Banca dati dei progetti dei PSR
Preserving Farmland Birds in Flanders Through Collective Action
Summary
Farmers cooperate to implement agro-environmental measures in specific management areas to achieve a common environmental goal: the conservation of farmland birds.
Background
Rural Flanders faces a range of environmental problems including the decline of farmland birds. To reverse this decline the government determined “management areas” in which farmers are encouraged to take specific agro-environmental measures (AEM’s). They can only start if the area where they will apply these measures covers a minimum threshold, so farmers need to collaborate in order to address this land coverage requirement.
Objective
The main objective of the project is to stimulate cooperation between farmers to achieve the common goal of reversing the decline in farmland birds within defined management areas and create common responsibility.
Main activities
Farmers create grassy field margins, which are managed in different (2 or 3) parallel strips. They agree to leave part of the field margins unmown. This management assures that there are always strips with longer vegetation available for refuge and nesting habitats. For winter feeding, farmers also sow wheat that they do not harvest. The yellow outline (top-right photo) shows grassy strips, blue is wheat for birds. Left photo shows parallel strips (mown/unmown) with wheat on both sides.
Results & Benefits
Farmland birds are increasing both in winter and in summer. Rarer birds of prey are more common because of the greater numbers of farmland birds, and in particular because of the presence of field mice. Not only do farmland birds benefit, but soil erosion is also reduced to a minimum.
Lessons learnt
It is possible for farmers to work together in a group for a common goal, provided that: i) farmer knows and understands the possibilities ("unknown is unloved") and; ii) they are supported to take action and feel confident they will achieve the common goal. When farmers embrace cooperation they also feel less concerned about mutual competition.
Project location and other information
The project is located in the Belgian province of Limburg, municipality of Halen.
Region
Prov. Limburg (B)
RDP Territory
Flanders
Total project cost (€)
460 000
EAFRD contribution (€)
75 500
National contribution (€)
384 500
Contact name
Davy Noelmans
Telephone
+32 497 476 435
Languages for contact
English, Dutch
At a glance
Country
Belgium
Final beneficiary type
Individual farmers
Budget range
€100 000 - €500 000
Start date:
01/01/2010
End Date:
31/12/2013
Theme / Measure:
Environment and Sustainable Resource Management
Sustainable use of agricultural land
214. Agri-environment payments
Keywords:
Agri-environment, Biodiversity, Cooperation, Environmental management
Last update
27/05/2013