Recommendation in the spotlight: Conditions for the use of existing hydrological assessment frameworks for the habitats of meadow birds and marsh birds
Assessment frameworks already existed for evaluating the requirements of meadow birds and wetland birds in hydrological studies, but these had been developed for specific regions. We were asked to revise these frameworks so that they could be applied more widely, for example when assessing the impacts of groundwater abstraction in Special Areas of Conservation. In this recommendation, we adapt the existing frameworks so that they can be used throughout Flanders.
The new assessment framework for meadow birds is structured around species such as the black-tailed godwit and the lapwing, as these are representative of this species group. However, the framework can also be used for other breeding meadow birds and for migratory birds such as the curlew and the ruff.
For wetland birds, we have chosen the Eurasian bittern as the target species. This framework, too, has a broader scope of application: it can be used for various types of wetland areas and for species with similar habitat requirements, such as the spoonbill, the great white egret and the bluethroat.
>> Read the full recommendation (in Dutch)
Picture above: lapwing (photo Glenn Vermeersch)