View allAll Photos Tagged Rewilding
First two adult lynx were spotted near Kingussie in the Highlands. It was initially thought they might have escaped from the nearby Highland Wildlife Park, but they quickly confirmed they had all their cats. Police and 'experts' were quickly brought into the area to capture the lynx and with all the resources at their disposal, the authorities announced they had trapped both animals without harming them. Big surprise. So often when a cow or calf gets out of a field because of a broken fence, the police rush in with machine guns and humanely kill them on the spot. Theories came out that a "rewilder" environmentalist had set the lynx free, frustrated that the powers that be were being too slow to make decisions on rewilding. It seems they decided to just go ahead on their own. Funny how the Police can work so hard to round up a couple of cats, but try to get them to prevent crime and catch criminals: no chance. There is a lot of publicity about setting lynx free in the Highlands to cull the number of deer. This is proclaimed to be 'misguided' and damaging. Why? Because they will kill sheep and scare tourists off forest walks. But the same people are happy to let white tailed eagles re-populate throughout the Highlands. They eat baby sheep. A local farmer told me she lost four lambs in a week to local eagles. That costs her. Who is going to compensate her? Anyhow, back to lynx. No sooner had the first two been taken back into captivity when two more lynx were spotted in the same area. They apparently have also now been taken back into custody. Personally I see little harm in lynx roaming the Highlands. But I'm not keen on wolves or bigger cats. Having seen a panther up close and free in the forest I'm glad they are still relatively rare in Britain. To rewild or not rewild? Fan or foe?
www.msn.com/en-gb/pets-and-animals/wildlife/two-remaining...
As part of a larger nature restoration and increase of biodiversity a herd of Exmoor ponies have been transferred from the rewilding project on Langeland to Ulvshale on the island of Møn.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oostvaardersplassen
The Oostvaardersplassen (Dutch pronunciation: [oːstˈfaːrdərsˌplɑsə(n)]) is a nature reserve in the Netherlands, which is managed by the State Forestry Service. Covering about 56 square kilometres (22 sq mi), it is noted as an example of rewilding.[1] It is in a polder which was created in 1968, but in spite of the environment having little time to develop, by 1989 it had international importance as a Ramsar wetland.[2]
Geography
The Oostvaardersplassen are located in the municipality of Lelystad, between the towns of Lelystad and Almere, in the province of Flevoland in the Netherlands. The area of 56 square kilometres (22 sq mi) is situated on the shore of the Markermeer in the center of the Flevopolder. The Oostvaardersplassen can be divided into a wet area in the northwest and a dry area in the southeast.
Wet and dry areas
In the wet area along the Markermeer, there are large reedbeds on clay, where moulting geese often feed. This area is also home to great cormorant, common spoonbill, great egret, white-tailed eagle and Eurasian bittern, among many other animals. Oostvaardersplassen is a Special Protection Area for birdlife.[3]
Before the establishment of the reserve, the dry area was a nursery for willow trees, and in the first year hundreds of seedlings could be found on each square metre. This led to concern that a dense woodland would develop, significantly reducing the value of the habitat for water birds. To avoid this, the park's managers brought in a number of large herbivores to keep the area more open, including Konik ponies, red deer and Heck cattle. These large grazing animals are kept out in the open all year round without supplemental feeding, and are allowed to behave as wild animals (without, for example, castrating males). The ecosystem developing under their influence is thought to resemble those that would have existed on European river banks and deltas before human disturbance. However, there is some controversy about how natural the ecosystem is, as it lacks top predators.[1]
Large herbivores
Heck cattle
Before they were driven to extinction, large herbivores in this part of Europe included the tarpan (wild horse), wisent (European bison), red deer (elk or wapiti in North America) and aurochs (wild cattle). The tarpan and aurochs are extinct, but Konik ponies and Heck cattle are able to act as functional equivalents, occupying a similar ecological niche. The only native large herbivores now missing from Oostvaardersplassen are the elk (moose in North America), the wild boar and the wisent.[citation needed] There is a chance that the wild boar will find its way naturally from the Veluwe.
Head count2010 [4]2011 [5]
Red deer 2,200–2,800 3,300
Konik ponies 1,090 1,150
Heck cattle 320 350
Roe deer 30–40 n/a
Natural processes
Given that the Oostvaardersplassen is below sea level, many of its primary processes have been regulated. As the wetlands have been so spectacular, a dyke was made around it to prevent the process of groundwater-related subsidence. While this had temporary advantages, it created a water body with no open connections to the rest of the polder and the negative effects are only now being understood.[further explanation needed]
The cattle, deer and horses have multiplied in the Oostvaardersplassen. However, there is a limit to the number of animals the area can sustain. In the absence of natural predators the rangers shoot animals that are unlikely to survive. It is quite common for 30 to 60 per cent of the population to die in this way. After a die off, the vegetation has a chance to recover and this will get the first natural afforestation of the area under way.
The large herbivore die-offs are also closely related to the confined nature of the reserve and the flat nature of the reclaimed land, with very little shelter. It is fenced, and thus the large herbivores are unable to migrate away from the over grazed areas in Winter to find either shelter or forage.[6] All the large herbivores have an annual cycle of nutrition. Typically in winter and early spring their metabolism slows down. This is also the period in which they are designed to lose condition (body fat). This is where the ability to seek shelter as they would in a natural environment becomes crucial. Effectively the reserve is too small and impoverished to accommodate the natural processes of large herbivores, as for example in the Serengeti where large herbivores migrate over large distances.
During a particularly harsh winter in 2005, many animals in the Oostvaardersplassen died of starvation, leading to public outcry against alleged animal cruelty.
Future development
In many ways the Oostvaardersplassen is an isolated area; it is in a polder and there are currently no corridors connecting it to other nature reserves. The "Ecological Main Structure" plan proposes connections between nature reserves in the Netherlands, calls for a corridor to be created toward nearby Horsterwold (nl). The resulting network, called Oostvaardersland, would be part of Natura 2000, the European-wide network of habitats to which Oostvaardersplassen belongs.[8] The creation of Oostvaardersland will allow seasonal small scale migration and take some strain off the big grazers in winter. In the summer, Oostvaardersplassen will offer rich grazing and the sea winds will keep biting insects at bay, in the winter, the Horsterwold will offer protection from cold winds and supply browse. Oostvaardersland will comprise a total area of 150 square kilometres (58 sq mi). Furthermore, there is an option for a connection to the Veluwe forest. Eventually this could allow wild animals to move to and from Germany.[9]
Oostvaardersland was expected to be finished by 2014. However, the project ran into financial and political troubles. In 2012 the creation of Oostvaarderswold (nl), the 7 × 1 mi connecting corridor between Oostvaardersplassen and the Horsterwold, was stopped, and four members of the regional parliament resigned.[10] The government then planned to sell back the property to the previous owners for less money than it originally paid for the property; according to European nature laws it would then have to turn other lands into wilderness areas to compensate for the loss of the Oostvaarderswold nature area.[11] The reasons for this plan of action, which would cost a lot of public money and make the future creation of Oostvaardersland impossible, are unclear.
The advocates of natural processes are also planning for the wet part of the Oostvaardersplassen to be drained.[clarification needed] It is expected that the natural subsidence will lower the ground level and that this will result in a more natural and dynamic system.
There is this one demonstration trail, that I keep going back to, year after year, and here I was, a few backs, one more time...
The Eurasian Lynx is a keystone species and subject to several rewilding projects.
This Lynx is photographed in captivity.Studies on the viability of lynx reintroduction in Britain suggest that the Highlands of Scotland are capable of supporting 400 lynx.Reintroducing large predators such as the lynx are seen by rewilding experts as a means of restoring balance in the ecosystem and keeping deer
Pratincoles are unusual among waders in that they typically hunt their insect prey on the wing like swallows, although they can also feed on the ground.
The Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola) is a bird of open country, and is often seen near water in the evening, hawking for insects. It is found in the warmer parts of Europe, southwest Asia and Africa. Its 2–4 eggs are laid on the ground. It is migratory, wintering in tropical Africa, and is rare north of the breeding range.
It is 24–28 centimetres (9.4–11 in) long with a 60–70 centimetres (24–28 in) wingspan. It has short legs, long pointed wings, a long forked tail, and a short bill, which is an adaptation to aerial feeding. The back and head are brown, and the wings are brown with darker flight feathers. The belly is white. The underwings are chestnut, but look dark below.
Very good views are needed to distinguish this species from other pratincoles, such as the Black-winged Pratincole and the Oriental Pratincole, which may occur in its range. The latter species also has a chestnut underwing, but is shorter-tailed.
The islands on Scottish lochs are often the last remnants of the forests that once existed here. Fortunately there are many efforts to return tree to these landscapes from governments, forrestry organisations and rewilding groups. Check out Scotland The Big Picture if you are curious! shared with pixbuf.com
Bord Na Mona's rewilding of the peatlands continues after 70 years of Industrial extraction of peat.
West Kildare, Ireland.
DJI M2
Knepp Estate is known for being the biggest rewilding exercise in England. If in the area it is well worth a visit.
Part of the rewilding process was to keep all the fallen leaves on the flower beds and forest meadow to create leaf litter to allow insects to thrive for the birds, voles and hedgehogs and to encourage fungus.
Kamera: Nikon F3 (1989)
Linse: Nikkor-S Auto 50mm f1.4 (1970)
Film: Cinestill BWXX (Kodak 5222) @ ISO 800
Kjemi: Xtol (stock / 16 min. @ 22°C)
The digital world view of today has truly distorted our understanding of mankind and nature.
- S.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oostvaardersplassen
The Oostvaardersplassen (Dutch pronunciation: [oːstˈfaːrdərsˌplɑsə(n)]) is a nature reserve in the Netherlands, which is managed by the State Forestry Service. Covering about 56 square kilometres (22 sq mi), it is noted as an example of rewilding.[1] It is in a polder which was created in 1968, but in spite of the environment having little time to develop, by 1989 it had international importance as a Ramsar wetland.[2]
Geography
The Oostvaardersplassen are located in the municipality of Lelystad, between the towns of Lelystad and Almere, in the province of Flevoland in the Netherlands. The area of 56 square kilometres (22 sq mi) is situated on the shore of the Markermeer in the center of the Flevopolder. The Oostvaardersplassen can be divided into a wet area in the northwest and a dry area in the southeast.
Wet and dry areas
In the wet area along the Markermeer, there are large reedbeds on clay, where moulting geese often feed. This area is also home to great cormorant, common spoonbill, great egret, white-tailed eagle and Eurasian bittern, among many other animals. Oostvaardersplassen is a Special Protection Area for birdlife.[3]
Before the establishment of the reserve, the dry area was a nursery for willow trees, and in the first year hundreds of seedlings could be found on each square metre. This led to concern that a dense woodland would develop, significantly reducing the value of the habitat for water birds. To avoid this, the park's managers brought in a number of large herbivores to keep the area more open, including Konik ponies, red deer and Heck cattle. These large grazing animals are kept out in the open all year round without supplemental feeding, and are allowed to behave as wild animals (without, for example, castrating males). The ecosystem developing under their influence is thought to resemble those that would have existed on European river banks and deltas before human disturbance. However, there is some controversy about how natural the ecosystem is, as it lacks top predators.[1]
Large herbivores
Heck cattle
Before they were driven to extinction, large herbivores in this part of Europe included the tarpan (wild horse), wisent (European bison), red deer (elk or wapiti in North America) and aurochs (wild cattle). The tarpan and aurochs are extinct, but Konik ponies and Heck cattle are able to act as functional equivalents, occupying a similar ecological niche. The only native large herbivores now missing from Oostvaardersplassen are the elk (moose in North America), the wild boar and the wisent.[citation needed] There is a chance that the wild boar will find its way naturally from the Veluwe.
Head count2010 [4]2011 [5]
Red deer 2,200–2,800 3,300
Konik ponies 1,090 1,150
Heck cattle 320 350
Roe deer 30–40 n/a
Natural processes
Given that the Oostvaardersplassen is below sea level, many of its primary processes have been regulated. As the wetlands have been so spectacular, a dyke was made around it to prevent the process of groundwater-related subsidence. While this had temporary advantages, it created a water body with no open connections to the rest of the polder and the negative effects are only now being understood.[further explanation needed]
The cattle, deer and horses have multiplied in the Oostvaardersplassen. However, there is a limit to the number of animals the area can sustain. In the absence of natural predators the rangers shoot animals that are unlikely to survive. It is quite common for 30 to 60 per cent of the population to die in this way. After a die off, the vegetation has a chance to recover and this will get the first natural afforestation of the area under way.
The large herbivore die-offs are also closely related to the confined nature of the reserve and the flat nature of the reclaimed land, with very little shelter. It is fenced, and thus the large herbivores are unable to migrate away from the over grazed areas in Winter to find either shelter or forage.[6] All the large herbivores have an annual cycle of nutrition. Typically in winter and early spring their metabolism slows down. This is also the period in which they are designed to lose condition (body fat). This is where the ability to seek shelter as they would in a natural environment becomes crucial. Effectively the reserve is too small and impoverished to accommodate the natural processes of large herbivores, as for example in the Serengeti where large herbivores migrate over large distances.
During a particularly harsh winter in 2005, many animals in the Oostvaardersplassen died of starvation, leading to public outcry against alleged animal cruelty.
Future development
In many ways the Oostvaardersplassen is an isolated area; it is in a polder and there are currently no corridors connecting it to other nature reserves. The "Ecological Main Structure" plan proposes connections between nature reserves in the Netherlands, calls for a corridor to be created toward nearby Horsterwold (nl). The resulting network, called Oostvaardersland, would be part of Natura 2000, the European-wide network of habitats to which Oostvaardersplassen belongs.[8] The creation of Oostvaardersland will allow seasonal small scale migration and take some strain off the big grazers in winter. In the summer, Oostvaardersplassen will offer rich grazing and the sea winds will keep biting insects at bay, in the winter, the Horsterwold will offer protection from cold winds and supply browse. Oostvaardersland will comprise a total area of 150 square kilometres (58 sq mi). Furthermore, there is an option for a connection to the Veluwe forest. Eventually this could allow wild animals to move to and from Germany.[9]
Oostvaardersland was expected to be finished by 2014. However, the project ran into financial and political troubles. In 2012 the creation of Oostvaarderswold (nl), the 7 × 1 mi connecting corridor between Oostvaardersplassen and the Horsterwold, was stopped, and four members of the regional parliament resigned.[10] The government then planned to sell back the property to the previous owners for less money than it originally paid for the property; according to European nature laws it would then have to turn other lands into wilderness areas to compensate for the loss of the Oostvaarderswold nature area.[11] The reasons for this plan of action, which would cost a lot of public money and make the future creation of Oostvaardersland impossible, are unclear.
The advocates of natural processes are also planning for the wet part of the Oostvaardersplassen to be drained.[clarification needed] It is expected that the natural subsidence will lower the ground level and that this will result in a more natural and dynamic system.
This beautiful scene of daffodils flourishing by a lake, is at Ewhurst Park in Hampshire, UK.
Ewhurst Park in Hampshire is a 374-hectare rural estate known for its biodiversity and sustainability projects, including a rewilding initiative focused on restoring natural habitats like lowlands, grasslands, water bodies, and woodlands. Here the elements – daffodils, a lake, and surrounding trees – align perfectly with this description.
The rewilding project at Ewhurst Park specifically mentions "restoring our water systems back to full health for both wildlife and people to enjoy" and "creating scrapes to slow down the flow of water, filter pollutants and sediments, and seasonally hold water," which supports the presence of a lake feature as seen here.
Ewhurst Park hosts various events and aims to reconnect people with nature, offering a beautiful natural habitat for visitors to enjoy, as noted in user reviews.
Daffodils are easily recognisable by their six petal-like tepals surrounding a central, often contrasting, trumpet or corona. They typically have yellow or white flowers and grow on sturdy, long green stalks with slender leaves. These perennial bulbs are native to Southern Europe and North Africa but are widely cultivated globally. Daffodils thrive in well-drained soil with plenty of sun or light shade and are suitable for containers, borders, or naturalizing in grass. All parts of the daffodil, particularly the bulbs, are poisonous if ingested, containing the toxic chemical lycorine.
It would appear that the National Trust have introduced "rewilding" to their Dorset property, Kingston Lacy. Large areas appear to have been left to revert to scrubland, an improved habitat for wildlife, including birdsa and bees.
tasmania.com/things-to-do/hiking-walking/south-coast-track/
SOUTH COAST TRACK
Summon up a map of Tasmania and take a good look. You'll find Hobart in the southeast with plenty of roads leading north to Launceston and Devonport. Then take your eye down to the southwest of the island to see a large swath of green. Look closer. There are no roads, no towns and only one tiny port on the southwest tip of the island. You're marvelling at Southwest National Park and all of its wild glory. You'll find the South Coast Track along its southern edge.
Spanning 85 kilometres from Melaleuca to Cockle Creek, this walk takes 6 to 8 days to complete. It meanders through some of the wildest lands on planet Earth, and, because of this wildness, it is recommended that you gain experience on some of Tasmania's other difficult walks before challenging yourself on the South Coast Track. The Overland Track in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park serves as a good warmup.
While there is a rugged road to Cockle Creek, there are no roads to Melaleuca. The small encampment on the southwest side of Southwest National Park has a small airstrip and Port Davey for the landing of boats. You can only fly, boat or walk your way out of Melaleuca. Boats and planes can be arranged in the west coast town of Strahan.
The South Coast Track by Season
It is advisable to take the track during the summer months. It is warmer between September and March but you are at risk of high winds, cold temperatures and a deluge of rain at any time of year. And while it is possible to complete the track alone or during winter, it is highly inadvisable to complete the track alone in winter. After all, you're a long ways from help if you need it. Always hike in groups of 6 or less.
Here is a wonderful quote from the back of David Attenborough's new (2020) book:
"A Life on Our Planet; my witness statement and a vision for the future":
"We share Earth with the living world - the most
remarkable life-support system imaginable,
constructed over billions of years. The planet's
stability has wavered just as its biodiversity has
declined - the two things are bound together.
To restore stability to our planet, therefore, we must restore its biodiversity, the very thing we have removed. It is the only way out of this crisis that we ourselves have created. We must rewild the world."
Canada Goldenrod -- Solidago altissima -- grow near the restored tidal flats of Fraser River Park in Vancouver, Canada.
There's something quite humbling about being close to a bird that is clearly capable of ripping off your face if you come between it and its food.
www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a...
Thankfully, these magnificent birds are starting to re-establish themselves in the UK (mainly in Scotland and the Isle of Wight) after they became extinct in this country.
I was lucky enough to see a captive one fly yesterday. The day I see one fly in the wild (with a 7ft wingspan) would be a happy day indeed.
#6007 - 2024 Day 163/366: The old wall of Knepp Castle, on the Knepp estate in Sussex now best known as a pioneering rewilding project.
Taken on 07/05/2023 at 07:14:53Hrs, using a Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ1000 camera.
Fritton Lake is in the heart of a thousand-acre Norfolk rewilding project and is a private holiday club in Norfolk, East Anglia.
Best Viewed Large.
Plectranthus parviflorus (aka Blue Spires) growing in our garden. This one has since made many babies that are popping up all down the driveway. We are thrilled with this result as it was our aim to rewild the garden, and this plant is doing some of that work for us! I have seen hoverflies and the occasional Blue Banded Bee investigate these little flowers. [Lower Blue Mountains, NSW]
Never let anyone tell you that it's not possible to farm in predator country because it is. Shepherds and herdsmen have been doing it here for centuries and without fences. The difference here is that the sheep are never without a shepherd and LGDs present.
There has been lots of bear activity in and around the village over the past days so the dogs were on high alert. We also have wolves and lynx in the area so the dogs have to work as a team to maintain an effective deterrent.
I was walking with Bandi, one of the village shepherds and five of his livestock guardian dogs.
18. www.wildtransylvania.com/2019/01/sheep-farming-in-predato...
tasmania.com/things-to-do/hiking-walking/south-coast-track/
SOUTH COAST TRACK
Summon up a map of Tasmania and take a good look. You'll find Hobart in the southeast with plenty of roads leading north to Launceston and Devonport. Then take your eye down to the southwest of the island to see a large swath of green. Look closer. There are no roads, no towns and only one tiny port on the southwest tip of the island. You're marvelling at Southwest National Park and all of its wild glory. You'll find the South Coast Track along its southern edge.
Spanning 85 kilometres from Melaleuca to Cockle Creek, this walk takes 6 to 8 days to complete. It meanders through some of the wildest lands on planet Earth, and, because of this wildness, it is recommended that you gain experience on some of Tasmania's other difficult walks before challenging yourself on the South Coast Track. The Overland Track in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park serves as a good warmup.
While there is a rugged road to Cockle Creek, there are no roads to Melaleuca. The small encampment on the southwest side of Southwest National Park has a small airstrip and Port Davey for the landing of boats. You can only fly, boat or walk your way out of Melaleuca. Boats and planes can be arranged in the west coast town of Strahan.
The South Coast Track by Season
It is advisable to take the track during the summer months. It is warmer between September and March but you are at risk of high winds, cold temperatures and a deluge of rain at any time of year. And while it is possible to complete the track alone or during winter, it is highly inadvisable to complete the track alone in winter. After all, you're a long ways from help if you need it. Always hike in groups of 6 or less.
Here is a wonderful quote from the back of David Attenborough's new (2020) book:
"A Life on Our Planet; my witness statement and a vision for the future":
"We share Earth with the living world - the most
remarkable life-support system imaginable,
constructed over billions of years. The planet's
stability has wavered just as its biodiversity has
declined - the two things are bound together.
To restore stability to our planet, therefore, we must restore its biodiversity, the very thing we have removed. It is the only way out of this crisis that we ourselves have created. We must rewild the world."
Natterjack Toad / epidalea calamita. Celtic Reptile & Amphibian workshop. 09/07/22.
An image made at Celtic Reptile & Amphibian breeding facility. This conservation company was established in 2020 with the aim of reintroducing extinct reptiles and amphibians to UK rewilding projects. A photography workshop was organised by Jack Perks Wildlife Media.
The opportunity to see Natterjack Toads for the first time was the main reason I went. Over many years I have hunted for NTs at several known sites, but without success. When I actually laid eyes on this beautiful female, I wasn't disappointed! The intricacy of her skin texture and colouring was remarkable. In this image the focus was on her head detail.
BEST VIEWED LARGE.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oostvaardersplassen
The Oostvaardersplassen (Dutch pronunciation: [oːstˈfaːrdərsˌplɑsə(n)]) is a nature reserve in the Netherlands, which is managed by the State Forestry Service. Covering about 56 square kilometres (22 sq mi), it is noted as an example of rewilding.[1] It is in a polder which was created in 1968, but in spite of the environment having little time to develop, by 1989 it had international importance as a Ramsar wetland.[2]
Geography
The Oostvaardersplassen are located in the municipality of Lelystad, between the towns of Lelystad and Almere, in the province of Flevoland in the Netherlands. The area of 56 square kilometres (22 sq mi) is situated on the shore of the Markermeer in the center of the Flevopolder. The Oostvaardersplassen can be divided into a wet area in the northwest and a dry area in the southeast.
Wet and dry areas
In the wet area along the Markermeer, there are large reedbeds on clay, where moulting geese often feed. This area is also home to great cormorant, common spoonbill, great egret, white-tailed eagle and Eurasian bittern, among many other animals. Oostvaardersplassen is a Special Protection Area for birdlife.[3]
Before the establishment of the reserve, the dry area was a nursery for willow trees, and in the first year hundreds of seedlings could be found on each square metre. This led to concern that a dense woodland would develop, significantly reducing the value of the habitat for water birds. To avoid this, the park's managers brought in a number of large herbivores to keep the area more open, including Konik ponies, red deer and Heck cattle. These large grazing animals are kept out in the open all year round without supplemental feeding, and are allowed to behave as wild animals (without, for example, castrating males). The ecosystem developing under their influence is thought to resemble those that would have existed on European river banks and deltas before human disturbance. However, there is some controversy about how natural the ecosystem is, as it lacks top predators.[1]
Large herbivores
Heck cattle
Before they were driven to extinction, large herbivores in this part of Europe included the tarpan (wild horse), wisent (European bison), red deer (elk or wapiti in North America) and aurochs (wild cattle). The tarpan and aurochs are extinct, but Konik ponies and Heck cattle are able to act as functional equivalents, occupying a similar ecological niche. The only native large herbivores now missing from Oostvaardersplassen are the elk (moose in North America), the wild boar and the wisent.[citation needed] There is a chance that the wild boar will find its way naturally from the Veluwe.
Head count2010 [4]2011 [5]
Red deer 2,200–2,800 3,300
Konik ponies 1,090 1,150
Heck cattle 320 350
Roe deer 30–40 n/a
Natural processes
Given that the Oostvaardersplassen is below sea level, many of its primary processes have been regulated. As the wetlands have been so spectacular, a dyke was made around it to prevent the process of groundwater-related subsidence. While this had temporary advantages, it created a water body with no open connections to the rest of the polder and the negative effects are only now being understood.[further explanation needed]
The cattle, deer and horses have multiplied in the Oostvaardersplassen. However, there is a limit to the number of animals the area can sustain. In the absence of natural predators the rangers shoot animals that are unlikely to survive. It is quite common for 30 to 60 per cent of the population to die in this way. After a die off, the vegetation has a chance to recover and this will get the first natural afforestation of the area under way.
The large herbivore die-offs are also closely related to the confined nature of the reserve and the flat nature of the reclaimed land, with very little shelter. It is fenced, and thus the large herbivores are unable to migrate away from the over grazed areas in Winter to find either shelter or forage.[6] All the large herbivores have an annual cycle of nutrition. Typically in winter and early spring their metabolism slows down. This is also the period in which they are designed to lose condition (body fat). This is where the ability to seek shelter as they would in a natural environment becomes crucial. Effectively the reserve is too small and impoverished to accommodate the natural processes of large herbivores, as for example in the Serengeti where large herbivores migrate over large distances.
During a particularly harsh winter in 2005, many animals in the Oostvaardersplassen died of starvation, leading to public outcry against alleged animal cruelty.
Future development
In many ways the Oostvaardersplassen is an isolated area; it is in a polder and there are currently no corridors connecting it to other nature reserves. The "Ecological Main Structure" plan proposes connections between nature reserves in the Netherlands, calls for a corridor to be created toward nearby Horsterwold (nl). The resulting network, called Oostvaardersland, would be part of Natura 2000, the European-wide network of habitats to which Oostvaardersplassen belongs.[8] The creation of Oostvaardersland will allow seasonal small scale migration and take some strain off the big grazers in winter. In the summer, Oostvaardersplassen will offer rich grazing and the sea winds will keep biting insects at bay, in the winter, the Horsterwold will offer protection from cold winds and supply browse. Oostvaardersland will comprise a total area of 150 square kilometres (58 sq mi). Furthermore, there is an option for a connection to the Veluwe forest. Eventually this could allow wild animals to move to and from Germany.[9]
Oostvaardersland was expected to be finished by 2014. However, the project ran into financial and political troubles. In 2012 the creation of Oostvaarderswold (nl), the 7 × 1 mi connecting corridor between Oostvaardersplassen and the Horsterwold, was stopped, and four members of the regional parliament resigned.[10] The government then planned to sell back the property to the previous owners for less money than it originally paid for the property; according to European nature laws it would then have to turn other lands into wilderness areas to compensate for the loss of the Oostvaarderswold nature area.[11] The reasons for this plan of action, which would cost a lot of public money and make the future creation of Oostvaardersland impossible, are unclear.
The advocates of natural processes are also planning for the wet part of the Oostvaardersplassen to be drained.[clarification needed] It is expected that the natural subsidence will lower the ground level and that this will result in a more natural and dynamic system.
The largest undeveloped island in San Francisco Bay is a 3,000 acre marsh. It almost became 4,000 houses.
In 1982, 44 people made the difference in a citizen’s referendum - their votes saved the land, now a protected parcel of Don Edwards NWR, and a template for how to rewild the bay.
To the right, just under the plane’s wing, are sterile white salt pans owned by the Cargill Corporation, which refuses to sell the land to conservation organizations offering large sums of money.
Corporations are not people, my friends.
Natterjack Toad / epidalea calamita. Celtic Reptile & Amphibian. 09/07/22.
'ON THE MOVE.'
An image made at Celtic Reptile & Amphibian workshop. This conservation company was established in 2020 with the aim of reintroducing extinct reptiles and amphibians to UK rewilding projects. A photography workshop was organised by Jack Perks Wildlife Media.
The image shows a female Natterjack Toad on the move. Check out her numerous warts, subtle colour tones and the distinctive yellow stripe running the length of her back ... a rare and stunning amphibian.
BEST VIEWED LARGE.