The project's third monitoring meeting took place in mid-December. During this meeting, the project is audited by the EU from a technical perspective. At the same time, the meeting offers all project partners an important opportunity to discuss current issues relating to meadow bird conservation, identify regulatory challenges, and develop solutions together.
An important part of the meeting was the technical exchange on current findings from research and practice. Among other things, results on food availability and energy requirements of black-tailed godwit chicks were presented, as well as the positive effects of adapted land management on soil health and carbon storage. In addition, practical tools for landscape planning were presented and discussed, as well as how political framework conditions and spatial structures can support the protection of meadow birds in agricultural areas. The technical part of the meeting focused primarily on issues of project financing, the socio-economic relationships between agriculture, nature conservation, and politics, as well as measures for raising awareness and public relations.
The meeting was complemented by an excursion to the bird sanctuary on the Lower Elbe. On site, project areas and their management were jointly observed and discussed. A particular focus was placed on future challenges, such as possible changes to the dike as a result of rising water levels and the associated effects on the project areas.
At the halfway point of the project, the results are positive: the project has developed well in recent years, provided valuable technical insights, and strengthened the exchange between science, practice, and administration. The monitoring meeting has once again shown how important this regular dialogue is for the further development of meadow bird conservation—and that the project is well positioned to be successful in the coming years.
