ECNC - LHF: a new development
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ECNC and LHFfound each other
During its short history (1998-2009), the Large Herbivore Foundation, LHF (and its predecessor "The Large Herbivore Initiative, LHI") has been an advocate for promoting the strategic, ecological importance of large herbivores in the wider nature conservation efforts at a landscape level ("living landscapes") as well as conserving of the large herbivore "forgotten species" across northern and central Eurasia. As such, LHF has been a real pioneer.
During the summer and autumn of 2009, intensive discussions about the future role and work of LHF were held within the executive team, also involving the chairman and treasurer of the Board and the chairman of the Advisory Council, as well as with a series of individuals and other. However, the option of re-vitalizing LHF as an organization, powerful enough, to embark on a path of financial self-sufficiency is considered unrealistic.
Future: towards an ECNC-LHF integration
Based on a dialogue taking place in the summer/autumn of 2009, the Dutch-based "European Centre for Nature Conservation (ECNC)" proved to be interested in adopting the LHF philosophy and work as part of a wider "Biodiversity & Nature" theme. ECNC provides an excellent organisational opportunity for integrating the 'conservation legacy' of LHF into the wider policy discussions on the development of Pan-European Ecological Network (including Natura 2000 / Emerald Network), climate change/ecological resilience, best-management practices of protected areas, etc. ECNC's work on ecological networks already serves as one of the main pillars of the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy (PEBLDS) endorsed by 54 European countries.
Future: towards close cooperation with IUCN
The second pillar is to work on a closer cooperation with IUCN, and its' Species Survival Commission, including the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA). A number of relevant groups specialised on different large ungulates already exist - such as for horses, asses and zebras, antelopes, bison, wild sheep and goats, and deer - which could serve as the embryo for a new group addressing the situation of the large herbivore species in Eurasia and their importance for ecosystem functioning. The latter aspect would serve as a 'cross-cutting' issue unifying the work of the existing groups at the same time as developing a new, more holistic, landscape ecological dimension to the conservation of individual species.
The first concrete and positive discussions towards such a solution were already held. A similar 'exit strategy' in the form of an IUCN Working Group was successfully implemented in 2005 for the "Large Carnivore for Europe, LCIE" initiative launched and supported by WWF in parallel to the LHI.
Next Steps: Phase out - Phase in
The two options above will be further developed with the aim of 'exiting' no later than on 31 December 2010.
The Executive Director - with assistance of Chairman and Treasurer of the Board and the Chairman of the Advisory Council - is working out a detailed proposal for a "Phase out - Phase in Strategy" for the Large Herbivore Foundation. This strategy will both provide a perspective on how to maximize the 'conservation legacy' of the Foundation as well as to clarify the legal and procedural measures required for closing the Foundation.
Ecosystem and Species Management Programme
On the 1st of January 2010 the first step was taken. LHF joined ECNC as part of the Ecosystem and Species Management Programme, a new ECNC Core Program Area, and the LHF Executive Director, Hans Kampf, will function as its Senior Programme Manager.
