PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Great bustard (Otis tarda) numbers in Europe have fallen dramatically since the 1930s as a result of agricultural intensification. In East Germany the industrialisation of agriculture under the collective system in the GDR was the main cause. Numbers went down from some 4 000 to some 100 birds. Natural pastures, the preferred habitat of the great bustard, were drained and converted to sown grassland or ploughed into cropland. As a result the birds were unable to find sufficient food to feed their chicks or were killed by machinery. This project concentrated on two sites in Brandenburg: the Belziger Landschaftswiesen (Landkreis Belzig: 4 817 ha) and the Westhavelländisches Luch (Landkreis Rathenow: 4 700 ha).
OBJECTIVES
The objective was to “re-diversify” [to increase the biodiversity of] 9 500 ha of monoculture left by the collective farms and reduce disturbance to birds. To achieve this core land would be purchased and then leased to interested farmers under strict conservation conditions or would be directly managed by the project proponents themselves. In this core land, for example, less fertiliser and pesticides would be used. Around the core areas, zones would be established where farmers would be given agri-environment grants by the Ministry of Agriculture to ‘extensify’ (reduce the level of intensification) their practices. Great bustards would be bred in captivity and released. Visitor facilities would be built to promote eco-tourism and raise awareness.
RESULTS
The great bustard populations have stabilised as a consequence of the project after a period of major decline. A total of 477 ha were bought in the framework of the LIFE-project; in all (including other funding) 2 300 ha were bought and 989 ha leased. Therefore 30% of both nature protection areas are now safeguarded by land purchase or leasing. A further 41% of the area is used by farmers in a more traditional low-intensity way consistent with the objectives of nature protection.
Some 5 000-7 000 visitors have come to the research and captive breeding station in Buckow each year. The project helped establish another great bustard LIFE project (LIFE94 NAT/D/000500) at Fiener Bruch in the neighbouring Land, Sachsen-Anhalt.The great bustard populations have stabilised as a consequence of the project after a period of major decline. A total of 477 ha were bought in the framework of the LIFE-project; in all (including other funding) 2 300 ha were bought and 989 ha leased. Therefore 30% of both nature protection areas are now safeguarded by land purchase or leasing. A further 41% of the area is used by farmers in a more traditional low-intensity way consistent with the objectives of nature protection.
Some 5 000-7 000 visitors have come to the research and captive breeding station in Buckow each year. The project helped establish another great bustard LIFE project (LIFE94 NAT/D/000500) at Fiener Bruch in the neighbouring Land, Sachsen-Anhalt.