Oostvaardersplassen History, present and future Danish Nature Conference 21-08-2019
OostvaardersplassenHistory, present and future
Danish Nature Conference21-08-2019
The landscapes of the Oostvaardersplassen
• 3.600 ha marshland• 2.000 ha grassland• 1.500 ha nature (forest) in borderzones)
Landscapes of the Oostvaardersplassen
The Oostvaardersplassennew nature on a formersea bed
Oostvaardersplassen 1969• Lowest part of the polder
(planned industrial area)• Spontaneous vegetation • Attracting wetland birds• Agricultural development• Embankment to preserve the
marsh• European Bird Directive• Natura 2000 area since 2010
1974
It all started with spontaneous vegetationdevelopment attracting high numbers of wetland related birds
Conservational objectives Wetlandbirds(reed and open water)
Introduction large herbivores
Oostvaardersplassen
Heck cattle 1983; 32 anim. Konik horse 1984; 18 anim.Red deer 1992; 44 anim.
• From 1996 whole area grazed• Creating large scale grasslands
Introduction large herbivores
• Animal numbers not controlled by man• Area is fenced• No large predators• Early reactive culling• From 1996 whole area grazed• Creating large scale grasslands for wetland
related birds
Introduction large herbivores
Population dynamics large herbivores
Reference: Oostvaardersplassen and Serengeti
Oostvaardersplassen vs. Serengeti
Mortality and culling
Early reactive cullingto prevent unnecessary suffering
Total mortality (% pop.) Culling (% total mort.)
Geese visiting the border zonefacilitation and competition
Population development Distribution over the year
Area living habitat red deer and populationdevelopment
40 63104133181242307378457571
750949
11181126
1466
1758
19972126
23402454
2311
2055
23782229
1778
2650
1275
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
aanta
l
jaar; peildatum 1 mei
Red deer population since 1992
Vegetation development border zone
1996
2012
2004
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1996 2000 2004 2008 2012
oppe
rvla
kte
(ha)
jaar
vegetatieontwikkeling randzone
struweel
riet
riet-ruigte
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1996 2000 2004 2008 2012
oppe
rvla
kte
(ha)
jaar
vegetatieontwikkeling randzone
grazige ruigte
nat grasland
droog grasland
Wood-pasture landscape / half open landscapeDue to grazing regime with cattle, horses and red deer
Natural processes in the lead:Early reactive culling to prevent unneccesary suffering
ICMO 1 and ICMO 2 (2014)
Longplay film: The new wilderness
Change of policy responsibility:
2016 From National Government to Provincial Government
2017: Proposal to transform the management of the Oostvaardersplassen resultingin advice from the Commission Van Geel(by July 2018).
Feeding: March 2018
Finances:
StaatsbosbeheerGovernmental Organisation with autonomous management
● 50% subsidies (Landscape and Nature)
● 50% Income from wood production, ground lease and
properties as well as other activities such as recreation
and excursions
● Increasingly in collaboration with local businesses and
municipalities.
Social resistance
● Social Media (facebook, twitter)
● Regular Media
● Feeding groups
● Threatening rangers and law-enforcers
Social resistance –shitstorm
New policy on basis of report Commission Van Geel - April 2018
Headline New Policy:What are the tasks?
1. Birds first
2. A varied and attractive landscape a.o. reduction of large
herbivore population
3. New Land National Park
Population reduction
1. Reset of large herbivores (reduction to 1.100 anim.)
2. Culling of Red Deer
3. Transferring horses to other areas (Denmark ? )
4. Heck cattle untouched (stable population)
Oostvaardersplassen in the pictureTowards a dynamic and amazing landscape
Marshland reset
Water in the grassy area
Thank you for your attention
…Questions?