Criteria for the (re-)

Current efforts to stop the extinction of plant species from Dutch nature, are mainly concentrating on habitat conservation and habitat restoration. Recent restoration projects however, show that there is a category of species for which these measures ar nog sufficient. Due to the lack of viable seeds in the soil seed bank and the absence of seed sources in the direct neighbourhood, these species are not able to reach the restored site. Therefore additional conservation measures need to be considered. One could be to promote dispersule availability by enhancing movements of natural or semi-natural dispersal vectors. Another and more direct measure is the active translocation of species by human interference. (Re)introduction of plant species, however, is not undisputed. The cautious attitude of conservationists and policy makers towards (re-)introductions has resulted in limited practical experience with these direct measures and more importantly in near absence of systematic monitoring of the (re-)introductions that have been undertaken. Lack of clear rules about the (re-)introduction of plants, at this moment is leading to an extra critical attitude towards the use of these techniques. Possible opportunities for restoration of biodiversity may thus be missed.
This project aims at the development of practical criteria for the answering of three essential questions when (re-)introductions are being considered:

1. What source material is best used: local of alien; from one population or from a mixture?
2. At which sites? The best sites only, or also many marginal sites to spread the risks?
3. Using seeds or adult transplants?

The criteria for (re-)introductions resulting from this project can be used in the decision making process by individuals and organisations involved in the planning and implementation of nature management and -restoration or responsible for mitigation and compensation measures accompanying physical planning decisions.

Gebruikers

Eén bedrijf en drie instellingen zijn bij dit project betrokken.

Projectleider

Prof.dr. J.M. van Groenendael
Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen
Aquatische Oecologie
Toernooiveld 1
6525 ED Nijmegen

Status van het project

Gestart	: 01-02-1999
Einddatum	: 01-01-2005

Trefwoorden

Ecology. introduction of plant species in fragmented landscapes (NBI.4724).