| Project data | |
|---|---|
| Project leader: | Prof. Prof. h. c. Dr. Ursula Siebert |
| Chief scientist: | Dr. Daniel Tost |
| Project term: | 01.01.24-31.12.25 |
| Sponsorship: | Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft, Verbraucherschutz und Landesentwicklung |
| Project partner: | Alfred Toepfer Akademie für Naturschutz (NNA) |
Project description
From 12.04. to 15.04.2023 the "Black Grouse Symposium 2023, Will the black grouse survive in the Lüneburg Heath?" took place at Camp Reinsehlen in Schneverdingen. The event was organized by the Alfred Toepfer Academy for Nature Conservation (NNA), the ITAW, the Lower Saxony Hunting Association (LJN), the Lower Saxony Ministries of Agriculture (ML) and Environment (MU) and the Nature Conservation Park Association (VNP). At the symposium, the alarming state of the black grouse population in Lower Saxony, known and suspected causes of this state and possible solutions were discussed. The participants, in particular the local stakeholders from the areas of occurrence, clearly advocated a species aid program for the black grouse in the Lüneburg Heath, which should provide a framework for eliminating the problems discussed in the best possible way and achieving a healthy, stable population in the medium to long term.
At a follow-up event initiated by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection in June 2023, the project to develop a black grouse action plan was launched. The project is being implemented by the ITAW and the NNA. The contents of the action plan will be coordinated with the involved stakeholders from landowners, authorities and other interest groups as part of a "round table".
The objectives are: Stabilization and long-term conservation of a viable black grouse population in the Lüneburg Heath region through
- drawing up an action plan on the basis of technically and scientifically based measures that are coordinated with the interest groups concerned
- promoting the integration of the action plan into landscape planning, regional planning and Natura 2000 management planning
- the accompanying continuation and, where possible, expansion and supplementation of existing measures to protect the black grouse population in Lower Saxony
- Identifying knowledge gaps relevant to the conservation of black grouse in the Lüneburg Heath region and designing research project outlines to close these gaps
- Ensuring the effectiveness of the recommended measures and possibilities for readjustment through integrated evaluation concepts in order to monitor the planned implementation of the measures and their expected impact, taking into account both ecological and social dimensions. To this end, suitable, measurable indicators (target figures) must be specified for each individual measure to enable continuous monitoring of success
- Promoting and ensuring the feasibility and acceptance of the measures through the involvement and regular participation of the relevant stakeholder groups throughout the duration of the project
