The main project activities will take place in the western part of Lithuania, the delta of the Nemunas River, Rusne Island, ?ilute district, in the area of 56 ha of polder meadow habitats. The project assures the rise of economical level of local farmers in the village of Uostadvaris. Ecological consciousness will impact whole territory of Lithuania. The project is multifunctional. It includes these activities: active nature management, income generation, awareness rising, ecological education and applied research and monitoring. The project?s main goal is ? protection of the valuable meadows, important for rare bird species (Crex crex, Tringa totanus, Philomachus pugnax, Limosa limosa). That area is nominated as RAMSAR, International Birds Area (IBA) and potential Natura 2000 territory.
The main problem is that most of meadows are not in use for agricultural activities due to decreased demand for agricultural products. In such meadows the structure of the plants is changing, the

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sites are overgrowing by waste bushes and this area is loosing its value for breading of rare bird species. The project will seek to introduce the beef cattle maintenance system, which will be the first example in Lithuania of protecting meadow habitats, important for protection of rare bird?s species. It will be economically and ecologically profitable system.
The main activities of the project: purchasing of 16 ?Aubrac? or ?Hereford? species cattle, that are already used for extensive nature management purposes in some countries in Europe. 3 local farmers? families will maintain these cattle. The meadows will be mown and grazed in the plot of land leased by LGF in Rusne Island. In another area local people will have a possibility to pasture their own cattle.
The project will significantly increase the economical potential of local people. Rusne Island is chosen by the Ministry of Agriculture as one of three pilot areas for implementation of agri-environmental measures in Lithuania.

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