ICMO Advice on the Oostvaardersplassen published!

On the 22th of November 2010 the International Committee Management Oostvaardersplassen published its second advice. Below the summary of this advice, and how it can be downloaded.

Summary

The Oostvaardersplassen (OVP) came into existence when the South Flevoland polder was reclaimed and large herbivores were introduced to maintain short grassland for grazing by geese (Heck cattle 1983; konik horses 1984; and red deer 1992). All three herbivores increased rapidly and they soon came to be recognised as an important component of the ecosystem.

A policy of minimal intervention was adopted to allow natural ecological processes to operate. The rapid increase in herbivore numbers led to a rise in the numbers of animals dying in late winter and, in 2005, an international committee (ICMO1) was established to assess the management of the OVP. It reported in 2006 and recommended that (

• access to shelter should be improved
• a programme of research and monitoring of herbivore populations should be developed and
• that animals in poor condition without foreseeable chances to survive in late winter should be culled and should not be allowed to die naturally.

In 2010, a prolonged cold winter reduced the condition of animals in the OVP, more animals died, and substantial numbers had to be culled.

To download the ICMO2 advice

"Natural processes, animal welfare, moral aspects and management of the Oostvaardersplassen Report of the second International Commission on Management of the Oostvaardersplassen" (November 2010).

Staatsbosbeheer (SBB) was instructed to feed the large herbivores with supplementary hay and a second commission (ICMO2) was installed to evaluate the kept policy of the large herbivores in the OVP and to answer four groups of questions raised by the Minister (presented in summarized form below).

1. Progress in responding to ICMO1

Have the recommendations and objectives of ICMO1 been incorporated into the management of the area?

A number of recommendations by ICMO1 were followed. SBB has drawn up and published a statement of the objectives for the OVP; implemented a reactive culling policy of herbivores in late winter to avoid unnecessary suffering; has implemented recommendations concerning the monitoring of vegetation and bird populations. A number of their other recommendations (including the provision of additional shelter and the promotion of monitoring and of research) have either been ignored or have not been completely fulfilled.

2. Ecological aspects of management

Does the OVP operate as a predominantly naturally functioning ecosystem? How have the size and dynamics o the large herbivore populations developed and how do these developments relate to the area’s natural carrying capacity? What methodology for counting of herbivores would ICMO2 recommend?

While the initial foundation of the OVP and the maintenance of its boundaries are man-made, most of the internal processes operating in the area parallel those in natural ecosystems. Total numbers of herbivores began to approach the population-based carrying capacity of the area after 2000 and, since then, cattle numbers have declined and annual mortality has risen and become more variable in all three species. If the current management regime continues, all these trends are likely to be accentuated. ICMO2 suggests that close attention should be paid to the effects of the water regime and herbivore numbers on biodiversity in the OVP and, especially, on the extent to which management is fulfilling its commitment to Natura 2000 guidelines since several bird populations are declining.

3. Welfare issues under current management

Are the herbivores able to display natural behaviour? How does their welfare compare with that of herbivores in other similar systems? How successful is the current culling policy in minimising unnecessary suffering? Could culling practices be altered to improve welfare?

ICMO 2 evaluated the potential moral dilemma between the value of the existence of a ‘natural area’ and the value of ‘animal welfare’. ICMO2 considers the status of the large herbivores in the OVP to be ‘in between’ fully wild and domesticated/managed. This means that both animal-oriented care and environment-oriented care has to take place. The herbivores are able to express almost all of their natural and social behaviour and ICMO2 considers that their welfare is broadly similar to that of herbivore populations in other similar ecosystems. ICMO2 accepts that natural processes imply that there will be periods of negative welfare conditions which are affected by seasonal cycles in body condition. However, there is a moral obligation on managers to take all necessary measures to minimise the extent of any unnecessary suffering. As reactive culling in late winter still represents a compromise between a policy of non-intervention and the need to minimise suffering, ICMO 2 recommends adopting a new strategy of early reactive culling, taking account of environment conditions.

4. Future management

Would the tightening of culling criteria help to raise the standard of welfare? Should herbivore numbers be limited by an annual cul? Should animals be fed in winter? What changes might be made to ICMO1’s recommendations to improve management?

ICMO2 developed an integrated package of recommendations for the short term (winter 2010-2011), the medium term (until the realisation of the opening of the Oostvaarderswold) and the longer term (after the opening of the Oostvaarderwold): ICMO2 recommends that additional shelter should be provided by linking the OVP to neighbouring areas of woodland or forestry (specifically the Hollandse Hout and Oostvaardersbos) and the creation of 1 km of shelter ridges on the sand dump in the OVP (de Stort); that the creation of Oostvaarderswissel, a 120 m wide track connecting the OVP to the Horsterwold should be initiated; that individuals in poor condition should be culled earlier in winter; that plans should be developed to reduce herbivore number by proactive culling in emergency circumstances where large-scale starvation would otherwise occur; that artificial food should not be provided; that research and modelling of the herbivore population should be extended; and that there should be regular aerial counts of all three species. Other recommendations emphasise the need for SBB to develop more effective governance systems; to establish an effective scientific advisory board to supervise monitoring and to make specific recommendations concerning the extent, timing and selectivity of culls; to set up an internal PR committee; and to establish an external stakeholder forum to improve public involvement in management.

Tags: oostvaardersplassen, heck cattle, konik horses, natural processes, wilderness, wild nature, animal welfare