International Conference: Network for Bittern December 2005
The International Conference: Network for Bittern
was held on the 7th, 8th and 9th December 2005.
This was the final conference of British EU LIfe Bittern Project Developing a strategic network of SPA reedbeds for Botaurus stellaris and Life Co-op Project Handbook for Actions to Promote Bittern Protection in Europe.
The Great bittern (Botaurus stellaris) is a prominent flagship species of wetland conservation, which has benefited from numerous conservation actions in many Europen countries. Much of this work was financed by the LIFE Nature Programme, as the bittern is the species which has been most often targetd by LIFE Nature Projects. The bittern therefore plays a key role within the NATURA 2000 Network of the European Union.
In 2004 a LIFE Co-op project was launched to collect and to disseminate the wealth of experience, knowledge and results developed by many organisations as a result of Bittern EU LIFE Projects. The tangible product of the project will be a Handbook for actions to promote bittern protection in Europe. The Handbook will have a very practical focus and is aimed at land managers, advisors and interested groups in nature/wetland conservation but also other organisations, which can best influence the conservation of the bittern, such as Government departments and agencies, water suppliers and Local Authorities.
The European bittern conference presented the final drafts of the Handbook chapters and gave an opportunity to discuss the key issues during three workshop sessions. The results of the conference are to be integrated into the conclusions and recommendations of the Handbook. The results of the British project Developing a strategic network of SPA reedbeds for Botaurus stellaris were demonstrated during the conference and field trip.
Representatives from different regions in Europe covered a wide geographical scope of experiences in bittern protection. Finally the seminar aimed to initiate the update of the European bittern action plan
The lead partner of the project is the Brandenburg State Office for Environment, Germany, which is working closely with two project partners: the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), Birdlife representative in Great Britain and the LPO (Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux), Birdlife representative in France. The three partner organisations have implemented five Bittern Life projects.
The three day conference started with an evening reception held at the RSPB headquarters at The Lodge, in Sandy, Bedfordshire which included a welcome from the RSPBs Chief Executive, Graham Wynne and presentations from Sarah Alsbury (RSPB Project Manager) and Martin Flade (BSOE - Brandenburg State Office for Environment, Germany).
The second day for the conference saw presentations given from respresentatives of the RSPB, BSOE, LPO, SOVON, University of Helsinki, University of Lublin and the Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University. A site visit to the RSPB Minsmere reserve, Suffolk, completed the 3 day conference.
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