Breeding Birds

National Park New Land: Creating ecological landscapes, NP Nieuw Land coherence and benefits with natural processes Case study The Oostvaardersplassen Wetland Reserve Oostvaardersplassen Dr. Perry Cornelissen Senior consultant ecology Staatsbosbeheer/State Forestry Service 19 March 2021 Oostvaardersplassen Natura 2000 wetland of international importance East Atlantic Flyway Birds 1969: The polder South Flevoland was drained and a wetland emerged in the man made environment Map of Land use planning in 1966 Natural development 1973 A wetland emerges Lelystad Area for industry and recreation Agriculture Almere 1975-1983: Conserving the ‘protected’ wetland • Embankment around the marsh; preventing drainage of the marsh • Adding a dry zone around the marsh as foraging area for birds that breed in the marsh Dike Lake Markermeer Embankment Marsh Dry zone Monitoring vegetation development 1969-1985 Waterlevel dynamics + herbivory by Greylag geese = Diverse marsh vegetation + bird species, but ….… + = 1974 1985 Regeneration marsh vegetation 1987-1992 Active lowering water level western marsh 1985 Second embankment 1988 Eastern marsh 1992 Western marsh 1996: Staatsbosbeheer becomes manager Room for natural processes and gradients • Water level dynamics dry low waterdynamics Precipitation - evapotranspiration grazing seepage – infiltration high wet • Herbivory Geese and large herbivores • Gradients Wet-dry High-low grazing pressure New measures • Wet-dry gradient through waterlevel manipulation by weirs Vegetation development 1996-2019 1996 2019 Moeraszone, 3600 ha 100% struiken en bomen riet 80% ruigte grazige ruigte 25-50% ruigte 60% droog grasland <25% ruigte nat grasland 40% helofyten Oppervlakte (%) Oppervlakte moerasandijvie 20% kale grond pioniers water 0% 1996200020042008201220162019 Jaar Development bird populations marsh Great egret Cormorant Pintail Breeding birds Breeding birds Breeding birds Great Egret Cormorant Little Bittern Marsh Harrier Bittern Little Egret Non breeding birds Spoonbill Little Grebe Great Egret Spotted Crake Hen Harrier Greylag Goose Bluethroat Sedge Warbler Barnacle Goose Savi’s Warbler Non breeding birds Eurasian Teal Non breeding birds White-fronted Goose Northern Shoveler Spoonbill Smew White-tailed Eagle Whooper Swan Northern Pintail Common Shelduck Pied Avocet Eurasian Wigeon Black-tailed Godwit Gadwall Ruff Common Pochard Tufted duck Causes negative trends Marsh zone • Decrease diverse reed vegetation – Water level too high – too little water level dynamics • Decrease food supply – Dominance Carp • Decrease catchability fish – Turbid water Solutions Natura 2000 measures • Reset Marsh vegetation; lowering water level • Increase biomass fish: – Cease isolation wetland by creating fish passages – Increase area inundated grasslands (fish habitat for spawning) Project Oostvaardersoevers • Connecting the Oostvaardersplassen to lake Markermeer Oostvaardersoevers Creating a ‘complete’ wetland Connecting Lake Markermeer to Wetland Oostvaardersplassen Perry Cornelissen, 25 March 2019 Present situation: Fresh water lake separated from adjacent fresh water wetlands Lake Markermeer -0,2 m NAP -3,7 m NAP Oostvaardersplassen -3,7 m NAP Leplaarplassen Natural lake-wetland systems • Ecosystems that are next to each other, are connected through the exchange of: o water, o mud, o nutrients o organic matter o organisms Lake Wetland Dead organic material The challenge Water level fluctuations Natural reference Deep open water Deep clear water Shallow clear Shore and marsh Mud flats and Moist to ‘dry’ grasslands, with aquatic water with vegetation inundated tall herbs, shrubs, trees plants aquatic plants (helophytes) grasslands Present situation Water level fluctuations Deep open water Shallow turbid Shore and marsh Mud flats and Moist to ‘dry’ water without vegetation inundated grasslands, tall aquatic plants (helophytes) grasslands herbs, shrubs, trees The smart connection Thank you for your attention.

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