Newsletter December 2016

Species protection programmes

Europe’s most valuable species are protected thanks to the LIFE BNIP project. Thus the LIFE BNIP project committed to both the development and implementation of species protection programmes. This article focusses on the contributions of our Flemish partner, the Agency for Nature and Forests.

What is a species protection programme or SPP?

A species protection programme  is developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders and contains measures to ensure the favourable conservation status of a specie (or multiple species) in Flanders. A SPP is approved by the minister and has a duration of 5 years. EU species who have an unfavourable conservation status are prioritised within the Natura 2000 framework. Read more about it here.

The development of ten new SPP’s is supported by the LIFE BNIP project. The following species will receive adequate protection in the course of the next few years:

  • Common midwife toad
  • Great crested newt
  • European treefrog
  • Western marsh harrier
  • Spotted crake
  • Red-backed shrike
  • Hazel dormouse
  • Poolfrog
  • Moor frog
  • Natterjack toad

Furthermore, LIFE BNIP contains the implementation of SPP’s of the following species:

Thanks to European co-financing, there will be extra protection measures for these species. Some examples are: Drafting breedingprogrammes for the European hamster, restoration of habitat for the Montagu’s harrier and providing income compensation for farmer who help protect the Corn crake. The recovery of ecological connections between (Natura 2000) nature reserves is foreseen for the  Pelobates fuscus. Finally, the Eurasian bittern will profit of the creation of extra habitat.

Next to undertaking concrete actions on the field, the importance of communication and education should not be underestimated. Some actions will require a close cooperation with stakeholders, such as farmers.

Thanks to these measures the LIFE BNIP project boosts the protection of these valuable species!

The Walloon region is also setting up species protection programmes in the LIFE BNIP framework. The Barbastelle project is a nice example.

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