PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
There were some 20 bird species in Annex I of the Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) that, at project inception, were thought to be courting extinction. Some have shown a rapid rate of population decline, some are restricted to rare or threatened habitats, others are considered vulnerable because of their small total population size or range. In order for conservation measures to be effective, two main elements would be essential: the first is a clear European conservation policy and action plan for each species based on an analysis of all existing information; and the second is a co-ordinated approach not only across Member States, but also between government authorities, NGOs and the scientific community.
OBJECTIVES
The first objective of the project was to prepare a series of individual action plans for the recovery of each of the globally threatened species for which the Community has a particular responsibility. This would involve, in the first instance, collecting and assessing all relevant information on the conservation status of the species concerned, including what is already being done under existing regional and national plans and then building these into a priority-based programme of projects. In each case the final plan would be the result of a process of consensus between government agencies, NGOs and individual experts in the countries concerned. This would be undertaken by BirdLife International (under sub-contract).
The second part of the project would concern the implementation of an existing action plan for the corncrake (Crex crex). Involving all the 26 remaining core sites in France, Ireland and the UK, a series of conservation actions will be undertaken to attempt to reverse population decline. This will include, amongst others, persuading farmers to use more corncrake-friendly techniques, devising new management techniques for the species' conservation and monitoring their effects. Many areas should become eligible for agri-environmental schemes as a result.
RESULTS
The key output of the first part of the project was the publication in 1996 of the Council of Europe’s “Globally threatened birds in Europe: Action plans”. The project steering committee was involved in the publication.
For the second part of the project:
In the UK, numbers of singing male corncrakes in the core range increased by 30% from 449 in 1993 to 584 in 1996; the total British population was extrapolated to be c. 615 singing males (the project target was to reach 600 by 1998); annual monitoring suggested that range extensions occurred in parallel with the increase in population and while corncrakes became extinct as a breeding species in Northern Ireland in 1995, breeding was confirmed there again in 1996; outside the core areas in the UK, nine calling birds were located and conservation advice was given to farmers in seven of these cases.
There was some patchy recovery in the Republic of Ireland – the population increased to pre-1993 levels with 186 singing males in 1996.
In France the rate of decline was halted in five core areas.
Clear solutions to threats were demonstrated, for example in the timing of cutting silage or hay. The project was able to promote some of its solutions into agri-environment schemes. The key output of the first part of the project was the publication in 1996 of the Council of Europe’s “Globally threatened birds in Europe: Action plans”. The project steering committee was involved in the publication.
For the second part of the project:
In the UK, numbers of singing male corncrakes in the core range increased by 30% from 449 in 1993 to 584 in 1996; the total British population was extrapolated to be c. 615 singing males (the project target was to reach 600 by 1998); annual monitoring suggested that range extensions occurred in parallel with the increase in population and while corncrakes became extinct as a breeding species in Northern Ireland in 1995, breeding was confirmed there again in 1996; outside the core areas in the UK, nine calling birds were located and conservation advice was given to farmers in seven of these cases.
There was some patchy recovery in the Republic of Ireland – the population increased to pre-1993 levels with 186 singing males in 1996.
In France the rate of decline was halted in five core areas.
Clear solutions to threats were demonstrated, for example in the timing of cutting silage or hay. The project was able to promote some of its solutions into agri-environment schemes.