Ambassador profile

Organisation profile

• NL9803011 : Drents Friese Wold (7,099 ha)
• NL2003003 : Achter de Voort en Voltherbroek (306 ha)
• NL3004003 : Landgoederen Oldenzaal (521 ha)
• NL2003029 : Lonnekermeer (104 ha)
• NL2003001 : Aamsveen (146 ha)
• Witte Veen
• NL3004005 : Leusveld, Voorstonden en Empesche/Tondense heide (698 ha)
• NL9803039 : Leudal (316 ha)
• NL2000008 : Meinweg (1,804 ha)
• IJzerenbosch
• NL2003025 : Kunderberg (95 ha)
• NL9801041 : Geuldal (2,472 ha)
• Savelsbos
• Noorbeemden en Hoogbos

Priority species focused by the project (The species are also on the national Red List: Triturus cristatus (vulnerable), Bombina variegata (severely threatened), Alytes obstetricans (vulnerable), Hyla arborea (threatened) and Pelobates fuscus (threatened).)

AMBITION

The project is focused on the realisation of habitat improvement for the threatened species as mentioned above. The project team aims at finishing these works in 2007 (2008 at the latest). In the mean time we also invite local stakeholders and authorities to visit the project sites and to learn about the project goals.
The project should also organise 2 international workshops. The first workshop has been in Sept. 2006 in the province Limburg. The second workshop is scheduled for 2008 (see also workshop list Eurosite : www.eurosite.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=1).

Activities and products for the communication of Natura 2000

 

✓Guided visits

✓Other: Press releases

✓Other: Interviews with local/regional TV/Radio

 

✓A few times a year

 

✓Yes

 

Monitoring

 

✓Posters

✓Leaflets

 

✓General public (Brochure 1)

✓Other site managers (Brochure 2)

 

✓Yes

 

The communication strategy for Staatsbosbeheer is documented in an internal document which title is: “Communicatiebeleid Natura 2000 Staatsbosbeheer” and it identifies the target groups and means of (internal and external) communication on the subject.
The project itself is communicated via www.life-ambition.com.

• A poster has been produced advertising the project, which has been used on different occasions.
• The project team will issue 2 brochures. The first brochure ( general information) is available. The second brochure (technical information) will be issued in 2007-2008.
• The website : www.life-ambition.com.
• Press releases + interviews with local/regional TV/Radio.

 

✓By the project team itself

 

✓No

 

Not officially, but we do have contacts with projects in Great Britain, Denmark, Germany and Slovenia.

• Restoration of core biotopes for all five species as well as the development of new suitable habitats adjoining these areas
• Development of stepping-stones and corridor habitats such that clusters of core habitats are linked, allowing the formation of a meta-population structure. All species require water bodies for reproduction with adjoining suitable land habitat for all terrestrial life stages.

Actions involve both the restoration and development of some hundreds of ponds and development of adjoining land habitat.

To guarantee sustainable habitat improvement we focus mainly on Natura 2000 areas which are recently designated under the Habitat Directive (article 4 of Directive 92/43/EEC) as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for Triturus cristatus and Bombina variegata.

The main objective is to develop viable meta-populations of five amphibian species named on Annex II (and Annex IV) of the Habitats Directive which will be achieved through restoration and improvement of habitats.
Currently conservation plans are carried out for all species (except T.cristatus). However, since a relatively large part of the northwest European Triturus cristatus population inhabits the Netherlands we bear a significant responsibility in protecting this species.
All of the species concerned are especially threatened because their former distribution in the Netherlands was also outside what is now the National Ecological Network, and dependent on small-scale agricultural landscapes. Agricultural enlargement between 1950 and 1980 has reduced the available number of ponds and small water bodies and landhabitats severely. Therefore, most species are now restricted to a few isolated core areas, often in nature reserves.
Beginning with securing of present core habitats followed by an enlargement of these habitats through development or restoration of habitat adjoining the core habitats. The isolated habitats are then joined together through corridors or migration zones. A sustainable network of interactive sub-populations will develop. This so-called meta-population structure ensures that the population will not vanish, even though the sub-populations may experience a local extinction. The adjoining sub-populations will be able to re-colonise the 'empty' habitat through natural dispersion process.

For the severely threatened Bombina variegata this project should firstly conserve the remaining populations and might lead to further increase. For the other species creation of strongholds of sufficient size as well as the development of meta-population structure are the main objectives.
These will be achieved through restoration and connection of existing isolated populations in the Netherlands. The cooperation between partners will not only result in a stimulating effect within the project, but will encourage further joint actions nationwide and in the neighbouring countries. Education of the public and local people will lead to further participation in the protection of the endangered amphibians, especially in the cultured landscapes surrounding the Natura 2000 areas.

This project is based on a cooperation between different management authorities. Partners will work closely together adopting a three-step strategy as followed in Dutch species protection plans.

The partners in this project are:

• Staatsbosbeheer
• Natuurmonumenten
• RAVON
• Landschap Overijssel
• IKL ( Instandhouding Kleine Landschapselementen in Limburg)
• Stiching Landschapsbeheer Gelderland
• Provinces of Drenthe, Overijssel, Gelderland and Limburg
• Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Foodquality
• DG Environment of the EU.

For the realisation of the habitats for the different species pools have been created or restored, but also land habitat with e.g. shrub planting, creation of zoom-vegetation and rough stone-walls.

Dependent on the specific species the shape of pools differs in depth and surface. In the south of Limburg the pools are made with a concrete bottom.

Within the project the beneficiary has to establish agreements with the other partners about the realisation of the project. Partners work together in the project team and share knowledge and working experiences.

The total budget is € 1.3 million.

The European funding is 50 % of total budget (Life-Nature)