Aranyosi, A.

Eupen, M., van

Henkens, R.J.H.G.

Pouwels, R.

Sierdsema, H.

English

Wageningen Yield 

Does recreation affect Natura2000 goals for breeding birds?  
a case study for the Veluwe 
 
Pouwels, Rogier 
Alterra, Wageningen UR 
P.O.Box. 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen 
rogier.pouwels@wur.nl 
 
Henk Sierdsema 
SOVON Vogelonderzoek Nederland 
Rijksstraatweg 178, 6573 DG, Beek-Ubbergen; 
henk.sierdsema@sovon.nl 
 
Adrienn Aranyosi 
Wageningen UR 
P.O.Box. 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen 
adrienn.aranyosi@wur.nl 
 
Michiel van Eupen 
Alterra, Wageningen UR 
P.O.Box. 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen 
michiel.vaneupen@wur.nl 
 
René Henkens 
Alterra, Wageningen UR 
P.O.Box. 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen 
rene.henkens@wur.nl 
 
key words: recreation impact, birds, Natura2000, visitor distribution, regression analysis 
 
In this paper we consider the relationship between biodiversity conservation and recreation 
activity in large nature areas in Europe. Legislation in the European Union aims for better 
protection of valuable species and habitats by implementing the Habitat and Birds directive. 
At the same time, health programs stimulate people to go out into these nature areas. 
Recreational use of nature areas is increasing (Kerbiriou et al. 2009), as is the variety of types 
of recreation (Naylor et al. 2009). However, there is evidence that stimulating these two 
functions may be incompatible (Young et al. 2005). Especially for birds, recreation activity 
was shown to affect population trends e.g. for Chough (Kerbiriou et al. 2009), Golden plover 
(Yalden & Yalden 1990), Black-tailed Godwit (Holm & Laursen 2009), Woodlark (Mallord 
et al. 2007) Wheatear (Van Turnhout et al. 2007), Nightjar (Liley & Clarke 2003) and Tawny 
pipit (Van Turnhout 2005).  
 
In our currently ongoing research we investigate if recreation might be one of the factors 
affecting Natura2000 goals in one of the largest Natura2000 sites in the Netherlands, the 
Veluwe. The Veluwe is an almost 1000 km2 large area on sandy soils containing woodlands, 
heathlands, sand dunes and small streams. The area is a popular area within the Netherlands 
for recreation and tourism and some parts contain high densities of bungalow parks and 
campsites. The Veluwe is designated as Natura2000 for protecting nature values from both 
the Habitat and Bird Directive. Considering breeding birds the Veluwe has been designated 
for Wryneck, Nightjar, Woodlark, Tawny pipit, Stone Chat, Wheatear, Red-backed Shrike, 
Kingfisher, Honey Buzzard, Black Woodpecker. 
 
The research is being conducted in three parts: 
- developing an up to date map for recreation pressure 
- analysing the effect of recreation on densities of the breeding birds  
- evaluating whether recreation might effect the Natura2000 goals for breeding birds in 
the Veluwe 
 
For the construction of an up to date GIS recreation map we included bungalow parks, 
campsites and car parks as a starting point for visitors of the area. Car parks near sport fields, 
large companies and high ways were left out. Based on GIS-maps, Google earth and field 
visits we assessed the capacity of car parks. Visitors from surrounding villages were randomly 
assigned to the car parks within a distance of 15 km while car parks nearby received a higher 
preference. The recreation model MASOOR (Jochem et al. 2008) was used to distribute the 
visitors over the trails. 
 
For analysing the effect of recreation on breeding bird densities we used survey data obtained 
from 208 plots ranging from a few hectares till several hundreds of hectares. Extra layers of 
habitat information were used to make a predictive model for the densities in the survey plots. 
Next, the recreation pressure was added to the model and we analysed if the new model 
would give a better prediction for the bird densities. 
 
The predictive model will be used to estimate total numbers of breeding pairs in the Veluwe. 
We will compared these numbers with the Natura2000 goals for the species. These results 
will be presented at the conference. 
 
In total the capacity of 159 car parks at The Veluwe was determined. The total trail length at 
the Veluwe was 7429 km and approximately 200 bungalow parks and campsites were taken 
into account. Recreation pressure was highly diverse. The southeast part near Arnhem showed 
the highest pressure (up to 100.000 visitors per year) while some central parts were lowest 
(Fig. 1). 
 
Fig. 1: Total recreation pressure. 
 
Data availability for Wryneck, Red-beaked shrike, Tawny pipit and Kingfisher was limited 
and no useful models could be developed. The models for Black woodpecker and Honey 
buzzard showed no effect of recreation pressure. Nightjar, Woodlark, Stonechat and Wheatear 
all showed lower densities by an increase of recreation pressure. This result confirms that 
heathland species are expected to be more sensitive to recreation then woodland species.  
 
In the dilemma between recreational development and protecting biodiversity, scientists, 
policy makers, local managers and local communities need to meet each other in order to find 
a joint and acceptable solution for all (Cash et al. 2003). Scientists can contribute to conflict 
management by providing objective information (Young et al. 2005). They are expected to 
help justifying management plans and actions (McCool et al. 2007), but are confronted with a 
shortage of knowledge (Sutherland 2007) and a lack of sufficient long term monitoring data 
of both recreation (Cole 2006) and management effects (Wilhere 2002). With the final results 
of this research we hope to be able to fill in small part of the knowledge gap of the impact of 
visitors on biodiversity values at the landscape scale.    
 
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Cole, D.N. 2006. Visitor and recreation impact monitoring: is it lost in the gulf between 
science and management? In: The George Wright Society Forum (23), p 11-16. 
Holm, T.E. & K. Laursen. 2009. Experimental disturbance by walkers affects behaviour and 
territory density of nesting Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa. In: Ibis (151), p77-87. 
Jochem, R., R. Van Marwijk, R. Pouwels & D.G. Pitt. 2008. MASOOR: modeling the 
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management of visitor landscapes. p. 269-293. The University of Arizona Press, 
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Does recreation affect Natura2000 goals for breeding birds? A case study for the Veluwe

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