Corridors for nature in the Flemish Ecological Network
from theory to practice
KLEVE meeting 28 april 2005
1. FrameworkThe problemNature policy
DesiredRealised
2. The concept of corridor areasDefinitionProcedureState-of-the-art
3. Realisation of corridor areasObjectivesMethodologyEvaluation
Contents
Built-on: 3.393 km2 (25,1 %)Ribbon development: > 6.000 km
Nature reserves : 35% < 5haSatellite image European Environment AgencyDe Blust 2004
The problem
ResultsHabitat loss Deteriorating habitat quality
BarriersFacilitation of invasivespecies to spread
IsolationLoss of genetic diversityLocal extinctionEffects on community level
Nature policy: desired
Desired Ecological Network for FlandersAbout 20% of the area (341.000 ha)
Nature policy: designated
Current Flemish Ecological Network (86.000 ha)
1. FrameworkThe problemNature policy
DesiredRealised
2. The concept of corridor areasDefinitionProcedureState-of-the-art
3. Realisation of corridor areasObjectivesMethodologyEvaluation
Contents
Definition
2° Corridor areas: areas, irrespective of their surface area, of importance to the dispersal of plants and animals betweenareas of the FEN and/or nature reserves; strips or lines linking up small landscape elements
Flemish Nature Decree
Policy in corridor areas
Natural function is subordinate to other functionsand is determined by landscape elements and small naturalareas
Only stimulating measures are possiblee.g. subsidies for planting and maintenance of landscape elements, pools, field margins, buffer strips, roadside verges…
Ecological functioning can be improved by the development of landscape elementsrealize linkages between ecological core areas and areas withmixed functions
Flemish Nature DecreeEnvironmental planning (Spatial Structure Plan for Flanders)
Procedure
Corridor areas are a competence of the Flemish provinces
1. Designation via provincial spatial structure plan (PRS)
2. Delimitation via spatial implementation plan (RUP)
3. Setting up a conservation objective plan:
- Objectives- Management options- Measures
eg Designation in Antwerp
Designated corridor areas
347 Corridor areas158 Areas for Ecological Infrastructure
Types of corridors
1. Wet corridors : watercourses of provincialcompetence
2. Dry corridors : not directly linked to valleys orwatercourses
3. Corridors through urban areas.
857-GeenVLB
uitgevoerd41 Heers, Tongeren, tussen
Herkebeek/Kruisberg en Mombeek (Widooi)
74436
uitgevoerd63 doortocht van Demer doorheen
verstedelijkt gebied tussen LUC en voorbij Prinsbeemden (waterzuivering)
LIM
-Gebied tussen de Kalmthoutse heide en De Maatjes
171042uitgevoerd
40 Langs vallei van de Aa en langs het beekdal van de Laakbeek – Holle Beemdenbeek ; gebied tussen Lille en Gierle met het beekdal van de Laakbeek - Holle Beemdenbeek
ANT
uitvoering5N10 Heuvelrug getuigenisheuvels Vlaamse Ardennen
7861uitvoering
2N1 (polders St margriete en Bentille-Waterland-Oudeman-Watervliet) + 2N2 (polders Boekhoute-Assenede) in het Meetjeslands krekengebied
OVL
482869-GeenWVL
EIBDROOGNAT
VOORSTUDIE
AANTAL NVBG EN EIBPILOOTVERBINDINGENPROVINCIE
1. FrameworkThe problemNature policy
DesiredRealised
2. The concept of corridor areasDefinitionProcedureState-of-the-art
3. Realisation of corridor areasObjectivesMethodologyEvaluation
Contents
What we know from literatureCorridor design is function of specific target speciesHuge amount of knowledge needed(population dynamics, disersal, genetics…) in order to render corridors functionalA lot of scientific uncertainties about the functioning of corridors. At present, scientificknowledge is insufficient to make corridors really functionalLinking is not always a good strategy and canbe dangerous
Read more: evidence-based review Adriaens et al. 2004
What we know from literature
vs
Baguette et al. 2000Bergers & La Haye 1997Merckx & Van Dyck 2003Johnsen & Taylor 2000
vs
vs
emphasis must be on:
• Stand-still: basic ecological quality, preserve conducting elements(stepping stones, landscape elements…)
• Preserve, restore and develop characteristicecological values of the area
• Robustness: simple measures to improveconnecting qualities of the corridor area for as many species as possible
• Ensuring complementarity of measures to thosein linked areas (eg Natura 2000 areas)
Objectives in corridor areas
Methodology -1
Selection of pilot projects (prioritize)1 wet corridor area1 dry corridor area
Performing a detailed study of the areaAreas to be linkedEcological values of the corridor areaConducting elementsSpeciesPressure points
Example
Characteristic values
Problems
Methodology -2
Developing objectivesDefining ambition level
Stand-still (Nature Decree)Improving ecological qualityImproving coherence of the network
Determine target species for specific landscape quality
Make up a communication plan withstakeholdersRegular feed-back and exchange of experiencewith other provinces in order to harmonisemethodology
Nederlandse naam Grotenhout Den Haert zoekzone RL Beschermd nationaal Bern Bonn Hab Vog
prov. aand.soort
Vogels blauwborst X X X X X X boomklever X X X X X boomkruiper X X X X boomleeuwerik X KW X X X X boompieper X Ach X X X huismus X huiszwaluw X Ach X X
ijsvogel X X X KW X X X X kauw X X kievit X X X kleine bonte specht X X X roodborsttapuit X X X BE X X X scholekster X X X sperwer X X X X X X zwarte specht X X X MNB X X X X zwartkop X X X amfibieën alpenwatersalamander X vinpootsalamander X Z Bijlage 4 hazelworm X Z dagvlinders atalanta X X
bont dikkopje X KW X bont zandoogje X X X boomblauwtje X X X bruin blauwtje X KW bruin zandoogje X X X ci troenvlinder X X X
Selection of target species
Landscape model ’small-scale landscape’
“small-scale landscape“For :
BadgerBatsSmall mammalsButterflies
Optimal configuration :10% of surface area = landscape elements100-250m wide2.5-5ha of smalllandscape elements per km, preferably linearNo interruptions
Dautzenberg (red.) (2004)Provincie Noord-Brabant
Landscape model ’wet corridor’
For :Great crested newtDragonfliesTree frogPolecatArctic skipper
Optimal configuration :Watercourse and itsbanksMinimal 10m widePools as steppingstones, close to eachother (max. 400m) and surrounded by shrub and woodlandEcologically managedbanks
Dautzenberg (red.) (2004)Provincie Noord-Brabant
RecommendationsMore flexible procedure would lead to fasterrealisation on the fieldScientific support remains essential
Tuning the violin with the regional levelActual realisation on the field
Financial stimulusCommunicationPlanningRealisation
MonitoringLearning from pilot projectsEvaluate available set of instrumentsEvaluate efficiency of measures
Defragmentation in practice…