Actions related to objective 3.4

Full text of the objective  3.4 Develop and implement action plans so as to ensure the maintenance or rehabilitation of our most threatened species to a favourable conservation status" from the National Strategy

Flanders:

• Development and implementation of species action plans, contracts with land owners for species protection measures (meadow birds, hamster, farmland birds), financial support for birds rehabilitation centres, research for re-introduction projects (e.g. fish species)

Brussels:

Species Action Plan : in development for some endangered birds and some mammals.
Actions already taken to some birdspecies:

• swallows : nesting boxes, creation breeding area, ....
• bats : nesting boxes, preservation of old trees, restauration and preservation of roosts in buildings (cellors, atticks,....)

Walloon Region:

Several projects intend to improve the populations status of theatened fishes species:

• Restauration of freshwater fish's habitat (spawning grounds);
• Study and scientific monitoring in order to restore populations of the atlantic salmon in the "Saumon 2000 project".
• Protection netting in hydro-electric power station.
• Management of river banks

Besides, the Walloon Region has recovery programmes or action plans for the european hamster, the european otter, bats (with a particular one on Rhinolophus hipposideros), the Yellow-bellied Toad (Bombina variegata); the salmon, the black stork, freshwater mussels (current Life project), the corncrake (life project finished) , Birds of Reedbeds in "Basin de la Haine" (Life project finished)...A new one is in preperation for the Sand Lizard (Lacerta agilis).

Future actions:

• Analyse conservation status of most threatened species in Belgium as a first step towards news species actions plans;
• Maintain a sufficient quantity, quality, and connectivity of habitats for terrestrial, freshwater, and marine species, with a focus on priority species as to be defined by Objective 1;
• Restore most threatened habitats;
• Develop and implement specific action plans for most threatened species and habitats, making use of existing Europen plans.