Background Sur Fen National Nature Reserve is located in the Danubian lowland, immediately northeast of Slovakia's capital, Bratislava. This 1 100 ha reserve represents the probably largest area of natural alder swamp forest in Central Europe, with associated habitats such as mixed oak-elm-ash forests and eutrophic lakes with pondweeds. It also harbours Annex II species such as the beaver (Castor fiber), the hermit beetle (Osmoderma eremita)and a large population of fire-bellied toads (Bombina bombina). Although the first small-scale drainage works started as long ago as 1858, the large-scale drainage projects of the 1940s had a very negative impact on these wet forests. Indeed, in an attempt to improve agricultural conditions, water levels were lowered by over one metre in places. Sur Fen was designated a nature reserve in 1952 and dams and sluices have been built to keep water inside the area. However, these constructions have not had the expected success, partly because of a lack of maintenance, partly because they were inadequate to the task. Sur Fen's international importance led to it being designated a Ramsar site in 1994 and as a possible Site of Community Importance. The local municipality of Svaty Jur, together with the Slovak Water Management Enterprise, the Slovak Land Fund and the State Nature Conservancy, joined with APOP to co-ordinate the rescue of Sur Fen through this LIFE Nature project. Objectives The overall objective of this project was to restore the natural hydrology of Sur Fen and to reach a favourable conservation status for the wetland habitats within the reserve. As a first step, a “Rescue and Management Plan” would be elaborated to restore the fen's hydrology and to identify the management prescriptions. Simultaneously, the nature reserve would be increased in size. However, the bulk of the project would consist of the reconstruction of dams and sluicegates, blocking of drainage ditches and creation of a hydrological network to allow water coming from the Little Carpathians to flow through the reserve. The improved hydrological conditions would help bring about the favourable conservation status of the largest and most important natural complex of priority habitat type “alder swamp wood” (residual alluvial forest) in Slovakia, and improved habitat conditions and conservation status of the plant and animal species targeted. In order to gain full local support, information and education material was to be developed for the local inhabitants and schools. An exhibition on the project would be set up at the Sur Fen Biological Station and hiking trails through the reserve would be built. Results Although several activities were successfully completed, including the elaboration of the Rescue and Management Plan, installation of an exemplary education trail in the reserve, and the publication of high quality dissemination products, the main objective of the project – i.e. the restoration of the water regime in the Sur Fen nature reserve - was not achieved as the reconstruction and construction of water management facilities was not completed within the project time. Unfortunately, without the completion of the foreseen restoration measures, the SurFen Nature 2000 site will continue to suffer from a lack of water, mainly in the late summer period. The situation is made worse by to the fact that massive urbanisation was endorsed by the Ministry of Environment and other relevant decision-making authorities. In the near future, 4 000 new houses will be built in the direct vicinity of the site. It is planned that by 2010, the 1 700 inhabitants of the southern part of the reserve will increase to as many as 20 000 inhabitants. Consequently substantial effects on the immediately adjacent Nature 2000 site may be expected. However, despite this unfortunate failure, the threats regarding the inappropriate use of non-forest land in the Nature 2000 site and the lack of awareness of the public were mitigated. The proposed zoning of the Sur Fen National Nature Reserve and identification of conservation measures in each protected zone and buffer zones provides a solid basis for transparent determination of competencies of public institutions and private landowners as well. Nonetheless, the overall situation regarding the proper ecological status of Sur Fen remains critical and the intensive co-operation of all stakeholders is required for the necessary improvement. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).