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Species Protection Plan for Aeshna Viridis

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Species Protection Plan for Aeshna Viridis Species Protection Plan for Aeshna viridis Henk de Vries Introduction The Netherlands 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 dragonfly 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 and be and Figure 1. Aeshna viridis is about7 cm long can seen in July August (Photo: J. Bouwman). Brachytron 12: 25-31, 2010 25 few countries (IUCN, 2006), Although absent from Belgium and the United Kingdom, it does occur in Germany; 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. aloides. However, A. viridis doesn’t occur in every area where S. aloides 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. aloides, the protection of the dragonfly can be simplified by protecting its habitat, mats of S. aloides. S. Figure 2. The Dutch Species Protection Plan for A. However, suitable conditions for viridis. aloides are difficult to define in the Netherlands. Although documentation about the earlier distri- areas in that province, namely the plant Strati- bution of S. aloides 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. informationon 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 Stratiotesaloïdes growth rate. The nutrient availability that results The basis for a species protection plan is good in high growth rates of S. aloides seems to differ knowledge of the species’ distributionand ecol- hardly from that which results in negative growth Information the rates. ogy. on distribution and ecology 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 Habitats Directive. It is present on many Europe it is relatively rare, only occurring in a national Red Lists, including that of the Nether- 26 Figure 3. Distribution of A. viridis in the Netherlands. Figure 4. Distribution of S. aloïdes in the Netherlands. 27 Brachytron 12: 25-31, 2010 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 managementof 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 where tensively used agricultural areas, it occurs work, the provinces are working together. This is in ditches and small canals. In 2006 the Dutch all done in close collaborationwith 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 informationabout the conditionof 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 informationon the A. viridis. distributionofA. 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 forbiddenwithout a spe- (figure 6), alongside the old ones, experimen- cial permit; at least 50% ofthe vegetation has to tally introducing new specimens of S. aloides. be left in the ditch. Althoughthe code was meant The hydrology of part of the polder was re-de- for water boards, it gives guidelines to all owners slgned. A few plants were put into this new ditch of sites where S. aloides and A. viridis occur. and less than two years later the first results were visible (figure 7). Apart from the creation of Implementation the Species Protection of new ditches, some ditches were enlarged in Plan order to give S. aloides more space to grow. water The implementation of the national species pro- Furthermore, the course of the 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 inflowof water during drierseasons, 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 two Also in 2003, several projects were started in in the province. In the first years, 2004 the provinces of Zuid-Hollandand 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 A natural. 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 distributionof A. viridis in Fryslän (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; Vüegenthart & 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.
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