What is going on?

The protection of farmland birds costs millions in subsidies and research, but the flow of knowledge from research to the practice of meadow bird management and other farmland birds is still not a given. New insights from research are only partially translated into practice, leaving opportunities for improving the protection of farmland birds untapped. Through this project, new developments from research are translated into practice and interconnected.

What is the project doing about it?

Relevant knowledge is actively shared via a knowledge platform, which also builds a collection of knowledge resources and learning materials. The knowledge platform thus helps to improve current meadow bird management, but also prepares for the new CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) of 2020 and the establishment of a Green-Blue Infrastructure through new management contracts with farmers. The knowledge broker will actively map ongoing initiatives in the field for implementation and connect with other projects and implementations. The knowledge platform will actively support this by sharing information.

What does the project deliver?

Relevant research reports are collected and made accessible in a database on the website boerenlandvogels.info. In addition, knowledge files on important field themes are created, in which relevant research is compiled, summarised, and translated into practice. Linked to these themes, knowledge meetings are regularly organised where researchers explain their new studies. Practical aspects are also always addressed, discussing how they apply the findings themselves or the challenges they face. This exchange further improves the implementation of farmland bird protection in the field.

Project information

Professor: Martijn van der Heide, Biodiversity in Rural Areas
Execution: Hannah Olthof and Femke Kromhout
Duration project: 2019 - 2024
Project partner: Groen Kennisnet
Financiers: Province Friesland and Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality