Protection of meadow birds in coastal areas of Vorpommern (Germany)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

In Central Europe, populations of meadow birds have been significantly declining for several decades. The two main reasons for this decline are the degradation of breeding habitats and predation. The breeding success of some meadow birds is currently too low to reverse this decline. Two migratory species targeted by the project, dunlin (Calidris alpina) and ruff (Philomachus pugnax), listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive, have already disappeared as breeding species in Mecklenburg-Vorpommer. Another five meadow bird species listed in Annex II (also targeted by the project) are black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), redshank (Tringa totanus), European curlew (Numenius arquata) and common snipe (Gallinago gallinago).

OBJECTIVES

The LIFE Limicodra project aims to improve conditions for meadow bird species in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Previous conservation efforts embedded in agri-environmental schemes do not seem to be enough to achieve a favourable conservation status for the bird species. Thus, known and successfully-tested methods for the protection of meadow birds will be applied in a best-practice approach. The project team will use the experience gained to improve the agri-environmental schemes in favour of meadow bird protection. Purchase of land will secure project sites in the long term.

Expected results:

Creation of potential breeding habitats for dunlin and ruff;

Optimisation of the hydrology, morphology and vegetation on 730 ha;

Improved vegetation conditions on 200 ha for meadow birds;

60 ha of breeding habitats cleared of tall vegetation;

30-40 ha purchased for the implementation of long-term concrete conservation measures and land swaps;

3 000 m of permanent fox fences and two fox gates installed;

Two bridges made fox-proof;

15 catch traps and 50 artificial dens installed and tended;

4 500 m of electric mobile fences purchased to protect all bird breeding sites;

Infrastructure for fencing established on more than 10 000 m;

Initiation of an expert network on meadow birds; and

Organisation of promotional activities and production and dissemination of materials to raise public awareness of meadow birds.