“The landscape has a memory and water knows where it belongs in the landscape. We try to speed up these processes, helping restore natural patterns so that the landscape recover more quickly,” say volunteers engaged in landscape restoration. Below you can read about 3 communities where people are creating more resilient and healthy landscapes, thanks to the support of Via donors. Near the Bušovický stream in the Pilsen region, a group mapped the landscape and put measures in place to prevent drought, flooding and erosion; in Tyra near Třinec, a group cleared sediment from pools and enhanced animal habit; and in Ludvíkov near Moravská Třebová, residents built new ponds to help retain water in the landscape.
Mapping the landscape and preventing drought, flooding and erosion
The Bušovický stream is 6 kilometers long, but the water runs in a natural channel for only 2 kilometers of its length. The stream runs in a human made channel in the middle of the fields for 2 km, and in an underground pipe for the last two km. “This is an unnatural way of dealing with water, which the landscape resists,” explains Jiří Větrovec from the association Živá krajina Plzeňský kraj (Living Landscape of the Pilsen Region). His group is trying to bring life back to the Bušovický stream. With a Via Foundation grant, they were able to commission a comprehensive study of water retention in the area. “We have mapped out exactly where the stream flows and how it would be possible to remove human made obstructions and bring the water to the surface. We’re proposing measures to prevent flooding, drought and erosion, such as developing ponds around the stream and planting lines of trees in the vicinity,” says Jiří.
The association members and other volunteers have already planted an avenue of forty trees and dug two ponds. “We are not doing anything that doesn’t happen on its own, we just want to accelerate it. By itself, nature revives very slowly. We want to help it and wherever the water wants to come back, we want to create the conditions so that it can,” Vetrovec adds. He and his fellow volunteers plan on initiating further studies in the Pilsen region over the long-term.
Clean ponds in Tyra near Třinec enhance animal habitat
“This is a water paradise, protected amphibians like newts and martens live here,” says Andrea Suszková, a farmer from Tyra in Třinec, who has spearheaded a project to clean up ponds in the area. The ponds, which are located in the Beskydy protected landscape area, were in poor condition. They were too shallow, which makes the water overheat in summer and creates an inhospitable environment for animals instead of a refuge. “Most of all, we wanted to create a better habitat for the animals,” explains Andrea Suszková. She and other local residents came together to plant trees and landscape the surroundings. “Thanks to the ponds, the environment for aquatic insects and amphibians has improved, which has led to a greater abundance of birds. The ponds also serve as a source of water for forest animals, goats and sheep,” says a nearby farmer. The ponds have also improved flood protection for homes in the area by reducing the risk of excessive water run-off during rainfall. Last but not least, the ponds have also become a popular destination for residents out on walks. In winter, when the ponds froze over, children from the surrounding area even created an ice rink. “I never imagined that the ponds would have such a social impact,” says Andrea Suszková, smiling.
Ponds in Ludvíkov near Moravská Třebová help to retain water in the landscape
The village of Ludvíkov is a beautiful place, set in nature and popular with hikers. In recent years, members of the Ludvíkov Gardens Association, headed by farmer Maria Kučerová, have been concerned with excessive run-off and erosion stemming from an unmaintained wetland and drainage outlet located on village land. “I enjoy turning agrarian landscapes into real landscapes,” explains Maria, the project’s driving force. Thanks to a Via Foundation grant, she and other local residents were able to create a small lake at the site of a local creek’s headwaters, and build a set of five ponds of different sizes and depths in the creek bed. The pond system has enhanced the biodiversity of the area. “I’m curious to see what kind of animals will be attracted to this site,” says Marie Kučerová. The group is also going to create a rest area for hikers passing through Ludvíkov. “This spring, the association members will plant trees around the ponds and the municipality will add benches,” adds Maria Kučerová. But the best part, according to Maria, is that Ludvíkov has managed to improve water retention in the landscape. “We are already looking at other sites and observing how water is managed. We would like to continue improving water retention in the landscape in the future, because it makes a lot of sense,” concludes the farmer.
