blog

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....

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.

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.

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?

Bisons back in Spain, Iberia Nature

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:07:07 +0200

Seven wild European bison (bisonte in Spanish) have been released into a 20 hectare enclosure in Palencia as part of a long-term plan to possibly reintroduce the animal to the Iberian Peninsula after an absence of 900 years. Bisons were once common in the deciduous and pine forests of northern Spain as is shown by the wonderful cave paintings of Altamira, and they probably survived in Navarra until the 12th century when they were hunted to extinction. It is also speculated that bison undertook winter migrations from the north to the south of Spain, and that the ancient transhumance sheep paths followed these routes, though other studies suggest the bison was only ever present in the north.

12,000 critically endangered Saiga antelope found dead in Kazakhstan

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 08:56:26 +0200

Mass mortality among Saigas in Kazakhstan: 12,000 dead; the cause of the deaths is still unclear and under investigation.

June 2010. Nearly 12,000 Critically Endangered Saiga antelopes have been found dead in the Ural population in western Kazakhstan; Wild Extra news wrote.

"This is a tragic and shocking event. It's particularly unfortunate that the population was just emerging from an unusually harsh winter, and that those struck down are mostly females and this year's calves," said Prof. E.J. Milner-Gulland, Chair of the Saiga Conservation Alliance and a member of IUCN Species Survival Commission Antelope Specialist Group.

Panparks - new wilderness brochures

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 09:10:00 +0200

PAN Parks Foundation has recently published two professional publications about wilderness:

170 scientists demand protection of old-growth forests

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:57:00 +0100

In an appeal, initiated by the Swedish organization Protect the Forest,
more than 170 scientists demand that the Swedish Government act and
protect old-growth forests and other forests with high conservation values
in Sweden, before it is too late. The appeal is supported by 19
organizations and thousands of individuals, including members of the
Swedish Parliament and cultural celebrities. At a press conference in
Stockholm today, the appeal will be delivered to the Government and the
opposition parties.

The action proposals in the appeal are stated during 2010, UN's
International Year of Biodiversity. This is the year when the Swedish
environmental objective, Sustainable Forests, should be achieved and a new
interim target for long-term protection of forest land should be adopted.
Sweden is, however, far from achieving the objective of preserving
biodiversity and a living forest landscape.

"Being one of the world's richest countries, Sweden can afford to preserve
the last remaining natural forests," said Sven G. Nilsson, Professor of
Ecology at Lund University. "Also, extensive work is needed to restore
conservation values in many forests, in order to be able to set aside 20
percent of the Swedish productive forest land for nature conservation."

The Government is expected to present its environmental objective bill in
the coming weeks, where the ambition regarding future forest protection
will be described. There are strong concerns that it will not be sufficient.

"We are now at a crossroads. Despite 20 years of forest policies in which
the environmental and production objective should be of equal importance,
forests with high conservation values are still being logged, forests that
are required to achieve the environmental objective," said Bengt Gunnar
Jonsson, Professor of Plant Ecology at Mid Sweden University. "It is
simply not possible to achieve the national environmental objective, which
states that all native plant and animal species should be safeguarded in
viable populations, with only a few percent of the original forests
remaining."

Sven G. Nilsson, Professor of Ecology, Lund University

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/

Newsletter - "ECNC Update"

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:21:00 +0100

The newsletter ECNC Update is one of ECNC's communication tools for bringing news of recent developments and activities to our readers and for providing institutional and project news to our Network of partners and other interested parties. The latest issue has been published on the 5th of march 2010 and gives information on the shared future of LHF and ECNC Group.

Bison and Human Interaction with field-excursion

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:

Fresh donations!

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:47:00 +0100

Fresh donations!

Artis Zoo, Prince Bernard Foundation for Nature and WWF-WNF funded LHF again with a donation for the conservation and rehablitation of the Eurasian large herbivores!

The donation of Artis Zoo Amsterdam is meant for the conservation and rehablitation of the European bison (spent in 2009), based on the agreements in the Memorandum of Understanding 2007 - 2011.

In December 2009 LHF received a warmly welcomed donation from the Prince Bernard Foundation for Nature, specially for communication leading to better opportunities for fundraising (to spend in 2010).

In February 2010 LHF received again financial support from WNF/WWF; very much appreciated!

Thank you very much to let us do our job.

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

Winter in de natuur: verhongering of natuurlijke processen

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:30:00 +0100

Oostvaardersplassen: het decor van "Goede tijden, Slechte tijden", een dierenwelzijnsbalans

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

"Goede tijden, Slechte tijden"

Is er een alternatief?

Grazen of maaien

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.

De bonus

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

executive director Large Herbivore Foundation

Wildniskonferenz in Brandenburg

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:16:00 +0100

Stiftung Naturlandschaften Brandenburg

Anlässlich ihres 10-jährigen Bestehens lädt die Stiftung Naturlandschaften Brandenburg zur ersten Wildniskonferenz in Brandenburg ein. Die Veranstaltung steht unter der Schirmherrschaft von Bundesumweltminister Herrn Dr. Norbert Röttgen und beginnt am 17. Mai 2010 mit Referaten zum Thema in der Potsdamer Staatskanzlei. Abschließend findet eine Podiumsdiskussion unter dem Titel „Wildnis heute - was haben wir davon?" statt. Der 18. Mai 2010 führt in die Praxis. Die Teilnehmer sind eingeladen, die Flächen der Stiftung Naturlandschaften Brandenburg auf dem ehemaligen Truppenübungsplatz Jüterbog zu besuchen.

Wildnis in Deutschland

Wildnis in Deutschland - das ist eine Vorstellung, die gleichzeitig fasziniert und polarisiert. Heute gibt es in Deutschland kaum noch naturnahe, großflächig unzerschnittene und ungenutzte Flächen, das Bewusstsein für den Wert dieser seltenen Lebensräume wächst. So sieht die vom Bundeskabinett im November 2007 beschlossene „Nationale Strategie zur biologischen Vielfalt" vor, dass bis zum Jahr 2020 zwei Prozent der Landfläche Deutschlands Wildnis werden, bislang sind es weit weniger als ein Prozent.

Doch was genau bedeutet „Wildnis" in Deutschland? Wo ist Wildnis möglich und welches Potenzial bieten Wildnisflächen für Naturschutz und Regionalentwicklung? Die Stiftung Naturlandschaften Brandenburg lädt Politiker, Wissenschaftler, Naturschutzakteure und Interessierte dazu ein, diese Fragen bei der Wildniskonferenz 2010 gemeinsam zu diskutieren.

Unsere Referenten sind: Prof. Beate Jessel (Bundesamt für Naturschutz), Dr. Elsa Nickel (Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit), Ministerin Anita Tack (Ministerium für Umwelt, Gesundheit und Verbraucherschutz Brandenburg), Ministerin Jutta Lieske (Ministerium für Infrastruktur und Landwirtschaft Brandenburg), Prof. Hubert Job (Universität Würzburg), Dr. Karl-Friedrich Sinner (Europarc Deutschland), Dr. Christof Schenck (Zoologische Gesellschaft Frankfurt), Dr. Heiko Schumacher und Dr. Hans-Joachim Mader (Stiftung Naturlandschaften Brandenburg), Prof. Gerhard Trommer (Universität Frankfurt a.M.).

17. und 18. Mai 2010 in Potsdam

Wir freuen uns über Ihr Interesse an der Wildniskonferenz am 17. und 18. Mai 2010 in Potsdam. Bitte reservieren Sie sich den Termin schon jetzt, eine Einladung per E-Mail mit dem Programm der Veranstaltung folgt. Anmeldungen sind ab Anfang März unter www.wildniskonferenz.de möglich.

Carcasses of large grazers in nature reserves almost no risk

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:52:00 +0100

Carcasses large grazers in nature is hardly a risk to public and animal health

Leaving carcasses of large grazers such as cattle and horses in nature is hardly a risk to public and animal health. In the Netherlands, carcasses of large herbivores (cattle, horses) in the wild have to be removed. Carcasses in nature are a part of the "circle of life, therefore Dutch nature conservationists want to leave carcasses of large grazers in the large nature areas Oostvaardersplassen and the Veluwezoom. This would contribute substantially to the public debate about nature values.

Confrontation with dead cattle and horses

The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (VWA) sees little risk to public and animal health as dead cattle and horses occur in nature. Leaving carcasses contributes to biodiversity. Because more food will be available to scavenging mammals such as foxes are attracted. The risk to human health by the fox tapeworm would thus ultimately increase. In addition, stray dogs have a chance of gastroenteritis if they eat meat from an old carcass. The VWA Office of Risk Assessment indicates that visitors are not accustomed to the confrontation with dead cattle and horses in nature. Especially for small children it can be daunting.

Experience in a controlled way

The Risk Office advises the responsible ministry to allow carcasses of large herbivores in the large nature areas such as Oostvaardersplassen and Veluwezoom. The Veluwezoom freely accessible to the public is advised to leave the carcasses as yet in places where public contact is not immediately obvious. After a period of 2 to 3 years can be seen whether the policy should be adjusted.

Pathogens carefully monitor

It is necessary now to work on an integrated system of disease surveillance in wild animals. Information from such a system is essential to any changes in risk and early detection. This applies to both live for the living animals and for carcasses left in the wild.

For more information, click here.

About the Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (VWA)

The task of the Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority is to protect human and animal health. It monitors food and consumer products to safeguard public health and animal health and welfare. The Authority controls the whole production chain, from raw materials and processing aids to end products and consumption.
The Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority is an independent agency in the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) and a delivery agency for the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.
The three main tasks of the Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority are: supervision, risk assessment and risk communication. Other important activities are incident and crisis management and policy advice for the Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. A significant part of its work involves liaising with other ministries. Maintaining international contacts is also of vital importance.

(abbreviated and translated press release, 19-01-2010))

Kadavers van grote grazers in natuurgebieden bijna geen risico

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:00:00 +0100

Kadavers grote grazers in natuurgebieden geen risico

Het achterlaten van kadavers van grote grazers, zoals runderen en paarden, in natuurgebieden is nauwelijks een risico voor de volks- en diergezondheid. Dit concludeert het bureau Risicobeoordeling van de Voedsel en Waren Autoriteit (VWA, 19 januari 2010 - nieuwsbericht).

Oostvaardersplassen en Veluwezoom

In Nederland worden kadavers van grote grazers in de vrije natuur tot nu toe weggehaald. Stichting Ark vindt dat kadavers in natuurgebieden een onderdeel zijn van de ‘circle of life' en wil enkele kadavers van grote grazers in de Oostvaardersplassen en de Veluwezoom, laten liggen. Hiermee zou een bijdrage kunnen worden geleverd aan de maatschappelijke discussie over natuurwaarden. Het ministerie van LNV heeft het bureau Risicobeoordeling gevraagd de mogelijke risico's te beoordelen.

Confrontatie met dode runderen en paarden

Het bureau Risicobeoordeling van de VWA ziet weinig risico's voor de volks- en diergezondheid als dode runderen en paarden in natuurgebieden voorkomen. Het achterlaten van kadavers draagt bij aan de biodiversiteit. Omdat er meer voedsel beschikbaar zal komen kunnen aasetende zoogdieren zoals vossen worden aangetrokken. Het risico voor de volksgezondheid door de vossenlintworm zou hierdoor op termijn kunnen toenemen. Daarnaast hebben loslopende honden kans op een maagdarmontsteking als zij vlees eten van een oud kadaver. Het bureau Risicobeoordeling wijst erop dat bezoekers van natuurgebieden niet gewend zijn aan de confrontatie met dode runderen en paarden. Met name voor kleine kinderen kan dit afschrikwekkend zijn.

Op gecontroleerde manier ervaring opdoen

Het bureau Risicobeoordeling adviseert het beleidsverantwoordelijke ministerie om gedurende een aantal jaren het achterlaten van kadavers van zogenoemde grote grazers toe te staan in de Oostvaardersplassen en de Veluwezoom. In de Veluwezoom die vrij toegankelijk is voor publiek is het raadzaam de kadavers vooralsnog te laten liggen op plekken waar publiekscontact niet direct voor de hand ligt. Via informatieborden bij het natuurgebied kunnen recreanten op de hoogte worden gebracht dat er mogelijk kadavers van grote grazers liggen. Na een periode van 2 à 3 jaar kan bekeken worden of het beleid moet worden bijgesteld.

Ziekteverwekkers zorgvuldig monitoren

Het is nodig nu te werken aan een geïntegreerd bewakingsysteem van ziekten bij wilde dieren. De gegevens die door diverse instanties worden verzameld moeten bijeen worden gebracht zodat deze in samenhang beoordeeld kunnen worden. Informatie uit een dergelijk systeem is essentieel om eventuele veranderingen in risico's tijdig te ontdekken. Dat geldt zowel voor levend wild als voor het achterlaten van kadavers in de vrije natuur.
Het bureau Risicobeoordeling van de VWA oordeelt en adviseert wetenschappelijk onderbouwd over mogelijke bedreigingen van de voedsel- en productveiligheid, diergezondheid en dierwelzijn. De onafhankelijke uitoefening van deze opdracht is geregeld in de Wet Onafhankelijke Risicobeoordeling Voedsel en Waren Autoriteit die in 2006 door het parlement is aangenomen. Adviezen in het kader van de Wet worden uitgebracht aan de ministers van LNV en VWS.

Ter informatie:

Advies bureau Risicobeoordeling 'kadavers in natuurgebieden'

ECNC - LHF: a new development

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:53:00 +0100

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.

International year of Biodiversity 2010

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:34:00 +0100

Large Herbivore Foundation joint the bioversity 2010 coalition

Large Herbivore Foundation joint the coalition of government bodies, civil society organisations, and business companies to established together the lead in communication on biodiversity: Coalitie Biodiversiteit 2010 (Coalition on Biodiversity 2010). Many activities willtake place throughout the year. The Coalition took off on 4 November 2009 at an event called Hoogste tijd voor Biodiversiteit (High Time for Biodiversity).

During the whole year of 2010, special attention will be paid to what opportunities biodiversity presents to you and your environment, how you and others can make maximum use of these opportunities, and why biodiversity is of vital importance for your, too

A broad coalition of local and regional authorities, charities and businesses, presided over by Regional Minister for Ecology Mr Onno Hoes of the Province of Noord-Brabant, the Netherlands, took up the challenge to communicate about biodiversity to a wide range of audiences during the International Year of Biodiversity 2010. This National Biodiversity 2010 Coalition was launched in Amersfoort, the Netherlands, on 4 November.

ECNC organized the National Biodiversity Meeting 'Time's up for biodiversity' as a final output of the project 'Biodiversity works in the region'. ECNC carried out this project, aimed at identifying inspiring and innovative practical biodiversity projects, for the Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (VROM). The conference brought together 150 participants and discussed practical ways to sustainably use and protect biodiversity and find new ways to communicate effectively about the results.

During the meeting Director-General Anita Wouters of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and Mr Onno Hoes emphasized the urgent need to tackle the loss of biodiversity on earth.

The Coalition's 'Amersfoort Declaration' was signed by twenty representatives of local and regional authorities, charities and businesses, including ECNC. Many other organizations within the Netherlands announced their willingness to sign in the near future as well. The Amersfoort Declaration (in Dutch) can be found at www.biodiversiteit.nl/2010.

The meeting was called for and financed by the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. During the conference, the final report (in Dutch) of the project was presented by ECNC.

LHF's director, Hans Kampf also signed the declaration, see photo, in the middle.

Source: ECNC