10 most recent news and agenda items

The LARGE HERBIVORES, Eurasian Support Network: towards a renewed in-situ and ex-situ cooperation

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 16:26:55 +0200

On the 1st of July 2010 the Large Herbivore Foundation (LHF) joined the ECNC-European Centre for Nature Conservation.

ECNC is an international expertise centre for biodiversity and sustainable development, with its headquarters in Tilburg, the Netherlands. ECNC has 20 staff located in Tilburg and one staff member based in the European Topic Centre for Biological Diversity in Paris. In order to join forces, ECNC and the Coastal and Marine Union (EUCC) created the ECNC Group last year, consisting of a “blue” and a “green” pillar.

LHF is now the “LARGE HERBIVORES Eurasian Support Network”

The foundation LHF is closed, but the LHF mission continues in the new ECNC Programmes as part of the green pillar of the ECNC Group. LHF’s Network has found its new place in the independently functioning ECNC “LARGE HERBIVORES Eurasian Support Network”, of which Hans Kampf is its first director.

LHF’s Chairman – Magnus Sylvén – joined the ECNC Board and Hartmut Jungius in his function as Chairman of LHF’s Advisory Council became member of ECNC’s Scientific Council.

Rob Wolters (director ECNC) and Hans Kampf (right) signing the contract

The LARGE HERBIVORES website will continue to serve as one of the main tools of the future work; a WIKI-like platform for everyone interested in the large herbivores in Eurasia with a lot of information about the species and their landscapes, leading to project ideas, factsheets and portfolios. As a source for fundraising and as a base for concrete results: between the hand-on actions in the field and the long-term policy developments on national and even global levels.

The focus of the work for the coming years

To strengthen the Network, building partnerships with the most important organizations and experts in the field of large herbivore conservation across Eurasia, and mobilising “herbivore ambassadors”, including the zoo's.
With help of this new easy accessible, interactive, open source website, to create the best available source of information on the large herbivore species in Eurasia, matched with particularly important “hot spots” and “nature development areas”.
Identify priority projects (portfolio's) in the field of large herbivores, ecosystems and their functioning.
Develop and implement a sound communication strategy to influence key audiences, strengthen the policy developments, and to improve the management situations on the ground
To combine the efforts through in-situ and ex-situ conservation and restoration strategies.

The region

We recognize circa 57 countries in our region (the Eurasian part of the Palaearctic ecoregion, excluding Northern China/Tibet, but including a few countries south of the Caspian sea to underline the connectivity between Turkey and countries as Turkmenistan.

The species

We selected 36 species of herbivores, including the wild boar and the beaver as important “ecosystem builders”. The large herbivores are an important prey for the large carnivores, and important food for the carrion eaters, a still undervalued part of our biodiversity.

Based on the factsheets of the IUCN Red List for Endangered species (with many thanks to IUCN, and its Species Survival Commission) we found that only 25% of the large herbivore species in Eurasia count a total population larger than 250,000 animals; but even more than 30% are occurring in numbers lower than 10,000 animals, at a meta-population level. These numbers are shocking numbers, especially for large herbivores that should occur in numbers in the range of may 100,000s or even millions.

Within a few weeks we will present more figures for each of the species regarding their numbers, the level of protection or how threatened they are, based on the IUCN criteria of threatened species, and their developments as well. These first figures are still under discussion, but the trends seem clear, and have to be changed from a negative into a positive spiral.

The landscapes

Large carnivores need large herbivores, and large herbivores need vast landscapes.

Therefore vast landscapes / robust ecosystems have to be recognized and protected by spatial planning or reconstructed by connectivity with as one of the instruments the Pan European Ecological Network, in combination with Natura 2000 and Emerald. This is also an answer from nature protection and development on the risks of climate change.

Fare well meeting in the dunes of Overveen. From left to the right: Hans Kampf, Michel van Delft, Waltraut Zimmermann, Magnus Sylvén, Rob Wolters, and two staff members of the Kraansvlak dune area

Towards a renewed cooperation

The LARGE HERBIVORES Eurasian Support Network hopes to fulfil a niche in the coming years in Eurasia, working in a large and wide network, where specialists and enthusiast people meet.

Animals of the ecocenter “Djeyran” need help

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:28:52 +0200

The Global Environment Facility's (GEF) Small Grants Programme published the following alarming message.

The past year has been quite favorable for the dwellers of the ecocenter “Djeyran”. We anticipate that the population of Jeyran gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) will reach 1200 animals, wild donkey (Equus hemionus) population will reach 80, wild Przewalsky horse (Equus przewalskii), extinct in wild - 24. This is an amazing achievement of the ecocenter and the whole team working here. There is however one “but” – it will be extremely difficult to keep all these animals alive.

Why? Read more about the problems to solve: this year 2010 is extremely poor in terms of fodder resources borne by the desert. What to do?

XXIX International Union Of Game Biologists (Iugb) Congress 2009

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:27:00 +0200

Moscow, Russia
Info: www.iugb-moscow2009.ru (site is no longer online)

Bison reintroduction 'Rothaargebirge', Germany

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:15:00 +0100

Large Herbivore Foundation supports the Wisent-Wildnis-Wittgenstein e.V. bison reintroduction project in the 'Rothaargebirge', Germany.

On the 24st of March 2010 the first European bison would become reintroduced in Germany, Rothaargebirge. LHF is - together with Artis Zoo, Amsterdam - one of the keen supporters of this reintroduction process. Because of the heavy snow is the earlier planned release oft the animals was postponed.

Siegen-Wittgenstein and Hochsauerland administrative districts, North Rhine-Westphalia, this pilot and development project's main aim is to establish a free-ranging herd of European bison in an approximately 6,900 ha area of the Rothaargebirge region. Based on the supporting capacity of the land, the ultimate size of the bison herd is estimated at 20 to 25 animals.
The project is intended to make an active contribution towards conserving the European lowland bison that goes significantly further than breeding efforts in zoos. Reintroducing the bison will also extend the range of large indigenous herbivore species and refill a currently vacant ecological niche for grass and roughage eaters.

Measures to secure acceptance in the region aim to show that with suitable management, a viable habitat can be created for formerly indigenous large mammals even in densely populated Germany, and that human land use interests can be reconciled with such animals' needs.
About half of the project territory falls within a Natura 2000 site, the 'Schanze' area. It is therefore necessary to decide what reintroducing bison means for conservation in this area and its future development. This includes determining the animals' impact on the tree population and natural woodland regeneration, and also on woodland development when looked at from a commercial forestry standpoint.

As dense populations of hoofed animals can cause severe forestry damage, another project goal is to study how bison affect forestry objectives. A study will also be made of game management approaches designed to minimise such damage (e.g. improving food availability and adapting the hunting regime).
A viewing enclosure and information stand will inform visitors to the region about the biology and history of the European bison, the aims of the project, the animals' place in the ecosystem and associated natural processes. The viewing enclosure and information stand will also help to guide visitors and advertise the project.

Source: http://www.bfn.de/0202_rothaargebirge_wisente.html

Project page: http://www.largeherbivore.org/bison-reintroduction-project-in-the-rothaargebirge-germany/

Towards a wilder Europe

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:38:15 +0200

In "Towards a Wilder Europe" one can read all about Developing an action agenda for wilderness and large natural habitat areas.

There are few truly wild areas remaining in our highly developed continent, yet they represent an invaluable part of Europe’s natural heritage. In addition to their intrinsic spiritual and landscape qualities, and their important contribution to biodiversity conservation, such areas can offer significant economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits to local communities, landholders and society in general.

For this reason preventing further loss of wilderness, and ensuring implementation of large scale restoration opportunities, are important challenges. However we do not yet have a common vision for these vital areas and for their place in the broader objective of halting biodiversity decline.

Prague Conference on Wilderness and Large Natural Habitat areas

So the Prague Conference on Wilderness and Large Natural Habitat areas, jointly hosted in May 2009 by the Czech EU Presidency and the European Commission, together with the Wild Europe partnership, provided a critical platform to advance Europe’s agenda in this field.

A key outcome from the Conference was the development of the ‘Message (Poselstvi) from Prague’, which contains 24 recommendations from the participants on policy, research, awareness raising and partnership building.

Action Agenda

An Action Agenda was agreed in December 2009 at a meeting in Brussels of the Wild Europe partnership. Implementation of these recommendations, which has since begun, would create a Europe richer in wildlife with wild areas where natural processes predominate, maintaining and reinstating the natural identity of our continent for the profound benefit of future generations....

Oostvaardersplassen, honger of natuur?

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:41:00 +0100

Oostvaardersplassen: het decor van "Goede tijden, Slechte tijden", een dierenwelzijnsbalans (English summary below article)

Een leven proces zonder lijden, zonder pijn, zonder aftakeling, dat bestaat niet. Niet bij mensen en niet in de natuur!

Als je alle reacties leest op de NRC weblog en in de krant over wat mensen vinden van de natuur in Nederland, en speciaal over de grote, al dan niet aaibare dieren, dan zie je heel veel liefde voor het individuele dier, maar schrik je er van dat zo weinig inzenders het hebben over de dieren op populatieniveau, en over hun rol binnen het ecosysteem, het landschap. Dat is begrijpelijk, het is immers complex.

Natuurlijk moet je - zeker moreel gezien - proberen onnodig lijden en onacceptabele pijn te voorkomen, en moet je er voor zorgen dat een dier "gelukkig" kan leven. Maar gaat dat ook zonder sterfte, en hoe kan je voorkomen dat doodgaan een proces is zonder lijden, zonder pijn, zonder aftakeling? Dat bestaat dus niet, niet voor mensen, niet voor dieren.

De Universiteit van Wageningen (WUR) heeft een aantal jaren geleden een studie gedaan naar de ethische vraag hoe je met dieren in de grotere natuurgebieden moet omgaan. Gebieden als de Oostvaardersplassen, de Veluwe etc. zijn gelukkig (weer) van die schaal, dat je best over gebieden kan spreken waar ecologische / natuurlijke processen van enig formaat kunnen plaats hebben, daar hoeven we niet zo bescheiden over te doen; en het maakt ook niet uit of de mens daar een scheppende hand in heeft gehad of niet, de natuur gaat zijn eigen gang.

De WUR-ethici vergeleken de dieren in zulke gebieden met de dieren in de gangbare landbouw. De titel van dit rapport is "Goede tijden, Slechte tijden" (een titel, die de problematiek goed schetst) en gaat ondermeer in op de "dieren-welzijns-balans": je moet naar de hele levensloop van het dier kijken, van de geboorte tot aan de (onvermijdelijke) dood. Het is heel verschillend, of je spreekt over de dieren op de boerderij of in een dierentuin, ingerasterd / gekooid op een verhoudingsgewijs heel kleine oppervlakte van hooguit enkele tientallen hectares. Of dat je spreekt over dieren, feitelijk populaties van dieren in een gebied van duizenden hectares groot, en als dat te klein blijkt, dan kan je die gebieden zelfs nog vergroten middels de ecologische hoofdstructuur, zoals thans gebeurt in Flevoland met de robuuste ecologische verbinding Oostvaarderswold (Oostvaardersplassen - het Horsterwold): het Oostvaardersland is een project van 15.000 ha met een optie op een verbinding naar de Veluwe en de "droom" over de verbinding naar Duitsland (zie de Nota Ruimte en http://www.flevoland.nl/wat-doen-we/grote-projecten/oostvaarderswold/. Dit onderdeel van de ecologische hoofdstructuur wordt aangelegd, mede op het dringende advies van het International Committee on the Management of large herbivores in the Oostvaardersplassen (ICMO), 2006, zie: http://www.rlg.nl/adviezen/058/058_icmo.html.

In de achtergrondartikelen in de verschillende kranten is helder uiteengezet wat er gebeurt als je toch vroegtijdig zou ingrijpen. Het is ook een hele klus om "via het jagersoog als een wolf te kijken". De ethologen van de WUR hebben geprobeerd in het najaar in te schatten welke dieren zullen sterven, en welke niet. Goed dat ze niet om geld hebben gewed, de schijnbaar zwakke dieren redden het prima om de winter door te komen, de dieren in schijnbaar goede conditie haalden het voorjaar niet. Overigens kunnen dieren zo'n 25% gewicht verliezen om de slechte tijden door te komen, daarvoor dient immers hun vet.

Is er een alternatief?

Bijvoeren leidt tot een grote onderlinge concurrentie, waarbij de sterken het winnen van de zwakkeren, die het voedsel het hardste nodig zouden hebben. Het leidt er toe dat er in een volgend jaar meer dieren worden geboren, en dan niet alleen in het voorjaar, zoals de natuurlijke cyclus is, maar ook later in het jaar. Dit leidt dan weer tot een welzijnsvraagstuk in de volgende jaren. Schieten in het najaar in gezonde populaties leidt weer tot stress in de kudde, etc. Dit willen we eigenlijk uit een oogpunt van dierenwelzijn ook weer niet.
Grote grazers waren (en zijn dat potentieel natuurlijk nog) eigenlijk onze belangrijkste landschapsvormers. Ze zorgen voor open plekken, zowel in de vegetatie als op de grond en zorgen zo voor tal van niches voor allerlei andere soorten planten en dieren.

Bijvoorbeeld, een gebied als de Oostvaardersplassen groeit, als er geen grote grazers zijn, helemaal dicht met dikke pakketten riet, andere gebieden, zoals de duinen of langs de rivieren groeien dicht met eenvormig struweel, waar ook geen ruimte is voor de soorten die we graag zouden willen hebben.
Het alternatief is dan grootschalig maaien met grote machines met alle (milieu)gevolgen van dien.

En dan nog de vraag, zijn de Serengeti's en andere echt grote gebieden wel zo diervriendelijk; Pas nog mooie, spectaculaire beelden gezien van wilde beesten (gnoes) die de canyon-achtige Mara rivier in het Masai Mara gebied probeerden over te steken; een massaslachting, maar vooral door vertrapping en verdrinking, naast dat wat de krokodillen deze dieren aandoen.

Waar je - al typend - weer op terug komt is de vraag: spreken we over onnodig lijden en acceptabele pijn, of is dit het slechte deel van het "goede tijden - slechte tijden" verhaal. Ik ben het eens met de conclusies van het ICMO-rapport. Staatsbosbeheer probeert met zijn ethische richtlijnen mede bepaald in overleg met het parlement - onnodig lijden en onacceptabele pijn zo veel mogelijk te voorkomen. Ook op het platteland en in de stad moeten we beseffen dat de natuur prachtig is, maar soms ook meedogenloos, zowel voor het dier als voor de mens.

En de (natuur)bonus die je krijgt is - naast tal van andere voorbeelden - de grote zilverreigers in de polder en de zeearend, als broedvogel sinds eeuwen weer terug in Nederland. Het zij zo!

Hans Kampf

28 January 2010

Note for the English readers; Oostvaardersplassen: the setting of "Good times, bad times", an animal welfare balance

If you read all the responses in the NRC blog (Dutch newspaper, January 2010) and in the newspapers about what people think of nature in the Netherlands, and especially the big, cuddly animals, you see a lot of love for the individual animals, but so few contributors talk about the animals at the population level, and their role in the ecosystem, the landscape. This is understandable, because it is complex.

Of course you should - especially morally - prevent unacceptable suffering and pain, and you must ensure that an animal can have a "happy" life. But will this go without mortality, and how can you avoid a process leading to death without suffering, without pain, without decay? That does not exist, not for humans, not for animals.

Based on discussions in the newspapers the article above explainsw that nature (and man) cant't live without suffering, without pain, without decay, it does not exist. Not with people and not in nature! It is an ethical discuassion how to deal with this dilemma; a discussion about "Good times, bad times", and the animal welfare balance.

For more information, please contact LHF.

Ingezonden brief, gepubliceerd in de Opiniekatern van NRC, dd 29-01-2010

Bison and Human Interaction with field-excursion

Hans Kampf — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:23:00 +0100

Overveen Workshop results about Wild bison in the Netherlands published!

Stephen Decker (Canadian Memorial Universite, New Foundland) wrote the full workshop report.

On October 13th, 2009 Holland's Provinciaal Waterleidingbedrijf Noord-Holland (Puur Water en Natuur, PWN) and the Large Herbivore Foundation (LHF) hosted the first workshop in a number of years to focus on the Human Dimensions of large herbivore restoration and management. The workshop was held in Overveen, the Netherlands at the edge of the Kraansvlak dunes and was attended by more than 30 people from the Netherlands and several other Western European countries as well as two Canadians. The workshop began with introductions and warm welcomes by Hans Kampf, who recently replaced Fred Baerselman as the new director of the LHF, and Piet Veel, sector manager for nature and recreation with the PWN. The workshop was divided into three sections:

* presentations by project leaders and experts in the area of large herbivore restoration and management,
* an excursion to the PWN's 200 ha European bison enclosure, and an afternoon working session to identify
* learn about some of the most pressing human dimensions issues facing bison restoration in the Netherlands.

Topics and speakers were:

Human dimension and large herbivores, Stephen Decker, Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada
Experiences form abroad, Uwe Lindner, Taurus Naturentwicklung e.V.; Germany
Experiences and perspectives for bison in Germany near cities, Peter Nitschke, Sielmanns Naturlandschaft Döberitzer Heide, Germany
Experiences from Sweden, Eriksberg, Tommy Svensson, Wildgehege Eriksberg, Sweden
How experiences in Western Europe and Eastern Europe can benefit from each other, Joep van de Vlasakker, LHF, Belgium
HD and bison in the Kraansvlak, Piet Veel, PWN Waterleidingbedrijf Noord-Holland
Afternoon workshop, Stephen Decker & Joep van de Vlasakker

Photos

Caroline Straver made for LHF a whole series of photos, please click here for the presentation in Picasa.

Click for more information and summary of the results

Supported by:

Zoltan Kun appointed as Focal Point for the Wilderness Specialist Group in Pan-Europe

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 11:47:15 +0200

20 May 2010

PAN Parks Director, Zoltan Kun, has been appointed Focal Point for the Wilderness Specialist Group in Pan-Europe. The Group aims to promote dialogue on wilderness in the international conservation community and thus the Focal Point will play a role in ensuring European wilderness issues are on the global agenda and liasing with professionals interested in wilderness.

Zoltan Kun, Director of the PAN Parks Foundation was appointed into this honourable position as ’he has been working with real wilderness areas and their managers in Europe for a long time and consequently has in-depth knowledge on the issues related to wilderness as well as the professionals working on this in Europe’ - explained Dr. Stig Johansson, Vice-Chair WCPA (Pan-Europe)

His responsibilities as Focal Point would include following what is going on in his line of speciality - wilderness - globally, make sure WCPA Pan-Europe is "on-board" and make sure that Pan-European issues also feature and are taken into account on the global agenda. The Focal Point would also be the person who WCPA members interested in wilderness issues would liaise with, he would also liaise with the Regional Vice Chair on wilderness isses.

PAN Parks Foundation has always found it important to cooperate with other organisations dedicated to wilderness conservation. The appointment of our Foundation’s representative as focal point for this important global wilderness conservationb body of IUCN is first of all prestigous secondly acknowledges our efforts in Europe for wilderness. As Zoltan Kun stated, ’I feel honoured of this appointment but this is certainly not a personal but an organisational achievement. I believe this will help PAN Parks Foundation to be more up to date with global conservation efforts and presenting its wilderness related work of Europe to a wider target audience”.

The Wilderness Specialist Group was launched in 2003 to respond to several needs such as promoting dialogue on wilderness in the international conservation community, providing a stronger voice for the wilderness constituency within WCPA, and providing a formal linkage between IUCN and the World Wilderness Congresses.

Bison heading for Bornholm, Denmark

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:36:46 +0200

A forest stroll in the forest Almindingen on the Danish island Bornholm may in the future offer the sighting of a herd of grazing bison. This may be the result if the pilot study launched by the Ministry of Environment gives green light for getting the largest land animal of our continent, the European bison, back in free range on Danish ground.

Increase biodiversity of Almindingen, a Natura-2000 area

The bison is a fantastic entrepeneur that will increase the biodiversity of Almindingen, a Natura-2000 area. The magnificent grazer feed mainly on grass and rush that are not parts of the menu of the roe deer. On the other hand, the bison eats great quantities and thereby creates light openings in the forest, that are gifts for biodiversity. To get a native species back to Danish nature is a natural strategy when biodiversity and nature management and is to go hand in hand, says minister of environment Karen Ellemann who hopes that a stock of European bison ochsen on the Baltic See island may also rub off positively on tourism on Bornholm.

Globally threatened species

To get the bison back will be a Danish contribution to the conservation of a globally threatened species. The bison is a rather shy animal that flees when it sees humans or cars. In spite of its size,the bison is not an agressive animal. Alminindingen is the fifth largest forest area of Denmark and fulfills with its size and characteristics the requirements that the bison has for a habitat.

It is the Danish Forest and Nature Agency that carries out the pilot study. If the bisons gets the go ahead a stock will be shipped from Poland to Bornholm where they at first are to be released in an enclosure where behaviour and effect on nature will be studied in detail before the fence is removed and the bisons released. It is simple to make fence for bison, since there is only needed three electric wires that roe deer and hares may pass easily, maintaining free movement.

Native species make comeback

The European bison has been away from Danish nature since the Iron Age more than 2.500 years ago when it was hunted and extirpated by humans. If the pilot project gives green light for the comeback of the species to Denmark, it will not be the first native species that is reintroduced to the country. Beaver has been released in Jutland and last autumn on Zealand. In the year 2003, wild horses were introduced on the island of Langeland.

The Whitley Award for Russia’s Vadim Kirilyuk - Mongolian gazelle

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:20:49 +0200

Princess presents top conservation accolade to Russia’s Vadim Kirilyuk

LONDON, UK: 12 MAY 2010 - HRH The Princess Royal (Princess Anne) tonight presented one of the world’s top prizes for grassroots nature conservation – a Whitley Award – to Dr Vadim Kirilyuk of Russia, for his work to win better protection for the Mongolian gazelle and for the places and routes the herds use while migrating through the vast steppe covering Russia’s border with Mongolia.

Dr Kirilyuk, the Deputy Director of the Daursky Biosphere Reserve, received his honour during a ceremony at the Royal Geographical Society, London, hosted by The Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN) – the UK-based charity behind the international awards scheme.

The Whitley Award for Vadim Kirilyuk includes a project grant of £30,000 - donated by The William Brake Charitable Trust - an engraved trophy, membership of the influential network of past Whitley Award winners, international recognition and leadership development training.

The award to Vadim Kirilyuk recognises his efforts to conserve Central Asia’s last great land migration spectacle by gaining greater protection for the Mongolian gazelle as it crosses the vast Daurian steppe at the border between Russia and Mongolia, including by rallying local people to help reduce hunting, improve grazing and opening up safer routes for the animals in border fences.

The evening’s top prize - the £60,000 Whitley Gold Award – went to Dr Angela Maldonado of Colombia for her efforts around the Colombia-Peru border to end the illegal capture of night monkeys for biomedical research, including by developing alternative, sustainable, ways for rainforest communities to earn a living.

In addition, Her Royal Highness also presented six other Whitley Awards worth £30,000 each to conservation leaders from Argentina, Cameroon, Colombia, Papua New Guinea, Uganda and Uruguay.

Commenting on Vadim Kirilyuk’s success, Georgina Domberger, Director of the Whitley Fund for Nature, said: "The aim of the Whitley Awards is to identify and fund leading grassroots conservationists from around the world who are using their scientific expertise and local knowledge to inspire real and positive change for people and wildlife and the habitats they share. In the case of Vadim Kirilyuk, the judges were particularly impressed by the impact his work and that of local people is having on the numbers of Mongolian gazelle now being seen in Russia.

“When Vadim first visited the Daursky reserve 20 years ago, no gazelle were present. Yet in 10 years, numbers have increased 40-fold and now there are plans to extend the protected area even further, to the benefit of both biodiversity and people.“

The ceremony at which Vadim Kirilyuk received his accolade was co-hosted by BBC wildlife presenter Kate Humble and witnessed by a 350-strong audience which included embassy representatives, Whitley Fund for Nature donors, including HSBC, and WWF-UK, and leading environmentalists.

In all, grants worth £270,000 were presented, bringing the total amount distributed by the Whitley Awards since their inception to £6m across 55 countries.

The Whitley Awards scheme is an annual competition, now in its 17th year. It exists to identify, fund and encourage inspirational local conservation leaders and their teams in developing countries. To find out more about the charity and its work please see: www.whitleyaward.org.