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28.06.2024

Meadow bird conservation between wet grassland and the tidal area of the Ems

Exchange of experiences at the Nature Conservation Station Ems

The green vastness of the Ems dyke forelands is still home to highly endangered meadow bird species such as Lapwing, Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit. Together with the floodplains in the lower reaches of the Elbe and Weser rivers, these tidally influenced areas are among the strongholds for meadow birds in Lower Saxony. Against this backdrop, experts from all three regions of Lower Saxony met to share their experiences on site.

Since 2022, the site managers of the project areas of the LIFE IP GrassBirdHabitats have been meeting regularly in the various Northern German hotspots for meadow birds. Such a meeting took place last month. It was hosted by the Nature Conservation Station Ems. The exchange of experiences on practical aspects of site management focused on the Special Protection Areas V06 Rheiderland and V10 Emsmarschen between Leer and Emden. In addition to the site managers, experts from the Nature Conservation Stations Unterelbe, Dümmer and Fehntjer Tief of the Lower Saxony Water Management, Coastal and Nature Protection Agency (NLWKN) and other NLWKN regional nature conservation staff were invited. They discussed the various approaches and measures for meadow bird conservation in the region.

One of the meeting's excursion destinations was the Midlum dyke foreland, in glorious sunshine. There were plenty of opportunities for birdwatching here. The tidal Ems forelands at the estuary of the Ems are home to a variety of protected habitats, such as salt marshes and reedbeds. They provide habitats for a rich variety of plant and animal species that are specially adapted to the transition from flowing to coastal waters and the tides. 

Contradictory discussions on the possibilities of protecting meadow birds in the forelands of the Ems developed in this area. The water management situation on the Ems and the associated increasingly frequent flooding, which is accompanied by silting up of the forelands, poses particular challenges for meadow bird conservation. Many experiences from measures to protect meadow birds on the forelands of the Elbe and Weser rivers have been incorporated into the discussion of possible measures in the Ems forelands. 

There are guidelines for the protection of meadow birds in the forelands along the Ems, as the nature conservation objectives for the Ems were set out in the Master Plan Ems 2050 with the construction of the Meyer shipyard in Papenburg. In addition to improving the water quality of the Ems and developing estuary-typical habitats, bird protection was also defined as one of the objectives. In order to preserve the breeding bird populations in the Ems marshes, a full 200 hectares are to be added for inland bird protection (behind the Ems dyke) by 2050. These must first be acquired with public funds and restored as habitats for the ground-nesting birds – partly as compensation for the development of estuarine habitats to the detriment of meadow bird habitats.

The following visit to the Rheiderland, an extensive marshland landscape to the west of the Ems characterised by grassland, was also a place for an exciting discussion. Here, measures are particularly needed that can contribute to improving the currently still declining breeding success. Among other things, possibilities for improving the maintenance of wet nature conservation grassland and restoring a largely open landscape were discussed. These measures are essential for more effective protection of breeding meadow birds from egg and chick predators such as foxes and martens, as well as buzzards and other birds of prey.

All participants agreed on one thing: The goals of meadow bird conservation can only be achieved through long-term and reliable site management. This is the only way to establish trusting cooperation with all local stakeholders, such as agriculture, water management, hunters, and nature conservation organisations and authorities. Depending on the seasonal conditions, management should be jointly optimised for the protection of meadow birds in order to implement the necessary conservation measures. This support can best be provided by local Nature Conservation Stations.
 


Open marsh grassland with a ditch on the left and a group of people walking away from the camera on the right. The meadow is being overflown by a flock of birds.
Inspection of project areas in the Rheiderland. Photo: J. Ahrendt-Hitzegrad/NLWKN
A group of people stand on a muddy surface in bright backlight.
The group visits silted Ems dyke forelands. Photo: J. Ahrendt-Hitzegrad/NLWKN
Foreground: Two people standing with their backs to the camera. Middleground: A person in outdoor-clothes talking to the people in the front. Background: Open grassland and clouded sky.
Joachim Schwane, site manager at NLWKN, talks to the group about measures in the project areas he manages. Photo: J. Ahrendt-Hitzegrad/NLWKN