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Trilateral
Wadden Sea Plan |
Eighth Trilateral
Governmental Conference
on the Protection of the
Wadden Sea |
Stade, Germany,
October 22, 1997 |
The rural area includes meadows
and arable land on the islands and on the mainland where there
is a strong ecological relationship with the Wadden Sea (Leeuwarden
Declaration Annex I).
Strong ecological relationships with the Wadden Sea can obviously
be determined, if the area provides physical and biological factors
essential to typical Wadden Sea species, such as some bird species.
Man has influenced these areas, e.g. meadows, grassland and pasture
land, by mowing and grazing by cattle, horses and sheep, as well
as, by the cultivation of fields with crops such as grain, potatoes
and rape. Human use has priority in major parts of the rural
area.
Migratory birds, such as
some waders, ducks and geese species, use rural areas on the
islands and on the mainland behind the dikes during their stay
in the Wadden Sea area. Meadows, pasture land and arable land
are utilized as roosting sites by Golden Plover, Lapwing, Ruff
and Whimbrel, mainly in spring and autumn.
The herbivores Widgeon, Barnacle
Goose and, to a lesser extent, Brent Goose, also use meadows
and arable land as feeding areas during autumn and spring.
Furthermore, rural areas
such as meadows and arable land on the islands and on the mainland
behind the dikes are used as alternative high-tide roosting sites,
if the roosting sites in front of the dikes are not available
during too high water.
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Targets |
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Favorable conditions for flora
and fauna, especially migrating and breeding birds. |
All habitats which are used
by one typical Wadden Sea bird species are linked to, and depending
on, each other. All these habitats are important for the different
species during various periods and are essential for the natural
development of these species in the Wadden Sea. This aspect should
be taken into consideration while designing a management strategy
for the protection of different bird populations.
Feeding areas and appropriate
roosting sites on the tidal flats or salt marshes should be available
in a sufficiently close distance to the breeding sites of species
(e.g. Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Black-tailed Godwit) which breed
in rural areas behind the dikes, such as meadows, and arable
land.
The herbivores Widgeon Barnacle Goose and, to a lesser extent,
Brent Goose, use meadows and arable land as feeding areas during
the period September/October to March/April. A shift in habitat
use from traditional natural feeding areas, such as eelgrass
beds and salt marshes, to agricultural land (e.g. intensively
used grassland areas) has occurred and resulted in damage to
agricultural land and, as a consequence, conflicts with farmers.
The concerned species have been forced to feed on agricultural
grassland areas because of losses, changes and/or disturbance
of the natural habitats. The natural habitats have been reduced
in quality and quantity by impacts of agriculture, industry,
flood control and recreational use. Human disturbance from increasing
recreational use of the land in front of the dikes and tidal
flats results in more intensive utilization of the rural areas.
At night, marshes, grasslands
and fields behind the dikes are heavily utilized by Widgeons,
especially when not disturbed. However, the use of agricultural
land by geese and ducks, and in consequence also the conflicts,
are concentrated in specific localized areas. This is not only
dependant on the management of the concerned area, but also on
the management of habitats and geese elsewhere. The developments
in agricultural use (e.g. set aside or transformation of meadows
to farmland) also have consequences in the use by geese and ducks.
The most important element
in future policy and management is to work towards sustainable
agricultural use of the rural area. However, it is evident that
this can only be done in close cooperation, and on a voluntary
basis, with the agricultural sector.
Regional and local authorities have an important responsibility
to stimulate sustainable use in cooperation with the people who
live in the area.
Also, measures in the tidal area and salt marshes will help to
provide favorable conditions for the concerned bird species.
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8.1 Trilateral policy and management |
Wind energy and agricultural
use are the main relevant human activities regarding the Target
'favorable conditions for birds in rural areas'.
Trilateral measures regarding the management of human activities
which are relevant for the rural area, and which have also relevance
for the special Targets on birds, such as hunting, are dealt
with comprehensively in Chapter 9 on birds.
Currently, an "International Flyway Management Plan Dark-bellied
Brent Goose" (single species Action Plan in accordance with
the AEWA) is being elaborated and will be submitted to the next
Trilateral Governmental Conference.
Agricultural
use
8.1.1 Sustainable agriculture
for improving nature conservation, maintaining typical landscape
elements and protection of cultural heritage will be supported,
amongst others, financially.
8.1.2 Nature areas reclaimed
for agricultural purposes should be restored, where possible,
through voluntary cooperation with, and active participation
of, the owners.
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8.2 Trilateral projects and actions |
8.2.1 A discussion with local
farmers in the polder areas to decide on the most promising farming
methods for the long and the short term with the aim of combining
the Targets with sustainable agriculture.
8.2.2 An exploration of the
possibilities for sustainable agriculture and for the combination
of agriculture and nature management in the rural area.
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II. The Targets: 9 Birds
