OostvaardersplassenHistory, present and future

Danish Nature Conference21-08-2019

The landscapes of the Oostvaardersplassen

• 3.600 ha marshland• 2.000 ha grassland• 1.500 ha nature (forest) in borderzones)

Landscapes of the Oostvaardersplassen

The Oostvaardersplassennew nature on a formersea bed

Oostvaardersplassen 1969• Lowest part of the polder

(planned industrial area)• Spontaneous vegetation • Attracting wetland birds• Agricultural development• Embankment to preserve the

marsh• European Bird Directive• Natura 2000 area since 2010

1974

It all started with spontaneous vegetationdevelopment attracting high numbers of wetland related birds

Conservational objectives Wetlandbirds(reed and open water)

Introduction large herbivores

Oostvaardersplassen

Heck cattle 1983; 32 anim. Konik horse 1984; 18 anim.Red deer 1992; 44 anim.

• From 1996 whole area grazed• Creating large scale grasslands

Introduction large herbivores

• Animal numbers not controlled by man• Area is fenced• No large predators• Early reactive culling• From 1996 whole area grazed• Creating large scale grasslands for wetland

related birds

Introduction large herbivores

Population dynamics large herbivores

Reference: Oostvaardersplassen and Serengeti

Oostvaardersplassen vs. Serengeti

Mortality and culling

Early reactive cullingto prevent unnecessary suffering

Total mortality (% pop.) Culling (% total mort.)

Geese visiting the border zonefacilitation and competition

Population development Distribution over the year

Area living habitat red deer and populationdevelopment

40 63104133181242307378457571

750949

11181126

1466

1758

19972126

23402454

2311

2055

23782229

1778

2650

1275

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

aanta

l

jaar; peildatum 1 mei

Red deer population since 1992

Vegetation development border zone

1996

2012

2004

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1996 2000 2004 2008 2012

oppe

rvla

kte

(ha)

jaar

vegetatieontwikkeling randzone

struweel

riet

riet-ruigte

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1996 2000 2004 2008 2012

oppe

rvla

kte

(ha)

jaar

vegetatieontwikkeling randzone

grazige ruigte

nat grasland

droog grasland

Wood-pasture landscape / half open landscapeDue to grazing regime with cattle, horses and red deer

Natural processes in the lead:Early reactive culling to prevent unneccesary suffering

ICMO 1 and ICMO 2 (2014)

Longplay film: The new wilderness

Change of policy responsibility:

2016 From National Government to Provincial Government

2017: Proposal to transform the management of the Oostvaardersplassen resultingin advice from the Commission Van Geel(by July 2018).

Feeding: March 2018

Finances:

StaatsbosbeheerGovernmental Organisation with autonomous management

● 50% subsidies (Landscape and Nature)

● 50% Income from wood production, ground lease and

properties as well as other activities such as recreation

and excursions

● Increasingly in collaboration with local businesses and

municipalities.

Social resistance

● Social Media (facebook, twitter)

● Regular Media

● Feeding groups

● Threatening rangers and law-enforcers

Social resistance –shitstorm

New policy on basis of report Commission Van Geel - April 2018

Headline New Policy:What are the tasks?

1. Birds first

2. A varied and attractive landscape a.o. reduction of large

herbivore population

3. New Land National Park

Population reduction

1. Reset of large herbivores (reduction to 1.100 anim.)

2. Culling of Red Deer

3. Transferring horses to other areas (Denmark ? )

4. Heck cattle untouched (stable population)

Oostvaardersplassen in the pictureTowards a dynamic and amazing landscape

Marshland reset

Water in the grassy area

Thank you for your attention

…Questions?