Limburg
In this case study partners tested the effectiveness of a robust corridor being created in the southern Dutch province of Limburg as part of the Dutch National Ecological Network. The corridor is intended to improve links between habitat patches in the Dutch National Ecological Network and the Natura 2000 network along both sides of the Dutch-German border (see chapter 3, Annex 4, Final report, ).
Partners carried out vegetation and breeding bird surveys (see broedvogels.limburg.nl/site/planten/start.HTM) and created habitat maps for Limburg province and the neighbouring part of Germany. The SMALLSTEPS model was used to analyse how freely wildlife could move between habitats. Finally, partners used the LARCH model to produce maps that showed how climate change could improve or reduce the sustainability of the habitat networks of selected species, with and without the robust corridor.
Output maps for species modelled are available (see annex 4 of the final report) for:
- sand lizard
- purple emperor butterfly
- great crested newt
- Dartford warbler;
- Cetti's warbler
- woodlark and
- Bechstein's bat
Sand lizard. Sarah Gardiner; Sustainable habitat networks for the Sand lizard without (middle) and with (right) the robust corridor in place. Alterra
Modelling results show that the robust corridor is most effective for ground-living and small flying species. It is less important for larger birds because they do not have a problem covering this sort of distance.
The design of robust corridors should focus on the species they are intended to help. Key factors to consider are: the dispersal capacity of a species and its potential distribution in a changing climate. The effects of a corridor should be monitored and the design changed where necessary.
<< Terrestrial options for adaptation
