1 July, 15th 2002 Breeding birds as a farm product Direct payment in the Netherlands Kees Musters, Hans de Graaf & Wim ter Keurs Environmental Biology IEES, Leiden University The Netherlands

2 July, 15th 2002 Meadow bird landscape

3 July, 15th 2002 Black-tailed Godwit

4 July, 15th 2002 Nest protection

5 July, 15th 2002 Need for conservation policy National population

6 July, 15th 2002 Governmental conservation measures: extensify agriculture in ‘environmental sensitive areas’ Reserves Contracts with farmers no changes in water level no changes in land use not mowing or grazing before June 15th financial compensation for loss of income

7 July, 15th 2002 Overview contracts in ‘environmental sensitive areas’ Area:restricted Farming:restricted Check:measures Meadow birds:not assessed Agr.-conserv.:confict Costs (euro):

8 July, 15th 2002 Results reserves and contracts in ‘environmental sensitive areas’ Meadow birds: decrease seemed stopped People: –great resistance among farmers: restricted agricultural practice –promoted conflict between conservationists and farmers Government: high costs Searching for an alternative

9 July, 15th 2002 Alternative Criteria –increase breeding success –not restrict farmers –not be expensive Direct payment –reward farmers for the presence of incubated meadow birds clutches on their land

10 July, 15th 2002 Direct payment scheme At one day in spring –incubated clutches are searched –these clutches are marked –a report is made of number and location of these clutches Within three days –the report may be verified by a checking agency Farmers are rewarded for each clutch –rare species are rewarded highly; common species low

11 July, 15th 2002 Overview contracts versus direct payment Area:restrictednot restricted Farming:restrictednot restricted Check:measuresclutches Meadow birds:not assessedassessed Agr.-conserv.:conflictco-operation Costs (euro): ContractsDirect payment

12 July, 15th 2002 Results direct payment experiment

13 July, 15th 2002 Results direct payment Meadow birds: nest success is increased People: –farmers enthusiastic: meadow birds are their product –nature conservationists help farmers in searching and protecting incubated clutches –implemented in ‘unions of agricultural nature conservation’ Government: low costs

14 July, 15th 2002 Problems? Organisation –frictions between unions and the national government on payment and payment-base Publicity –Kleijn et al. (2001): agricultural nature conservation does not increase populations for meadow birds methodologically not correct did not study reserves did not study direct payment Prejudice against schemes in which citizens are paid for producing nature values

15 July, 15th 2002 Results? National population

16 July, 15th 2002 Present state Total grassland area: ha Volunteers: ha Reserves: ha Contracts: ha Unions: ha

17 July, 15th 2002 Conclusions Direct payment: –for nature: nest success is enlarged –for people involved: farmers are enthusiastic and co-operate with nature conservationists –it may be relatively cheap It has to be defended against prejudice by showing its effectiveness for conserving populations

18 July, 15th 2002 Follow-up Study population effects New schemes –Already in practice: plants in ditch banks –Research: aquatic plants and animals in ditches