| About us | Research | Publications | Facilities | Links |  |
 |
|
 |
Home > Research > Policy > National regulations > Provincial nature policy > Farmland birds Zwevegem |
Farmland birds project Zwevegem At a pilot site of approximately 1,500 ha south of Zwevegem an experimental project will be carried out to try out measures during three years. The focus will be on gaining experience and demonstrating the various measures. It is a cooperation between farmers, hunters (united in game management groups), and the 'Zuid-West-Vlaamse Natuur- en Milieukoepel vzw', the local umbrella nature organisation. All of these parties participate on a voluntary basis. INBO provides the scientific support for the project, while the province of West Flanders supplies funding. The project is only temporary and awaits more general management agreements directed at farmland birds in the entire Flemish region (which will probably be realised by the end of 2007). The delineation of the study area is mainly based on practical considerations: borders that are clearly visible (roads), agriculture as the main function, and, especially, the availability of volunteers.  Figure: Location of the study area south of Zwevegem Various conservation measures are tried out. A first one is the non-harvesting of the edges of normal cereal fields (mainly winter wheat), a simple method resulting in a large amount of winter food for many birds. These edges rotate with the cereal fields across the farmland. The most suitable location is directed south and is bordered by a thorny hedge (for shelter), or completely situated in an open area.  Photo: over-wintering grain edge in Kooigem The provincial administration of West Flanders indirectly contributes to the cost by 85%, through a project submitted to the provincial nature fund by the 'Natuur en Milieukoepel'. The rest of the funding is supplied by the game management groups.  Figure: Chart of the project funding In order to evaluate the measures, breeding and wintering birds are counted annually by volunteers of the 'Vogelwerkgroep Zuid-West-Vlaanderen'. For an overview of the results in the winter 2004-2005, click here Olivier Dochy |
 |
Farmland birds in trouble |
 |
Farmland birds Zwevegem |
|
Farmland birds Heuvelland |
 |
Results winter 2004-2005 |
|
|