
  
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  To promote a scientific research to assess the resource potential and introduce a system monitoring of natural ecosystems, including invasive alien species and the definition of their potential danger;
  
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  To promote the restoration of the traditional and the introduction of new approaches to the sustainable use of natural resources community-based assessment of their potential. For example, using a cane, cattail (papura) and willow as a renewable energy resource, feed for domestic animals or material for handicrafts (mats, baskets, made of twigs furniture, etc.).
  

6. Natural grazing

The document "Ukrainian Danube Delta Vision"³ states: "Grazing is a natural process. Where there are plants, out there encountered the animals that live on them. Thus composed ecosystems in which herbivores play an important role among thousands of other species that directly or indirectly are dependent on plant. Large herbivores, in particular, can change the entire landscape, choosing their food, because they support the existence of grassland, make possible rejuvenation of forests, etc. ».

Attention to the role of grazing in the contemporary nature or landscape management increases. There is also awareness that large herbivores are a vital part of the species composition of ecosystems. Less intense or so-called natural grazing is an innovative economic model for areas with high risk of flooding or drought when the animal density is low. Herbivores easily adapt to the changing conditions, and easy to move around the area, in case of temporary lack of food or lack / excess water. Because these approaches do not require intensive feeding or management of animals, they are also one of the most economical and effective way to animal husbandry if land resources are sufficient.

For many natural areas, controlled grazing is one of the key mechanisms for the management and support of mosaic landscapes, meadows and pastures, including the Danube Delta.

On the other hand the excessive grazing load leads to degradation of pastures, increase erosion (especially on slopes), increase salinity, reduced soil fertility, distribution aggressive species alien (the Loch silver), pressure on valuable forest, meadow and steppe ecosystems, leading to loss of biodiversity and reinforce the negative impact of climate change.

Previous assessments carried out by the project showed that one of the most interesting species of large horned cattle for introducing natural grazing in Orlivka village community is Carpathian water buffalo, which was successfully adapted to the Romanian part of Danube delta in the past century.

Contrary to popular opinion about the buffalo as the animals of the southern countries, water buffaloes were constantly present in the interglacial periods in the fauna of Central and Southern Europe. Domestic water buffalo breed arrived in North Africa and the Middle East about 600 years after Christ. From there in the Middle Ages during the Crusades, they were in Europe. Today they are present in Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Ukraine.

In recent decades, they settled widely in nature reserves for biodiversity restoration of water - wetlands, where other cattle cannot live. They can tolerate high and low temperatures, to live at low and high altitudes, for example in Georgia, Turkey and Azerbaijan. Buffaloes are also often kept in the mountains in Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria.

 Through genetic isolation of populations has formed a large number of species of buffalo. The most widespread is the river buffalo. It is very resistant to insect pests and has wide hooves to move around the swamps. In pastures they thin out reed beds, digging small lakes, deepen and clear the straits and channels that enhance landscape biodiversity, create and maintain better conditions of existence of many plants, fish, water birds and mammals.

There are many products can be received from the buffalo: meat, milk products as the mozzarella cheese, leather. The meat is very tender and has low cholesterol. Milk has more protein and less water than cow's milk. Finally yet importantly, buffaloes are attractive for tourists.

Thus, water buffalo refers to animals that are easily adapted to use wetlands that are not suitable for grazing cattle other, do not need much veterinary care create extra products for local people and are very attractive for the tourists.

As Carpathian water buffalo is a disappearing breed the territory of Ukraine remained at 200 head of this cattle, its emergence and spread of on the territory of Ukrainian Danube will help restore its livestock and biodiversity conservation as a whole. That can also be seen as a factor in better adaptation to climate change.

Adaptation Measures:

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  To implement projects to restore natural pastures with controlled grazing load in the floodplain of the Danube and along the coastal slopes around Kagul and Cartal lakes;
  
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  To arrange grazing of livestock in floodplain areas that do not meet the conditions of intensive agriculture, or used inefficiently (abandoned), in conjunction with other types of use of their resources;
  

To create the first in Danube Delta region of Bessarabia experimental farming on growing and distribution of Carpathian water buffalo as a large breed of domestic cattle. Buffalo should be easily adapted to Danube region: it uses grassland wetlands, which are not suitable for other grazing livestock, it does not require intensive veterinary care and it gives milk and meat of much higher quality. Additionally, Carpathian water buffalo can be an interesting distinguishing feature of Orlivka village that attracts tourists and create new income sources for the local population.

7. 
   Restoration of fishery resources
   

Years ago, fishing in Cartal Lake was one of the significant sources of income for Orlivka village community. Even in former times, the village was called as Cartal.

Historically, Lake Cartal differed very high natural fish productivity. In 1950, the average annual catch of here was 162.5 tonnes. The maximum catch was recorded in 1957, when there were produced 286.4 tons of fish and crayfish (figure fish productivity - 200 kg / ha). Further catches steadily were down, and in 2000-ies accounted for about 20 tons / year.

The catastrophic decline fish productivity of Lake Cartal was associated embanking and draining of most spawning habitats in order to increase arable land; the violation of connection between the lakes and Danube River due to construction of flood control dams and sluice channels system.

Trying to increase fish productivity by large-scale of stocking of Lake Cartal of young herbivorous fishes and carp was not justified. Industrial refund from the stocking of lakes was much below the norm.

Despite the fact that fisheries is now also the main type of economic use of the Lake Cartal - Orlivka village population has no direct access to the lake and its resources because of channel Luzarsa overgrowth.

It is clear that the expected deterioration of water quality by raising temperatures and further eutrophication of water bodies will further reduce fish productivity. Therefore, adaptation measures should be aimed at restoring natural spawning habitat, restoring access of local people to the reservoir, creation the monitoring system of using fishery resources. Also, is necessary the hydrological regime approximation to natural environment and improving water exchange of Cartal Lake with Danube and with lakes / reservoirs Kagul Kuhurluy.

Adaptation Measures:

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  Identify stakeholders who will be responsible for sustainable use of Cartal lake living water resources in a frame of the wetlands management plan;
  
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  Contribute to the development and implementation of lands management plan for Ramsar "Cartal Lake";
  
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  Initiate the development mode of operation Cartal Lake as to ensure sustainable and integrated use of its resources and biodiversity of the ecosystem. Development of the plan and determining the amount of fish needed and land reclamation activities;
  
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  Provide for fish-reclamation measures aimed at improving the natural spawning of native fish species according to almost natural water regime of the lake;
  
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  Promote the implementation of limited fishery by traditional instruments, using the savings methods of fishing;
  
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  Create conditions for development of recreation, organized recreation and sport fishing. Conduct a clearance of the channel Luzars;
  
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  Conduct necessary works for fish-reclamation according to other measures of the wetlands management plan.
  
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  Create a community-based system of local control over the use fishery resources and the measures combat poaching;
  
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  In fish farming, ponds make the transition to breeding species less sensitive to oxygen depletion, to use modern technologies.
  

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