LIFE Nardus & Limosa (English)

Afbeelding

Rik Hendrix

This area covers around 1,000 hectares in the municipalities of Turnhout and Merksplas. Just over half of this area is managed by Natuurpunt. The landscape is highly diverse and consists of heathlands, fens, grasslands, inland dunes, forests and more. It is interspersed with fields and pastures used for agriculture. 

The following project actions are taking place in this area:

• Restoration of Nardus grasslands (6230) by removing the nutrient-rich top layer
• Restoration of Nardus grasslands (6230) through P-mining
• Restoration of inland dunes (2310/2330) and Nardus grasslands (6230) by removing young forest
• Restoration of Nardus grasslands (6230) by sod cutting
• Optimization of meadow bird habitat
• Creation of a new walking route
• Development of the Klein Engelandhoeve visitors' center
• Increasing water retention

More about Turnhouts Vennengebied

This area is located in the municipalities of Ravels and Turnhout and is adjacent to the northern side of the Turnhouts Vennengebied. It is managed by the Agency for Nature and Forests (ANB). The area includes the grasslands of the military airfield, surrounded by forests, as well as some heathlands and grasslands. The forests can be visited via walking paths from the Turnhout Vennengebied, while the military domain is inaccessible. 

The following project actions are taking place in this area:

• Restoration of Nardus grasslands (6230) and inland dunes (2310/2330) by removing the nutrient-rich top layer
• Restoration of Nardus grasslands (6230) through P-mining
• Optimization of meadow bird habitat

Afbeelding

Amelie Claessens

This area in the province of Limburg is part of the Meeuwen-Helchteren military site and is managed by the Agency for Nature and Forests (ANB). It consists mainly of agricultural grasslands and forested zones and includes a wooded fen. It connects to extensive heathland and inland dune areas in the rest of the military site, which is inaccessible.

The following project actions are taking place in this area:

• Restoration of Nardus grasslands (6230), wet heathland (4010) and inland dunes (2310/2330) by removing the nutrient-rich top layer
• Restoration of Nardus grasslands (6230), wet heathland (4010) and inland dunes (2310/2330) through P-mining
• Restoration of wet heathland (4010) and inland dunes (2310/2330) by removing young forest

This area is located in the Dutch province of Noord Brabant and is managed by the Brabants Landschap Foundation. It is a continuous area of dry and wet heathlands, grasslands, and forests. 

The following project actions are taking place in this area:

• Restoration of Nardus grasslands (6230) by removing the nutrient-rich top layer
• Restoration of Nardus grasslands (6230) through P-mining
• Restoration of Nardus grasslands (6230) by removing young forest
• Restoration of Nardus grasslands (6230), wet heathland (4010) and inland dunes (2310/2330) by sod cutting, choppering and other measures
• Optimization of meadow bird habitat

More about the Regte Heide

This area in the province of Noord Brabant is managed by the Brabants Landschap Foundation. It primarily consists of coniferous forests with a central heathland area. 

The following project action is taking place in this area:

• Restoration of Nardus grasslands (6230) and inland dunes (2310/2330) by removing young forest

More about Rovertsche Heide 

The main focus of the project is the restoration of Nardus grasslands. These are species-rich grassy vegetation types on nutrient-poor soils, dominated by grasses. The biomass production on these nutrient-poor soils is relatively low, and specialized species are present. Some typical plant species include mat grass (Nardus stricta), common heathgrass (Danthonia decumbens), erect cinquefoil (Potentilla erecta), and lesser butterfly-orchid (Platanthera bifolia). Nutrient-poor grasslands are attractive to various animal species, including butterflies (chequered skipper (Carterocehalus palaemon), small heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)), grasshoppers (lesser field grasshopper (Chorthippus mollis), mottled grasshopper (Myrmeleotettix maculatus)) and reptiles (viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara​​​​​​​)). They are also the original habitat for various meadow birds in Flanders, including the black-tailed godwit, Eurasian curlew, and European lapwing.

Nardus grassland is a priority habitat because it has significantly declined in recent decades. This trend is attributed to various factors, including land reclamation for agriculture, acidification, droughts, eutrophication, afforestation, and overgrazing. Currently, it is one of the most threatened habitat types in Flanders, and the area has also been significantly reduced on a European scale. Thanks to the project, the area of this habitat will be able to expand considerably.

Afbeelding

Eva DeCock

Heath landscapes are very characteristic of the Campine region. Once, this vegetation covered vast areas here. There are different types of heath vegetation, all of which require very nutrient-poor soils. It is primarily the soil moisture that influences the vegetation. In very dry soils, it tends toward dune heath, while wetter soils develop more boggy heath vegetation.

Wet heath is a dwarf shrub vegetation found on nutrient-poor sandy soils with a permanently high groundwater level. Heather (Calluna vulgaris) and cross-leaved heath (Erica tetralix) are the main species found here. Additionally, there is usually a well-developed moss layer, consisting of sphagnum and liverworts. Other typical species include common cotton grass (Eriophorum angustifolium), marsh clubmoss (Lycopodiella inundata), oblon-leaved and round-leaved sundew (Drosera intermedia and D. rotundifolia) and grass-like sedge (Carex panicea). Many wet heath vegetation types have experienced a significant decline in quality due to drought, acidification and nutrient enrichment. In this project, several quality improvement measures will be implemented.

Afbeelding

Ivan Dalen

Dunes can not only be found along the coast. Also in the sandy Campine region, accumulations of drifting sand have formed. On these inland dunes, a specialized vegetation develops: dune heathlands (2310) and dune grasslands (2330). These are sparse vegetations on dry sandy soils without a soil profile development, where factors such as drought and disturbance prevent the growth of a denser vegetation. The vegetation consists of dwarf shrubs (heather (Calluna vulgaris), petty whin (Genista anglica)), grass-like species (grey hair grass (Corynephorus canescens), fine-leaved sheep’s-fescue (Festuca filiformis), sand sedge (Carex arenaria)), annual plants (pearlwort spurrey (Spergula morisonii), small cudweed (Logfia minima)), and lichens. These habitats are rich in invertebrates, including bees, robber flies, and tiger beetles.

The black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa) is perhaps the most iconic of our meadow birds. They nest in expansive grasslands, where they use their long bills to search for earthworms in the soil. The chicks leave the nest immediately after hatching and begin wandering in search of food. They feed on a variety of insects and other invertebrates found in the grasslands. 

Afbeelding

Grutto - Ivan Dalen

Eurasian curlews (Numenius arquata) are easily recognized by their long, curved bills. They use these bills to probe deep into the soil in search of earthworms. Curlews can breed in slightly drier areas compared to other meadow birds. However, they also depend on adequate moisture levels. In dry soil, their prey burrows too deep, and the birds are unable to reach them, even with their long bills. 

Afbeelding

Peter Stusz

Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus) are distinctive with their crests and rounded wings, which they use to perform acrobatic tumbles in the air. Unlike the black-tailed godwit and the curlew, lapwings have short bills and cannot probe deeply into the soil for food. Instead, they hunt by sight, primarily feeding on earthworms, as well as various insects, spiders, snails, and other small invertebrates. 

Afbeelding

Peter Stusz

Phosphate is a chemical substance that contains phosphorus. It is one of the nutrients found in soil and is used by plants. The amount of phosphate a plant needs varies greatly between different plant species.

Other examples of nutrients in the soil include nitrogen and potassium.

An excess of phosphates in the soil allows fast-growing plant species to dominate and take up all the available space. Slower-growing species are deprived of space and sunlight. The result is species-poor grassland, consisting mainly of common grasses. Flowers and rarer plant species are outcompeted and disappear. 

Afbeelding

Eva DeCock

Afbeelding

Eva DeCock

The soil in the Campine region is naturally low in phosphate. Before agricultural development, the concentration of phosphate in the soil was very low, ranging between 2 and 12 mg of phosphorus per kilogram of soil. 

This depends on past land use. Soils that have not been used for agriculture still contain approximately the original amount of phosphorus (2 to 12 mg/kg). In soils that have been used for agriculture, this ranges from 30 to 170 mg of phosphorus per kilogram of soil, up to 15 times the original amount. 

Phosphates in the soil are the result of (over)fertilization. They are present in higher concentrations than other nutrients for the following reasons:

• The ratio of phosphates to other nutrients in manure differs from the ratio that plants absorb. 
• Phosphates bind strongly to the soil, preventing them from leaching away (unlike other nutrients). 

Phosphates pose a problem in grasslands that were previously used for agriculture and where we are now restoring nature. 

In a mowing management, nutrients are taken from the soil through the plants. By mowing and removing the cuttings, these nutrients are gradually removed.

Mowing management removes nutrients from the soil (as explained in the previous question). This allows nutrients like nitrogen and potassium to be removed relatively quickly. However, at some point, there is so little nitrogen and potassium left in the soil that plants grow much slower. As a result, it takes longer for plants to extract the phosphates, which are present in large quantities, from the soil and reach the desired phosphate concentration.

P-mining or phosphorus mining solves the problem with mowing management (as explained in the previous two questions). By adding the missing nutrients (nitrogen and potassium), plants continue to grow rapidly and absorb a significant amount of phosphates. In this way, the time required for soil restoration can be greatly shortened.

The duration of P-mining management largely depends on the starting conditions. With lower phosphate concentrations, it can take around three years. With higher concentrations, it can sometimes take up to twenty years or longer. In such cases, the decision is made not to proceed with extraction.

Through mowing management (without fertilization), this process can take four times as long.

The fertilizers must contain nitrogen and potassium, without phosphorus. Therefore, a mixture of synthetic fertilizers is used:

• Calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) for nitrogen
• Potassium sulfate or potassium chloride for potassium

The fertilizer must contain nitrogen and potassium but must not contain phosphates. Animal manures always contain phosphates, and that is precisely what you want to remove through extraction management. 

This is highly variable. It differs from plot to plot and from year to year. It depends on the concentrations of nutrients in the soil and the amount of grass growth. Scientists from Ghent University determine the quantities based on soil sampling. We always stay below the legally allowed maximum.

Yes. The calculations take into account the nitrogen that falls from the air. However, nitrogen deposition is not sufficient to remove the phosphates. Therefore, we add nitrogen through synthetic fertilizers.

No. By applying a precise amount, the plants will absorb all the nitrogen. We even apply slightly less nitrogen than the plants can take up. This way, you don't achieve the maximum possible yield, but the risk of nitrogen remaining in the soil is also smaller. 

Yes, this can be done with nitrogen-fixing crops (such as clover). However, it is slower and less precise. It is also difficult to introduce these crops into grasslands. This technique is being applied experimentally at a few locations. In areas where fertilization is prohibited, this is the only method for P-mining management.

The P-mining stops. From then on, we focus on regular mowing management, which helps make the grasslands more biodiverse.

No. P-mining management is meant to remove phosphate from the soil. Phosphate that is spread on neighboring plots remains locally present and hardly reaches the natural environment. Nitrogen, however, remains a problem, as it enters the natural environment through the air and groundwater.

Yes. During drought, extraction management is less successful. Because plants grow less in dry conditions, they are able to absorb fewer nutrients from the soil. We take this into account by:

• Not performing extraction management on the driest plots
• Applying less synthetic fertilizer during dry summers, as plants can absorb fewer nutrients
• Focusing on rewetting, which is important for plants, animals, and people.

We distinguish five key differences:

1. Scientific guidance: Ghent University oversees the entire P-mining process from start to finish.
2. Composition of fertilizers: We apply nitrogen and potassium, but no phosphorus. These nutrients help remove phosphates from the soil. In agricultural fertilization, phosphorus is still present in the fertilizer, even though it is already sufficiently available in the soil.
3. Amount of fertilizers: In P-mining management, the exact amount of nutrients needed is applied. In agricultural fertilization, typically more is applied than necessary.
4. Local impact: We closely monitor to ensure that extraction management does not affect neighboring plots, primarily by adjusting the amount of fertilizer applied.
5. Temporary nature: Extraction management is finite. The fertilization stops once the target soil concentrations have been reached.

None. Extraction management takes place locally on plots owned by Natuurpunt. For farmers, nothing changes. 

There is high grass production with good nutritional value as long as P-mining management is ongoing. The farmers who mow our grasslands benefit from a good harvest that they can use for, among other things, livestock feed.

With other forms of management (such as mowing management), the grass yield quickly loses its value for farmers. Also when P-mining management stops, the harvested material will become less valuable.

This is a common misconception. The same fertilization regulations apply to both farmers and nature managers.

No. The fertilizer legislation, which is necessary to protect the environment, applies to everyone.

No. There are no negative effects if P-mining is applied carefully. Furthermore, P-mining is only carried out on over-fertilized plots where there is no existing nature. The surrounding nature will not be affected by this.

This is a misconception. No nitrogen is spread in vulnerable nature areas. P-mining management is only carried out on over-fertilized plots. The surrounding nature will not be impacted by the extraction management.

A lot of nitrogen falls from the air. It is very harmful to vulnerable nature areas, such as heathlands, bogs, or nutrient-poor grasslands. Plants and animals cannot survive all that nitrogen. 

When we carry out P-mining management, we never do so in these sensitive nature areas. It takes place in species-poor grasslands where nature has already disappeared in the past. After extraction management, vulnerable nature can develop again, and no more nitrogen will be added.

Yes. A lot of research has already been done on extraction management.

Yes. The Laboratory for Forest and Nature Research at Ghent University is a specialist in P-mining management. They are involved in the project for scientific guidance. They support the site managers in various areas:

• Determining the concentrations of nutrients in the soil
• Measuring the nutrient removal via the vegetation
• Calculating the extraction method (amounts of fertilizer, fertilization data, etc.)
• Additional research on extraction management

The researchers at Ghent University calculate the precise amount. They base this calculation on soil concentrations and plant growth. The nutrient removal via vegetation is also measured, in order to make adjustments if necessary.

Yes. Ghent University takes a series of samples from the mowed vegetation during each mowing session. They measure how many nutrients (phosphate, nitrogen, etc.) the cuttings contain. This allows them to determine how many nutrients are being removed.

The goal is to restore biodiverse and flower-rich grasslands, specifically 'Nardus grassland'. This is a type of grassland typical for the Campine region. It grows on nutrient-poor soils and contains many orchids, marsh gentians, and other beautiful and rare plants. It is also important for insects, birds, and other wildlife.

Currently, there is little Nardus grassland left due to over-fertilization and afforestation.

During P-mining management, no visible changes occur in the vegetation. The changes happen underground and are therefore not visible. Only when the correct nutrient concentrations are reached in the soil and P-mining management is stopped, the plant composition starts to change.