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…