With news about the farewell of the current director Fred Baerselman and the introduction of the new director Hans Kampf. Dowload the newest LHF e-Browser.
Joining the first group of 3 bison in the Kraansvlak coastal dune area near Haarlem, the Netherlands. This bison pilot-project in a fenced area, is meant to get the knowledge and experience, in preparation of to a ‘real’ reintroduction project of bison in Holland in connection to the Oostvaardersplassen nature / ecological restoration area in central Flevoland. LHF is advisor to the project, which includes international cooperation in research (also with LHF network members) on habitat/range use, food preference.
From 8 – 10 December 2008, the first (preparatory) meeting of (potential) board members of the European Bison Conservation Centre (EBCC) took place in Warsaw at the University of Life Sciences, hosted by Dr. Wanda Olech.
Thousands of Mongolian Gazelles have recently concentrated on the border of Mongolia and Russia in their search for food and water. Because of continuing droughts in Eastern Mongolia, the animals are migrating to the north, hoping to find food and water in Russia/Dauria. With help of the Russian army and border patrol, Russian rangers, supported by WWF RU, are making temporary openings/corridors in the border fencing over a length of 40 km, to create a safe passage for the gazelles. The LHF has given immediate emergency financial support to the rangers. Read press release.
The horses have been released in a large (fenced) former agricultural area, which is part of the Nature Park, where they will facilitate the remodelling of the land back to nature. The horses have been made available for free by Dutch nature management NGO's ;'Natuurmonumenten' and 'Utrechts Landschap'. Read Dutch press release.
After several years of preparation, a group of 29 Konik horses was transported by LHF from Holland to the Biesczcady mountain Biosphere Reserve in S.E. Poland. The horses will be the first free living horse group in Europe, free to roam the huge area. The horse release is a further step of ‘ecological restoration’ towards completion of the (large)mammal community, joining the free ranging red deer, elk, European bison and their ‘opposites’: wolf and bear. The horses were made available for free by NL Nature management NGO’s; Natuurmonumenten, Groninger – and Utrechts Landschap. Organization and coordination was done in cooperation of LHF with its polish network members. Read press release.
Marked the finalization of the project preparation for the reintroduction of European bison in the ‘Rothaargebirge’. A final approval from the Germen federal authorities is expected soon. The project is a joint venture, coordinated by the LHF ‘sister’ NGO, ‘Taurus’. LHF as a partner in the project made a presentation, underlining the importance of the project as a pilot for reintroduction of bison in W. Europe and ecological restoration including large herbivores.
Besides the discussions and approval of the LHF Annual plan + Budget 2008, an important issue was the discussion on the future organization and funding of LHF, focussing on the LHF Business Plan under development. The new treasurer Michel van Delft was formally appointed in this meeting as member of the board. Another important happening was the official signing of the MoU between Artis ZOO and LHF.
Officials, including 2 deputy CEO's of CEMEX ( Major International Cement Company) visited the Oostvaardersplassen nature area in Holland, to get impressions on ecological restoration and the role of large herbivores. The visit was hosted by LHF and NL State Forestry Service, with purpose to show an example of ecological restoration, for project inspiration and preparations by CEMEX for large scale ecological restoration projects in S.E. Europe. LHF can be partner to these projects, envisaged for e.g. Romania or Caucasus.
LHF made a presentation on the status and implementation of the IUCN/ LHF 'Species Action Plan for European Bison', to the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention/ COE in Strasbourg. LHF is considered by the COE and Bern Convention parties, to be the monitoring agency for the SAP on bison. In side meetings, the implementation activities by bison range states was discussed.