Verschralen richting bloemrijk hooiland : lessen uit praktijkgericht onderzoek

In nature reserve Gulke Putten a management of mowing and hay removal on former agricultural fields with high soil phosphorus concentrations has resulted in a shift from grass-dominated to herb-rich vegetation. Species such as Cardamine pratensis, Leucanthemum vulgare, Centaurea jacea, Ranunculus acris and Trifolium pratense have replaced fast-growing productive grasses such as Holcus lanatus. We investigated whether vegetation composition affected the nutrient removal by mowing. We measured the biomass production and nutrient concentrations in herbs and grasses in plots differing in vegetation com-position. Plots with more herbs showed a lower biomass production and nitrogen and potassium removal by mowing. The removal of phosphorus was similar in grass-dominated and herb-rich plots because of the higher phosphorus concentration in the biomass of herbs. Hence the speed of phosphorus removal through mowing in former agricultural fields may remain similar when the vegetation composition shifts from grass-dominated to herb-rich. A higher share of Rhinantus angustifolius decreases the biomass production and consequently also the removal of phosphorus and nitrogen. Rhinantus seems to counteract nutrient removal, at least in our plots in the Gulke Putten

Implementation of the first adaptive management plan for a European migratory waterbird population: The case of the Svalbard pink-footed goose Anser brachyrhynchus

An International Species Management Plan for the Svalbard population of the pink-footed goose was adopted under theAgreement on theConservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds in 2012, the first case of adaptive management of a migratory waterbird population in Europe. An internationalworking group (including statutory agencies, NGO representatives and experts) agreed on objectives and actions to maintain the population in favourable conservation status, while accounting for biodiversity, economic and recreational interests. Agreements include setting a population target to reduce agricultural conflicts and avoid tundra degradation, and using hunting in some range states to maintain stable population size. As part of the adaptive management procedures, adjustment to harvest is made annually subject to population status. This has required streamlining of monitoring and assessment activities. Three years after implementation, indicators suggest the attainment of management results. Dialogue, consensus-building and engagement among stakeholders represent the major process achievements