Grassland bird species management areas, Condition 7/2/2018

Overview of the areas, located in Flanders, within which a management agreement for meadow birds (tureluur, water snipe, summer teal, black-tailed godwit, curlew, slobeend, lapwing, oystercatcher, grasshopper, skylark, yellow wagtail) can be concluded, as determined by Ministerial Decree. They are less and less successful in hatching their clutches and producing enough quick-flying young. This is due to ever earlier mowing dates, a higher stocking density and a lack of food for the chicks.In the management areas for meadow bird species, measures for meadow birds have the greatest added value as there are still sufficiently large meadow bird populations. By providing sufficient rest during the breeding season, the survival chances of the meadow birds increase.In the management areas for meadow bird species, on the one hand, a management agreement can be concluded whereby the mowing date is postponed to 22 June on the entire plot (postponed mowing date) or on a strip (construction and maintenance escape strip). On the other hand, several management agreements can significantly reduce the stocking density during the breeding season (grazing 20 May, stocking pasture 15 June, chick pasture). These measures increase the breeding success of the meadow birds and give them enough time to raise their young. Farmers receive an annual compensation for five years.Meadow bird management areas are part of the species protection management areas. The management areas for the management objective species protection are defined on a proposal from the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO) on the basis of the latest available monitoring data.