EU LIFE project in Tryggelev Nor - IMAGE

The title of the project is "Improving status of the coastal lagoon Tryggelev Nor, Denmark - IMAGE". IMAGE is a Danish regional nature and wetland restoration project running in Fyn County within the framework of the EU LIFE Nature foundation and the Danish Action Plan for the Aquatic Environment II.

The aim of IMAGE is to obtain a favourable conservation status of the coastal lagoon Tryggelev Nor on Langeland in Fyn County and of the bird species Botaurus stellaris, Circus aeruginosus, and Porzana porzana. Coastal lagoons are a priority nature type within the EU Habitat Directive and Botaurus stellaris is a priority species within the EU Birds Directive. The IMAGE project is an action oriented project with immediate implementation of plans and strategies to benefit natural values in the field.

The outcome of IMAGE will be an improved environmental condition of the aquatic environment in Tryggelev Nor which will support a much more diverse flora and fauna than at present. In turn, this will benefit the survival and reproduction of the bird species Botaurus stellaris, Circus aeruginosus, and Porzana porzana. An important measure to fulfill these goals is also to increase the habitat area for these bird species. Thus, the nearby Nørreballe Nor will be converted from agricultural soils to a lake surrounded by reeds. In addition, the lake will function as a buffer zone retaining nutrients leached from the catchment and this will contribute to the restoration of the aquatic environment in Tryggelev Nor.

The IMAGE project is supported financially by the EU Commission’s LIFE Nature programme. The wetland restoration project in Nørreballe Nor, which is a substantial part of IMAGE, is also supported by the Danish Forest and Nature Agency within the frame of the Danish Action Plan for the Aquatic Environment II. Fyn County highly appreciate the external sources of economic support.

The project is presented and chaired by Fyn County , which is a Danish regional environmental authority. Fyn County has two NGO partners in IMAGE. This is “The foundation to the Protection of Birds” in Denmark and “The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds” in England . “The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds” is a highly experienced partner as they chair an ongoing LIFE Nature project in England also concerning coastal lagoons.

The timeschedule of the project runs until June 2006.

You can reach a summary (in english and french) of the IMAGE project application form in PDF format directly from this homepage.