Species Protection Plan for viridis

Henk de Vries

Introduction The is a country which has been In the Netherlands, the occurrence of A. viridis largely shaped by water and the reclamation of is strongly related to the occurrence of the plant wet areas (NVL, 2002). Therefore, it is not sur- Water Soldier (Stratiotes aloïdes), the only plant prising that the relatively large number of sev- in which A. viridis lays its eggs. Therefore the enty species occur, even though it is a species protection plan is based on the depend- small country (NVL, 2002). Some of these spe- ency of A. viridis on S. aloïdes. Moreover, it is cies are rare or have become rare, not only in a protection plan for both the dragonfly and the the Netherlands; they need conservation meas- plant, aimed to protect two threatened species ures. One of the ways to secure the protection of of peatland areas (DE JONG, 2000). Here, we a species is through a species protection plan. In present an overview of the activities associated the Netherlands, species protection plans have with this plan (figure 2). been developed since 1984. The first Dutch species protection plan for a dragonfly was Although the protection plan was later presented published in 2001 (DE JONG & VERBEEK, 2001), for nationally, it was preceded by a plan developed the rare and threatened Green Hawker, Aeshna by the province of Utrecht. The plan aimed to viridis (figure 1). protect two threatened species of peatland

Figure 1. is about 7 cm long and can be seen in July and August (Photo: J. Bouwman).

Aeshna viridis

24 Brachytron 12: 25-31, 2010 25 few countries (IUCN, 2006). Although absent from Belgium and the United Kingdom, it does occur in ; the species is at present re- stricted to a few areas near Bremen, with a few scattered observations elsewhere (NVL, 2002; EWERS, 1999). In the Netherlands, A. viridis is often found together with S. aloïdes. However, A. viridis doesn’t occur in every area where S. aloïdes occurs (figures 3 and 4). In areas with brackish water, A.viridis may be absent, the plant being somewhat more salt-tolerant than the dragonfly. Both species occur in large areas of peatland, either at the edge of infiltration ar- eas where seepage occurs, or in areas where hundreds of years ago, the sea created wide basins where peat could form.

Because of the depency of A. viridis on S. aloïdes, the protection of the dragonfly can be simplified by protecting its , mats of S. Figure 2. The Dutch Species Protection Plan for aloïdes. However, suitable conditions for S. aloïdes are difficult to define in the Netherlands. A. Although documentation about the earlier distri- viridis. areas in that province, namely the plant Strati- bution of S. aloïdes helps to define potentially otes aloïdes and dragonfly A. viridis (DE JONG, suitable conditions, predictions of suitable lo- 2000). calities are often best related to water quality. The national plan was written by two environ- Therefore water quality is given much attention mental consultancy agencies that had been in this species protection plan. Influence of seep- assigned this task by the Ministry of Agriculture, age enhances suitability, but presence of good Nature and Food Quality. The plan brought surface water can create suitable conditions as about a collaboration between Dutch Butterfly well. Dutch Butterfly Conservation has carried Conservation and the province of Utrecht. The out about eighty experiments in six provinces province coordinates the plan, and both organi- observing these plants in enclosures. Although sations communicate on what to do, initiating this gave good information about the suitability projects in which they often collaborate with of a location for a particular year, it gave limited other organisations. information on appropriate conditions in general. The most likely reason for this can be found in Distribution and ecology of Aeshna viridis and the relation between nutrient availability and Stratiotes aloïdes growth rate. The nutrient availability that results The basis for a species protection plan is good in high growth rates of S. aloïdes seems to differ knowledge of the species’ distribution and ecol- hardly from that which results in negative growth ogy. Information on the distribution and ecology rates. of A. viridis and S. aloïdes was subjected to a thorough analysis in order to identify possible Solid basis: law and protected status key factors determining their limited distribution A.viridis is included in the list of endangered in the Netherlands. species of the IUCN, in Appendix II of the Bern Convention and particularly in Appendix IV of A. viridis is widely distributed in Asia, but in the EC Directive. It is present on many Europe it is relatively rare, only occurring in a national Red Lists, including that of the Nether-

26 Brachytron 12: 25-31, 2010 27 Figure 3. Distribution of in the Netherlands.

A. viridis

Figure 4. Distribution of in the Netherlands.

S. aloïdes 26 Brachytron 12: 25-31, 2010 27 Figure 5. Jandirk Kievit with his favourite plant Figure 6. Creation of a new ditch in the Uithoorn (Photo: H.H. de Vries). Polder (Noord-Holland) (Photo: H.H. de Vries). lands. Although the species is protected by the tation of the protection plan. As a part of the EC Habitats Directive, implementing this direc- protection plan information about the ecology tive through laws and regulations has not yet of A. viridis is distributed among them. The aim been fully realised. This is partly because rules is to improve national and provincial policies for for management of water bodies need to be ad- this species and to enhance national coherence justed. Not only in nature reserves, but also in in- between projects. To make the protection plan tensively used agricultural areas, where it occurs work, the provinces are working together. This is in ditches and small canals. In 2006 the Dutch all done in close collaboration with Dutch Butter- water boards (UNIE VAN WATERSCHAPPEN, 2006) fly Conservation. The first important task was to published a new code for appropriate water gather enough information about the condition of management, making protection of A. viridis in local habitats spread out over more than seven agricultural areas easier. This code recognises provinces. Several provinces started up projects the importance of S. aloïdes for the survival of for surveys for acquiring more information on the A. viridis. distribution of A. viridis, for the protection of pop- ulations and for the creation of new habitats. Not so long ago, in many areas farmers were obligated to clear ditches of all vegetation. The One of the first projects was in the province of presence of vegetation in a ditch led to warnings Noord-Holland in the polder of Uithoorn. New or fines by the water board. At present, complete habitats were created by digging new ditches removal of vegetation is forbidden without a spe- (figure 6). alongside the old ones, experimen- cial permit; at least 50% of the vegetation has to tally introducing new specimens of S. aloïdes. be left in the ditch. Although the code was meant The hydrology of part of the polder was re-de- for water boards, it gives guidelines to all owners signed. A few plants were put into this new ditch of sites where S. aloïdes and A. viridis occur. and less than two years later the first results were visible (figure 7). Apart from the creation Implementation of the Species Protection of new ditches, some ditches were enlarged in Plan order to give S. aloïdes more space to grow. The implementation of the national species pro- Furthermore, the course of the water during tection plan for A. viridis started in 2002. It was dry periods was altered in such a way, that the preceded by a protection plan developed by the water in the central parts of this polder retained Province of Utrecht. The Province of Utrecht and its good quality. Earlier, the level of the water the six other dutch provinces in which A. viridis had already been adjusted to a higher level as occurs play an essential role in the implemen- a conservation measure, but in order to reduce

28 Brachytron 12: 25-31, 2010 29 inflow of water during drier seasons, a more vari- For this project about forty volunteers were re- able water level was acceptable during summer. cruited to help with the protection of A. viridis Also in 2003, several projects were started in in the province. In the first two years, 2004 the provinces of Zuid-Holland and Utrecht under and 2005, they obtained detailed information the supervision of Landschapsbeheer Zuid-Hol- on the occurence and status of A. viridis and land in order to create ditch banks that are more S. aloïdes. This yielded a considerable amount natural. A second interprovincial plan for the four of data which will be used for conservation pur- Northern provinces, Friesland, Groningen, Dren- poses during the coming years (DE BOER, 2006). the and Overijssel, was carried out in 2006 and The most important task of these volunteers in 2007. This comprised gathering information on the future will be communicating about neces- the distribution of A. viridis in Fryslân (Friesland) sary management. The success of this project (DE BOER, 2006), management of known popu- depends on the active involvement of local lations (DE BOER, 2006; DE VRIES & PEET, 2006) volunteers, coordinated by a person with good and realising new habitats for A. viridis (DE VRIES communication skills. Although not every prov- & PEET, 2006; VLIEGENTHART & DE VRIES 2007). ince can rely on so many volunteers, several Some of these results can be found on the web- other initiatives have been realised. site www.groeneglazenmaker.nl. The future of Aeshna viridis Personal involvement, a decisive factor This species protection plan has made many Many people are active at regional and local people aware of the importance of this spe- level, who have done some very valuable work. cies and its habitat, including nature managers, The best example comes from the province of policy makers and the general public. Protection Friesland, where a new project started in 2004. of this key species of peatland areas also leads

Figure 7. Regeneration of after measures were taken in Uithoorn (Photo: H.H. de Vries).

S. aloïdes 28 Brachytron 12: 25-31, 2010 29 to protection of its habitat and several other IUCN, 2006. Red List of Threatened Species. species of flora and fauna. This protection plan Prepared by the IUCN Species survival has officially come to an end in 2008, but I am commission, IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. convinced that many initiatives for protecting A. Jong, Th.H. de, 2000. Soortbeschermingsplan voor viridis and its habitat will still be carried out. The Krabbescheer en Groene glazenmaker. Provincie situation of A. viridis has been improved, not Utrecht. only by this plan, but also by the implementation Jong, T. de en P. Verbeek, 2001. Beschermingsplan of the Habitats Directive. Dutch Butterfly Con- groene glazenmaker 2002-2006. Rapport Directie servation will keep working together with others Natuurbeheer nr. 2001/015. LNV, Wageningen. in order to protect ; in this work the Ministerie van LNV, 1984. Landelijk protection of A. viridis will continue to occupy an dassenbeschermingsplan. Ministerie van important position. Landbouw, Natuurbeheer en Visserij. Den Haag. Nederlandse Vereniging voor Libellenstudie, Acknowledgements 2002. De Nederlandse libellen (). Many thanks to Jandirk Kievit, Frank Hoffman, Nederlandse Fauna 4. Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Marcel Wasscher, and Jaap Bouwman for their Museum Naturalis, KNNV Uitgeverij & European comments on an earlier version and to for prepa- Invertebrate Survey-Nederland, Leiden. ration of figures. Unie van Waterschappen, 2006. Gedragscode Flora- en Faunawet voor waterschappen. Unie van H.H. de Vries Waterschappen, Den Haag. Dutch Butter�ly Conservation Vliegenthart, A. & H.H. de Vries, 2007. Meer Postbus 506 leefgebied voor de groene glazenmaker in de 6700 AM Wageningen polder Mastenbroek. Rapport VS2007.050. De The Netherlands Vlinderstichting, Wageningen. [email protected] Vries, H.H. de & N. Peet, 2006. Groene glazenmaker in Noord-Nederland. Deelrapportage Groningen. Literatuur Rapport VS2006.008. De Vlinderstichting, Boer, E.P. de, 2006. De groene glazenmaker en de Wageningen. krabbescheerlevensgemeenschap in Friesland Wasscher, M. & K. Kapteyn, 1997. verspreiding, ecologie, beheer en bescherming. Onderzoeksprogramma Faunabeleid: kansen Stichting Landschapsbeheer Friesland, voor de groene glazenmaker, een bedreigde Beesterzwaag. libellensoort. Provincie-Noord-Holland, afdeling Ewers, M. 1999. Die Libellen zwischen Weser und onderzoek. Ems. Isensee Verlag, Oldenburg

30 Brachytron 12: 25-31, 2010 31 Summary

Vries, H.H., 2010. Species Protection Plan for provincies in Nederland, waaronder het maken van Aeshna viridis. Brachytron 12 (1): 25-31. verspreidingskaarten, voorlichting over goed beheer en herstelmaatregelen. Gesteund door wetgeving heeft de noodzaak voor bescherming van de soort Aeshna viridis grote aandacht gekregen bij een breed publiek. Green Hawker was the �irst dragon�ly Hierdoor mag verwacht worden dat dit plan ook in . in the Netherlands to have its own national species de toekomst nog een belangrijke rol zal spelen in de protection plan This was published in 2001 by the bescherming van deze bedreigde soort. A. Zusammenfassung Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Fisheries, aiming viridis Stratiotes aloïdes, Aeshna viridis to initiate several conservation activities. As is strongly associated with In den Niederlanden war die this plant plays an important role in the strategies erste Libellenart mit einem eigenem nationalem adopted for protection and communication. The Schutzkonzept. Dieses Schutzkonzept wurde durch protection plan led to a number of projects in several das Ministerium für Landwirtschaft, Natur und A. provinces, including the compilation of distribution Fischerei im Jahre 2001 publiziert, mit dem Ziel, viridis maps, communication about good management and verschiedene Schutzaktivitäten zu initiieren. Da Stratiotes aloïdes starting nature restoration. Backed up with European ausschließlich gemeinsam mit der P�lanze

legislation, the need for protection of this species vorkommt, spielt diese eine wichtige has come to the attention of a much wider audience. Rolle in der Schutz- und Kommunikationsstrategie. Therefore, it can be expected that this plan will Das Schutzkonzept führt zu einer großen Zahl

continue to have an effect long after the projects it von Projekten in verschiedenen niederländischen gave rise to have ended. Provinzen, zum Beispiel in der Ausarbeitung Samenvatting von Verbreitungskarten, der Kommunikation Aeshna über gutes Management und den Beginn von viridis In Nederland was de Groene glazenmaker ( Renaturierungsmaßnahmen. Unterstützt durch die ) de eerste libel met een eigen national Gesetzgebung hat die Notwendigkeit zum Schutz soorbeschermingsplan. Dit werd gepubliceerd in dieser Art große Aufmerksamkeit bei einem weiten 2001 door het ministerie van LNV met als doel Publikum erreicht. Daher kann erwartet werden, dass een aantal beschermingmaatregelen te initiëren. das Konzept weitergeführt wird, um den Schutz dieser Stratiotes Omdat de Groene glazenmaker sterk verbonden is gefährdeten Art voranzubringen, auch nachdem die aloïdes aan het voorkomen van Krabbenscheer ( aufgeführten Projekte realisiert wurden. Keywords: Odonata, Aeshna viridis, Stratiotes ), speelt deze plant een belangrijke rol aloïdes, species protection plan, nature bij de beschermingsstrategie voor de Groene conservation, the Netherlands glazenmaker. Het soortbeschermingsplan heeft geleid tot een groot aantal projecten in verschillende

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