43104 Wildlife Brochure En

8/14/2019 43104 Wildlife Brochure En

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The Wildlife Estates Label

(WE)


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ELO is supported by the European Commission Directorate General Environment under the LIFE+ programme Operating GrantAgreement n 07.0307/2009/SI2.535265SUB/A1

Disclaimer:

This publication is supported by the European Commission DG Environment under the LIFE+ programme Operating Grant Agreement n 07.0307/2009/SI2.535265SUB/A1, but it solely refects the views o its authors. These views should not be relied upon as representinga Commission position. Neither the EC, nor person or any acting on its behal can be held responsible or the use that might be made o then ormation arising rom this document.


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The Wildli e Estates Label 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword ....................................................................................................................................................................2

I. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................................3

II. THE WILDLIFE ESTATES PROJECT .......................................................................................................................4A. Aims .................................................................................................................................................................4B. Impacts/Benefts .............................................................................................................................................4

1. socio-cultural aspects...........................................................................................................................

52. socio-economic aspects .......................................................................................................................5

C. Advantages o the Wildli e Estates Initiatives ...............................................................................................6

III. THE WILDLIFE ESTATES LABEL PROCEDURE.....................................................................................................7A. Level 1 - The Wildli e Estates Charter .............................................................................................................7

1. Biogeographical map o Europe ..........................................................................................................82. The 10 commitments ...........................................................................................................................9

B. Level 2 -The Wildli e Estates Label ..................................................................................................................101. Generic Requirements .........................................................................................................................112. Specifc Indicator Evaluation Grids ......................................................................................................11

C. Renewal ...........................................................................................................................................................12D. Summary .........................................................................................................................................................13

IV. THE FUTURE ............................................................................................................................................................14A. What are the next stages? ...............................................................................................................................14B. Wildli e Estates online Network .....................................................................................................................14

V. CONCLUSION ...........................................................................................................................................................15

VI. ANNEXES ..................................................................................................................................................................16A. Pilot Estates .....................................................................................................................................................16

1. Pilot Estate example 1 Crown Hunting Grounds Belgium ............................................................162. Pilot Estate example 2 Chambord Estate, France ............................................................................173. Pilot Estate example 3 La Garganta, Spain ........................................................................................184. Pilot Estate example 4 Herdade da Raposa, Portugal .....................................................................19

B. Specifc Indicator Evaluation Grids .................................................................................................................201. Continental & Atlantic ...........................................................................................................................202. Mediterranean ......................................................................................................................................223. Boreal ....................................................................................................................................................26


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2 The Wildli e Estates Label

FOREWORD

Today we ace a major challenge; biodiversity has been declining at an alarming rate,mainly as a result o human activity. Biodiversity is crucial to li e as we know it, and iscentral to the balance o li e. In 2001, the European Union set itsel the ambitious goal o halting the loss o biodiversity by 2010, mainly at a regional level. Important progresshas been made and there are signs that the rates o loss are beginning to slow.However, this slow pace o change and extent o implementation means that the 2010 target is unattainable.This is a clear indication that more must be done.

Natura 2000 is another example o the EUs attempts at mitigating biodiversity loss. It provides the legal ramework regarding the preservation o endangered habitats and species o Community interest.

The Birds Directive is committed to protecting migratory species, whilst the Habitats Directive is committed tothe protection o specifc ora and auna.

All o this means that achieving enhanced biodiversity requires the right balance o nature protectionmeasures and sustainable human activities on the land. The uture o biodiversity lies, to a large extent, in thehands o land managers across Europe. Hunting can play a crucial role in this as it is in every wildli e territory manager and hunters interest to protect the habitats and diversity o species living on their territories. This isnot just to preserve Europes genetic heritage but also to encourage socio-economic development, provided it is carried out in a controlled way.

The WE aims to encourage the simple principles o good management, which should lead to proper and sustainable hunting practices. It will also play an important role in educating land managers in how to exibly manage their estate according to Natura 2000 principles. In this way land managers will be able todemonstrate that they are already in line with current EU policies. There are thousands o estates acrossEurope that rely upon hunting on some level and they must be considered as being capable o providing their own solutions to the pressing challenge o biodiversity loss.

Stavros DimasCommissioner or the Environment


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I. INTRODUCTION

In 2003, at La Converserie in Belgium, Claude DELBEUCK (Director General, Natural Resources and theEnvironment or Wallonia, the Crown Hunting Grounds (BE)), Francis FORGET (National Estate o Chambord(FR), and Michel Re ay (National O ce or Hunting and Wildli e, (FR)) ormed a think-tank on how tobalance hunting and civilian activities. A second meeting ollowed in 2004 in Chambord (France). In 2005the European Landowners Organization (ELO) with the support o DG Environment was invited to becomethe organisational body o the project. As a result, the Pilot Wildli e Estates Initiative (PWEi) was born.

Between 2005 and 2008, twelve workshop meetings were organised throughout Europe (Brussels, Estremoz,Spa, Saint Benoist, Copenhagen, Santiago, Hoge Veluwe and Tor). Little by little, the initial vision evolvedtowards the more precise and much more ambitious purpose o defning the PWEi. Many other organiza-tions and individuals were incorporated along the way (including: ANPC o Portugal, IIMA and APROCA o Spain, the UK Crown Hunting Grounds, the French National Hunting and Wildli e Agency (ONCFS), Ady Kriero the Luxemburg Forest and Water Authority; Sle ringe Manor, the Crown Hunting Estate o Sweden; AndrFougeroux o the Syngenta research unit, Metshallitus Estate o Finland and Hoge Veluwe National Park inthe Netherlands).

This new management and communication scheme set up a network o hunting territories which wereconsidered to be exemplary and hoped to act as a catalyst or initiatives which are designed to lead to newmanagement ormulae.

In 2008, the PWEi o cially became the Wildli e Estates Initiative (WE) with a new Logo as theexperimental phase o the project came to an end. As a result o the Helsinki meeting in March 2009, theBoreal biogeographical region was fnally incorporated into the project and marked the start o theexperimental evaluation o the initial 69 Estates rom various EU countries.

Wildli e estate management is one o the many uses o the Natura 2000 initiative and it is o notableeconomic signifcance to many rural communities. Many believe that the Wildli e Estates scheme is anatural development or hunting, fshing, and even bird watching grounds, and that it undoubtedlyenhances one o the most important aspects o what we mean by sustainable management.

A number o pilot territories, thanks to their exemplary management were the frst to receive WE Labelsand will serve as models or many other areas. They include; The Crown Hunting Grounds in Belgium or

the Continental region, La Garganta in Spain and Herdade da Raposa in Portugal or the Mediterraneanregion, and the Chambord Estate in France or the Atlantic region.


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II. THE WILDLIFE ESTATES PROJECT

A. Aims

The WE aims to establish a network o exemplary estates . These estates/territories will showcase thesimple principles o good management and conservation o wildli e estates all over Europe and are adaptedaccording to the di erent types o hunting management in the various regions o the EU. Apart rom ahighly benefcial exchange o experience, the initiative has established simple but precise principles or thegood territorial management and conservation o wildli e territories throughout Europe, divided upaccording to the di erent biogeographical regions o the European Union.

B. Impacts/Benefts

This initiative is supported by a philosophy which emerged rom several Working Group meetings andenriching discussions which have been organized on a regular basis in recent years. The Wildli e Estates isone more stage in the natural development o hunting and fshing grounds and enhances one o the mostimportant aspects o what we mean by sustainable management. Europes hunting and fshing groundshave over time been trans ormed into real producers o wild auna thanks to the introduction o bothsimple and practical management techniques. In act, traditional Hunting or Fishing Estates have beenevolving to the point o becoming, incredibly abundant wildli e territories.

In a hunting and fshing area it is usual or between 6 and 12 species to be hunted and fshed (note that insome cases only 1 or 2 species are hunted). The most important eature o this management is its respect orhabitats and landscapes. WEs aim is to create the peace ul and tranquil conditions that ora and aunarequire, which in turn improves the natural conditions or other vertebrates which are not hunted (o tenbetween 60 and 120 species). These species are also protected and in many cases vulnerable or endangered.

Sustainability is very important because o budgetary restrictions linked to CAP re orm, the lack o environmental unding which doesnt reward ecosystem services, and also because climate change ismaking it necessary to develop much more sustainable behaviours.

However, it must be noted though that the WE does not solely ocus on the protection o biodiversity; itincorporates social and economic benefts as well.


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Wild habitats, which are usually valuable ecosystems, possess considerable potential or society, in partdue to the showcase e ect they have in raising awareness about the quality and variety o wildli e and its

habitats.

1. Socio-cultural aspects

Sustainable hunting/fshing and the appro-priate management o wildli e territoriesprovide undeniable added value to ourcommon heritage and, thus, the Initiative hasconsiderable potential or society. It will raisepublic awareness about the quality o

wildli e populations, the necessary manage-ment , and crucially, it will be an educationaltool or uture generations. However, thesetruths must be explained to society which alltoo o ten is unaware o these processes, andas a result, sometimes misunderstands theirvital unctions. Communication there ore isan essential part o conservation; the lack o ito ten leads to paralysis and even hostility.A constructive dialogue between wildli emanagers and the di erent rural stakehold-

ers is there ore undamental, requiringhonesty and transparency. Sterile battleswhere both sides lose out are pointless, notto mention harm ul to biodiversity.

2. Socio-economic aspects

The WE will also bring some added value tothe common good o society, not only in

terms o environmental protection, but alsoin socio-economic terms. In particular itallows diversifcation o income in thecountryside by creating a wildli e productseconomy such as hunting/fshing, birdwatching, marketing local produce or

ora/ auna and landscape conservation. This is crucial at a time when cuts to theCommunity budget will inevitably a ect

arming and the fnancing o rural develop-ment. The WE will have a positive impact on

the involvement o the local community aswell as creating jobs in the management o wildli e.


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C. Advantages o the Wildli e Estates Initiatives

I The idea is to anticipate the implementation o new Natura 2000 biodiversity strategies. DG Environ-ment is moving towards a more species based approach, ocused on management o territory. Theinitiative should avoid new European legislation on this theme and provide solutions, aiming towork in line with the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive which make up Natura 2000.

I WE aids identifcation and communication on the activities o Wildli e Estate managers. Theactivities o land managers, hunters and fshermen are under pressure. The initiative endeavours tohave a global agreement between managers o Wildli e Estates and to identi y good practices.

I WE creates a new network promoting innovate activities and innovative techniques.


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III. THE WILDLIFE ESTATES LABEL PROCEDURE

The WE label has been developed to recognize and admit good and exemplary management o territorieswhere there are hunting and fshing activities within the European Union. It creates a system which ensuresand demonstrates that the management and the use o natural resources on relevant estates comply withbiodiversity and nature conservation principles and aims to be exible and reproducible. This label is nota binding certifcation however; on the frst level it is a voluntary commitment to the 10 wildli e estatemanagement principles o the WE Charter, and on the second level, a territory manager must ulfl therequirements o the WE Questionnaire.

Until now the assessment methods or candidate properties have been supported by special questionnairesor the, Atlantic , Continental , Boreal and Mediterranean biogeographical regions. There are also 3 other

major biogeographical regions in the European Union: Macaronesian , Alpine and Pannonian . Thequestionnaires were issued through Working Groups and a Plenary Session which have been organised ona yearly basis since the initiatives inception in 2005. In the European Union, most o the hunting andfshing areas are located in the above-mentioned biogeographical regions, as well as in the Boreal zone.

To receive a WE Label , an estate or territory must complete two levels o assessment. However, acandidate can choose to only make a commitment to The WE Charter at Level 1, though i this is thecase, they will not obtain a WE label .

An estate must lie within a certain European biogeographical region to be eligible or the WE label.

A. Level 1 - The Wildli e Estates Charter

The territory owner/manager must make a commitment to observe the principles defned and enumeratedin the WE Charter , which consists o 10 Commitments that the territory owner/manager must ulfl.

Firstly, the estate or territory must be located in aMember State o the European Union and belongto one o the ollowing biogeographic regions (Seethe map page 8) :

AtlanticMediterraneanBorealContinentalMacaronesianAlpinePannonian

The estate must also belong to at least one o theollowing categories:

MountainsWetlandsWoodlandsFarmlandsCoastlands


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Copyright EEA, Copenhagen, Source: http://www.eea.europa.eu

1. The biogeographical map


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THE WE CHARTER

1. Identifcation o a head site manager

2. Respecting the requirements o the Agreement between BirdLi e International and FACE on Directive 79/409/EEC, the European Charter on Hunting and Biodiversity and the EU Commissions Guide on Hunting under the Birds Directive

3. Existence o a multi annual integrated management plan (MAIMP) includingobjectives, actions, monitoring and annual report o the good conservation o landscape, habitat and wildli e species

4. Existence o active wildli e management practices

5. Existence o sustainable shooting and/or angling activities

6. Planning and implementing Public Relation/ education activities.

7. Respecting ecological and legal requirements. E.g. Natura 2000, Natura 2000Management Plan

8. Respecting IUCN guidelines while reintroducing indigenous game species

9. Ensuring a balance between all species living in the estate

10. Applying annual culling/bags to the dynamic o the existing natural population

2. The TEN commitments


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B. Level 2 - The Wildli e Estates Label

This level is optional , though compulsory or any candidate wishing to receive a WE Label. Having ulflledthe commitments o the WE Charter the territory owner/manager can progress to level 2. They mustcomplete a WE Questionnaire which includes:

(1.) The Generic Requirements (the same or all regions)

General site in ormation

(2.) An Evaluation Grid o Specifc Indicators

The Evaluation Grid is specifc to the biogeographical region which the estate belongs to. Acandidate should choose the evaluation grid relevant to their biogeographical region, be it; Atlantic,Continental, Mediterranean or Boreal (i an estate is in the Boreal region, the owner/manager mustchoose the relevant orm or whether the territory is Agricultural or Forestry). The grid has amaximum score o 300 points and a candidate must obtain a minimum score o at least 210 pointsin order to quali y or the label.

The Questionnaire also includes annexes which include; an abstract o the Questionnaire, a set o photosshowing the territory and the management plan ( MAIMP, see box). The assessment is then completed bya visit to the applicants territory by experts designated by the Evaluation Committee in order to veri y onthe spot the accuracy o the in ormation given in the questionnaire. The questionnaire can be completedin 5 di erent working languages: English, French, German, Italian and Spanish and will be oundonline .

The MAIMP (Multi Annual Integrated Management Plan) is the compilation or sum o the manage-ment documents o an estate ( or example: Agricultural plan, Forestry Plan, Hunting technical plan, etc.).This document can have been dra ted either by the owner or by an external organization, but it should include management aspects o the candidate territory ( or example: Endangered species conservationscheme, Management o Natura 2000 areas scheme and other similar schemes).

To apply or a WE Label an applicant should send their completed questionnaire to the relevant NationalO ce when possible, or to the WE liaison o ce based in Brussels, and applicants will be able to alsocomplete their application online using the WE Online Network .

Register at: www.wildli e-estates.eu (Septembre 2009)WE Evaluation CommitteeEuropean Landowners Organization - asblRue de Trves 67BE-1040 BruxellesBelgiumE-mail: [email protected] and legala [email protected]


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1. Generic requirements: or all regions

Geographical in ormation Legal and ecological constraints i.e. Natura 2000 Historic and cultural values (list and location) List o emblematic and protected species List o game and fsh species Game and fsh population census List o conservation and/or management actions or endangered and emblematic species. List o conservation and/or management actions or game and fsh species Annual shooting and/or angling plan

2. Specifc Indicators Evaluation Grids (See annexe VI B)

A candidate should choose one o the ollowing evaluation grids, ound on the ollowing pages (to fnd out which region you belong to see the map on page 7):

The Continental Biogeographical Region (See page 20-21)

Atlantic Biogeographical Region (See page 20-21)

The Boreal biogeographical region (See page 22-25)- Agricultural Estates- Forest Estates

The Mediterranean biogeographical region (See page 26-27)

The Alpine biogeographical region 1

The Pannonian biogeographical region 2

1 To be developed by the beginning o 20102 To be developed by 2011


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Comparison between regional specifc indicators

MEDIT. ATLANT./CONT. BOREAL (Agri) BOREAL (Forest)

Tranquility Score / 30 Score / 20

Food availability Crops, grasslands & open areas Game habitatasin orest planning

O setting extreme events Firte prevention Extended: fre, droughts, oods & winter covermeasures

Wetlands or Water availabilty 1 water point / 50 ha 1 water point / Quality & quantity500 ha o wetlands

Score / 10 Score / 20 Score / 20

Abundance o prey sp.

Biodiversity areas 3 thresholds 6 thresholds

High value auna sp.

Conservation plans Score / 30 Score / 20(soil, landscape, etc.)

Communication program

Conservation o heritage Cultural & historical heritage Natural, cultural & Promoting youthhistorical heritage education and

hunting traditions

Hunted auna balance

Habitats carrying capacity

Agri-sylvi-game balance Special attentionto connectivitybetween orests

C. Renewal

I a ter assessment o the application with the specifc indicators, anapplicant does not achieve the minimum necessary points, the WEEvaluation Committee will set out and detail the points whereimprovement could make it possible to present the candidature again.

Once awarded by the Evaluation Committee, the WE label is validor 5 years and is renewable. In the case o a change o owner or

an important change in management the applicant must ulfl anew application orm.


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D. Summary

The WE Label can be renewed a ter 5 years:- in the case o continuation o the assessed management there is a simplereassessment by the Evaluation Committee upon request o the estatemanager/owner.- in case o change o owner, or in the case o an important change inmanagement, the applicant must ulfl a new application orm.

WE CHARTER andits 10 commitments

(Necessaryconditions or all

candidates toproceed)

Approval rom theWE International

Jury

WE LABEL:valid or5 years

LEVEL 1

LEVEL 2

RENEWAL

EVALUATION:For i the owner decidesto obtain a higher levelo commitment andappreciation.

Approval romthe WE

InternationalJury

QUESTIONNAIRE:to be flled out bythe applicantincluding:1. Generic

Requirements2. Specifc

Indicators

The EvaluationCommittee will

make an assessmenton the basis o

specifc criteria/anevaluation grid per

biogeographicregion, including avisit o the territory

The WE International Jury will comprise o members rom each national organization in Europe that participated in the creation o the project.

The WE Evaluation Committee will be composed o experts chosen because o their expertise in the feld o biodiversity, wildli e and land management.


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IV. THE FUTURE

The Wildli e Estates philosophy was adjusted to that o the Natura 2000 network and the upcomingstrategy on biodiversity. The idea or the uture is to make the goals even more compatible in order tocombine the responsibilities and management o protected zones throughout the European network.

A. What are the next stages?

Consideration should be given to the inclusion o at least one other biogeographical region, such asthe Alpine one, in which there are many hunting and fshing areas.

The WE assessment panel which was set up in Brussels in 2008 should be enlarged to include newtechnicians, scientists and managers o hunting and fshing areas throughout the European Union.With the right number o members to allow it to remain operational, the panel will award fnal statusto the hunting and fshing grounds applying to become Wildli e Estates. The analysis will be carriedout as it is already by the technicians at the panels request.

Candidate assessment must continue throughout 2009 and 2010 by completing the analysis o the69 properties which have applied. These are located in the Mediterranean, Atlantic, Continental andBoreal biogeographical regions.

B. The Wildli e Estates online network (www.wildli e-estates.eu)

The website allows owners/managers to register online through the creation o a estate profle. Eachterritory manager will then have access to relevant and up-to-date articles and documents, details o up

and coming events, an up-to-date address book and have the opportunity to see other estate profles, whichcan serve as models. The WE online network is open to all territories with the WE Label or any territoryinterested in obtaining the label.


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V. CONCLUSION

The Wildli e Estates initiative is a logical progression or wildli e estate management. Its aim is to work withinNatura 2000 and to pre-empt the upcoming strategy on biodiversity, as well as enhancing the biodiversityor our natural environment. It will also give managers the opportunity to communicate with each otherand to learn rom the experiences o others who fnd themselves in similar positions. As well as providing aplat orm or communication, it will also aid the creation o wildli e economies, based on rural activities suchas hunting, fshing or bird watching or example. In tern, WE will add valuable socio-cultural and socio-eco-nomic benefts not only to private territories but or public ones as well. Communication with the public isalso important because it will help educate and build awareness by helping people to understand theimportance o good wildli e management, to the promotion o biodiversity. Whether a territory only makesa commitment to the WE Charter, or completes the second stage as well - by completing a WE Questionnaire- they are making a valuable contribution to biodiversity.


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VI. ANNEXES

A. Pilote Estates

1. Pilot Estate Example 1 - Continental Region

The Crown Hunting Grounds, Belgium

Since 1982, under the reign o King Baudouin, the King has wished to directly andpersonally exercise his right to hunt the territories o the Hertogenwald (6,350hawithin a orest o over 50,000ha located along eastern Belgium) and Saint-MichelFreyr (4,100ha located in the heart o the orest o Saint-Hubert), the exerciseo that right being reserved to him under o Article 13 o the Hunting Act o 28 February 1882.

King Baudouin vowed to con er to the Crown Hunting Grounds a triple mission: Organize an exemplary hunting territory Develop an experimental site or applied scientifc research Create a place where socio-educational potential is evident

To meet these three missions, the game management o these two terri-tories was entrusted to the local Council working closely with administra-tive and scientifc management. In July 1995, King Albert confrmed thisthree old purpose, involving more explicitly the Regional Administration,namely the Directorate-General o Natural Resources and Environment(DGRNE) and, more specifcally, the Division o Nature and Forests (DNF).

Since then, the Crown Hunting Grounds have become one o the frst areasto receive a WE Label, which was approved in ull by the European workingparty during the plenary in Spa at the end o August 2007. The Crown Hunt-ing Grounds are there ore a place o privilege where the Region o Wallo-nia can introduce both senior European civil servants and hunting

managers rom neighbouring countries to their countryside and orests.


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2. Pilot Estate Example 2 - Atlantic Region

The Chambord Estate, France

The park has an area o 5,339ha, surrounded by a 32km long wall,making it the largest enclosed orest park in Europe. The constructiono the wall began at the end o the reign o Francis I in 1542, and endedwith Gaston d'Orleans, Louis XIIIs brother in 1642. Per ectly maintained today, it provides an e ectiveenclosure or big game.

Following a ministerial decree in January 1998 the orest o Chambord became primarily concernedwith; the protection o the landscape, habitats, species and hunting activities. It is also a public homeand produces hardwood lumber and so twood and hardwood frewood.

Classifed as a National Hunting and Wildli e Reserve in 1947, the estate houses numerous exampleso ora and auna, including deer and wild boar; the agship species o Chambord.

The wildli e management goal is to keep large numbers o wildli e or public viewing and orhunting. Deer, wild boar, bighorn sheep, oxes and other species are regulated when the need arises.Species or which the wall is not an obstacle are not hunted or regulated by man: goose and duck orexample greatly appreciate the area as a re uge.

Chambord is host to numerous natural habitats: wetlands, bogs, heather moorland and old oak and justifes its classifcation as a special area o conservation. Its attainment o the WE Label is testamentto the exemplary management that is undertaken at the Chambord Estate.


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3. Pilot Estate Example 3 - Mediterranean Region

La Garganta Estate, Spain

The name, meaning throat, is that given to an estate o approximately some 15,000 ha in the CastillaLa Mancha region o central southern Spain. The Grosvenor Estate added it to its port olio in 2001, inwhich time it has been awarded the Belleuropa Award or excellence in environmental management.

The landscape is hilly, ranging in altitude rom 585 metres to 1,266 metres above sea level andcontains rich and diverse ora and auna. Indeed, La Garganta is one o only very ew places in Europewhere a large number o rare species can be ound, including the Black Stork.

La Gargantas principal activities are hunting and conservation. All other activities; agriculture, cattleand orestry, submit to those main objectives. The 3,900 ha o cereals (wheat and barley) arecultivated on rotation (one year out o three), and in addition, produce about 600,000 kg o organicolives.

There is an extraordinary diversity o wildli e at La Garganta, and conservation o many di erentspecies is now at the ore ront o the estate's overall management plan. They manage, by means o sustainable hunting, 400 Spanish ibex, 3,000 red deer and 300 roe deer and 2,500 wild boar; which

east on the acorns o the Evergreen Oak as well as crops, grass and grubs.

The birdli e at La Garganta ranges rom songbirds to waders and birds o prey; the most commonlyseen large birds bring Gri on, Black and Egyptian Vultures. Spanish Imperial and Golden eagles canalso be ound; hare, red legged partridge and rabbit populations have been allowed to develop inorder to maintain a healthy ood supply or these important protected species. The summer popula-tion o wild rabbits has been estimated to be in excess o hal a million in recent years.


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4. Pilot Estate Example 4 - Mediterranean region

Herdade da Raposa, Portugal

The estate is 2,492 ha, o which 12km stretches along the GuadianaRiver, the biggest watercourse in southern Portugal and lies withinthe Vale do Guadiana Natural Park (PNVG), the Guadiana SpecialProtection Area (Birds Directive) and partially inside the GuadianaSpecial Area or Conservation (Habitats Directive). The estate includes3 types o habitat categories:

Forested areas Farmlands Wetlands

125 species o bird and 24 species o mammal are resident in Herdade da Raposa, and it also boaststhe highest concentration o wildcat in Portugal. There is a high concentration o carnivores due tohabitat quality, tranquillity and density o prey. Only 14 o the 32 huntable species are actually huntedthough, the most important o these being red legged partridge and wild boar. The shooting is madeaccordingly to a 12 year game management plan and all game species are wild and no re-stockingtakes place.

Herdade da Raposa aims to:

Create a top quality wild partridge shooting estate based on sustainable hunting Ensure economic sustainability together with environmental sustainability Restore habitats and implement carrying capacity or both game and non-game species Protect endangered species and natural habitats Increase the number o endangered species within the estate Preserve archaeology and patrimonial heritage Communicate with the public and local populations Participate in research and/or educational projects


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B. Specifc Indicators Evaluation Grids

1. CONTINENTAL & ATLANTIC biogeographical regions

Specifc indicators evaluation grid or the CONTINENTAL and ATLANTIC Biogeographical Regions.

INDICATOR SCORE

1. Level o stillness/tranquillityE cient services o gamekeeper/watch and direct and indirect methods o access and monitoring control 30

Gamekeeper/vigilance/watch ine cient or could be improved 10 Theres no gamekeeper/watch/monitoring control 0

2. Biodiversity sur ace (area o territory dedicated to hedges, feld borders, ponds,permanent environmental areas, etc. Set out in the WE Questionnaire)

More than 5% o the total sur aces considered have biodiversity 30Between 1% and 4.99% 20Between 0.00% and 0.99% 10

3. Prevention and accompanying measures o setting extreme events (including orestfres, drought, oods, etc. according to the region) and seasonal events suchas winter cover

E ective 10Ine ective or could be improved 5None 0

4. Feed availability (herbivore)Crops sur ace, grassland or open areas are 10% o the estate area 10Less than 9,99% 5None/bare soil/no intercrops 0

5. Water availabilityAt least one or more permanent water points to each 50 hectares o the territory 10Less than one permanent water point to each 50 hectares 5None 0

6. Presence o prey-species (expressed in biomass)More than 22.5kg o biomass per hectare 30Between 4.5 and 22.49kg o biomass per hectare 10Less than 4.49kg o biomass per hectare 0

7. Presence o valuable species o auna The estate has more than 10 valuable species 20Between 5 and 9 species 10

Between 2 and 4 species 5One species or does not have it 0


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8. Fauna/wildli e balance

Quotient between the number o vertebrates present in the studied estateand number o hunted species 5.0 30Quotient between 4.9 and 3.00 15Quotient between 1.0 and 2.9 5Quotient less to 0.99 0

9. Specifc conservation plans (on soil, landscape, ora, auna, etc)Yes, one or more e cient conservation plans 30Yes but they are insu cient, ine cient or could be improved 10None 0

10. Communication programIt has an e cient communication program 10Program ine cient or could be improved 5None 0

11. Conservation o cultural and historic heritageIt conserves the heritage that it owns 10Conservation ine cient or could be improved 5None 0

12. Existence o measures or the improvement, the restoration or the rebuilding o the welcome capacity o the wildli es habitat

E cient 20Insu cient or ine cient 5None 0

13. Existence o measures that help the sustainable balance between agriculture-silviculture cynegetic-pisciculture/fshing


14. Natural Hunting or fshing, semi natural or intensive

Only presence o natural hunting or/and fshing 40Sustainable release* 10Only presence o intensive hunting/fshing -20

* When allowed by the national legislation/codes o practice.


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2. BOREAL biogeographical region

Due to its nature the Boreal biogeographical region is divided into two categories; AGRICULTURAL andFOREST. Use the grid most appropriate or your territory.

Specifc indicators evaluation grid or AGRICULTURAL estates in the BOREAL region.

INDICATOR SCORE

1. Level o stillness/tranquillityExistence o an e cient survey/watch o the estate 30Ine cient survey (gamekeeper) or likely to improve 10No survey/watch 0

2. Prevention and accompanying measures o setting extreme events (includingorest fres, drought, oods, etc. according to the region) and seasonal events such

as winter coverE cient 10Ine cient or likely to improve 5None 0

3. Feed AvailabilityCrops, grassland, open areas on 10 % or more o the estates area 10Crops, grassland, open areas on less than 10 % 5None/bare soil/no intercrops 0

4. Abundance o wetlands (incl. natural, restored or re-created)At least one small wetland or pond/500 ha 20Less than one wetland or pond/500 ha 10None 0

5. Abundance o prey species (in biomass)More than 22.5kg o prey species trans ormable in biomass/ha 30Between 4.5 and 22.49kg o prey species trans ormable in biomass/ ha 10Less than 4.99kg o prey species trans ormable in biomass/ha 0

6. Biodiversity areas+5% 304-5% 203-4% 152-3% 101-2% 50-1% 0



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7. Presence o high value auna speciesLists o valuable species o Wildli e in boreal regions:- council directive o wild birds (79/409/EEC)- re erence list o habitat types and species o Boreal region (2008/24/EC)

The estate has more than 10 high value species 20Between 5 and 9 high value species 15Between 2 and 4 high value species 10None or one high value species 0

8. Specifc conservation plans (on soil, landscape, auna , ora, etc.)Existence o conservation plan or plans 20Plans are insu cient or likely to improve 10No plans 0

9. Communication ProgrammeDevelopment/existence o an e cient communication programme 10Programme is insu cient or likely to improve 5No programme 0

10. Conservation o natural, cultural and historic heritageDevelopment/existence o conservation plans 10Plans are insu cient or likely to improve 5No plans 0

11. Fauna BalanceNo. o species present on the estate /no. o huntable/hunted species 5.0 30No. o species present on the estate /no. o huntable/hunted speciesbetween 3 and 4.9 15No. o species present on the estate /no. o huntable/hunted speciesbetween 1 and 2.9 5No. o species present on the estate /no. o huntable/hunted species 1 0

12. Existence o measures or the improvement, the restoration or the rebuildingo the welcome capacity o the wildli e habitat

E cient 20

Not su cient or ine cient 5No measure 0

13. Existence o measures enhancing the agri-sylvi-game balanceE cient 20Not su cient or ine cient 5No measure 0

14. Hunting/fshing, natural, semi natural or intensiveOnly natural hunting and/or fshing 40Sustainable releases* 10Only intensive hunting/fshing -20



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Specifc indicators evaluation grid or FOREST estates in the BOREAL region.

INDICATOR SCORE

1. Level o stillness/tranquillityExistence o an e cient survey/watch o the estate 30Ine cient survey (gamekeeper) or likely to improve 10No survey/watch 0

2. Prevention and accompanying measures o setting extreme events (includingorest fres, drought, oods, etc. according to the region) and seasonal events such

as winter coverE cient 10Ine cient or likely to improve 5None 0

3. Game and valuable habitats in orest planningE cient 10Ine cient or likely to improve 5None 0

4. Quality and quantity o wetlands

Su cient and good quality 20Insu cient or poor quality 10None 0

5. Abundance o prey species (in biomass)More than 22.5kg o prey species trans ormable in biomass/ha 30Between 4.5 and 22.49kg o prey species trans ormable in biomass/ ha 10Less than 4.99kg o prey species trans ormable in biomass/ha 0

6. Biodiversity areas+5% 30

4-5% 203-4% 152-3% 101-2% 50-1% 0

7. Presence o high value auna speciesLists o valuable species o Wildli e in boreal regions:- council directive o wild birds (79/409/EEC)- re erence list o habitat types and species o Boreal region (2008/24/EC)

The estate has more than 10 high value species 20Between 5 and 9 high value species 15Between 2 and 4 high value species 10None or one high value species 0


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8. Specifc conservation plans (on soil, landscape, auna , ora, etc.)

Existence o conservation plan or plans 20Plans are insu cient or likely to improve 10No plans 0

9. Communication ProgrammeDevelopment/existence o an e cient communication programme 10Programme is insu cient or likely to improve 5No programme 0

10. Promoting youth education and traditional way o huntingE cient 10Ine cient or likely to improve 5None 0

11. Fauna BalanceNo. o species present on the estate /no. o huntable/hunted species 5.0 30No. o species present on the estate /no. o huntable/hunted speciesbetween 3 and 4.9 15No. o species present on the estate /no. o huntable/hunted speciesbetween 1 and 2.9 5No. o species present on the estate /no. o huntable/hunted species 1 0

12. Existence o measures or the improvement, the restoration or the rebuilding o

the welcome capacity o the wildli e habitatE cient 20Not su cient or ine cient 5No measure 0

13. Existence o measures enhancing the sylvi-game balance with a special attention toconnectivity between orest habitats.

E cient 20Not su cient or ine cient 5No measure 0

14. Hunting/fshing, natural, semi natural or intensiveOnly natural hunting and/or fshing 40Sustainable releases* 10Only intensive hunting/fshing -20



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3. MEDITERRANEAN biogeographical region

Specifc indicators evaluation grid or the MEDITERRANEAN biogeographical region.

INDICATOR SCORE

1. Level o stillness/tranquillityE cient services o gamekeeper/watch/vigilance and direct and indirect methodso access and monitoring control 30Gamekeeper/watch/vigilance services are ine cient or could be improved 10 Theres no gamekeeper/watch/monitoring and control 0

2. Biodiversity sur ace (area o territory dedicated to hedges, feld borders, ponds,permanent environmental areas, etc. Set out ully in the WE Questionnaire)

More than 5% o the total sur ace considered have biodiversity 30Between 1% and 4.99% 20Between 0.00% and 0.99% 10

3. Fire prevention measuresE cient 10Ine cient or could be improved 5None 0

4. Food availability (herbivore)With crops sur ace, grasslands or open zones same 10%. 10Less than 9.99% 5None 0

5. Water availabilityWith at least one or more permanent water points each 50 hectares o the territory 10Less than one permanent water point each 50 hectares 5None 0

6. Presence o prey-species (expressed as biomass)

More than 22.5kg o biomass per hectare 30Between 4.5 and 22.49kg o biomass per hectare 10Less than 4.49kg o biomass per hectare 0

7. Presence o valuable species o auna The estate has more than 10 valuable species 20Between 5 and 9 species 10Between 2 and 4 species 5One species or less 0


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8. Fauna/wildli e balance

Quotient between the number o vertebrates present in the studied estateand number o hunted species 5.0 30Quotient between 3.00 and 4.9 15Quotient between 1.0 and 2.9 5Quotient 1 0

9. Conservation plansYes, one or more e cient conservation plans 30Yes but they are insu cient or ine cient or could be improved 10None 0

10. Communication programIt has an e cient communication program 10Program ine cient or could be improved 5None 0

11. Conservation o cultural and historic heritageIt conserves the heritage that it owns 10Conservation ine cient or could be improved 5None 0

12. Existence o restoration measures and improvements o habitat holding/welcomingcapacity or wildli e


13. Existence o measures that help the sustainable balance between agriculture-silviculture cynegetic-pisciculture/fshing

E cient 20Insu cient and ine cient 5None 0

14. Natural hunting or fshing, semi natural or intensive

Only presence o natural hunting or/and fshing 40Sustainable release* 10Only presence o intensive hunting/fshing -20

* When allowed by the national legislation/codes o practices.


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www.wildlife-estates.eu

WE Evaluation CommitteeEuropean Landowners Organization - asbl

Rue de Trves 67BE-1040 Bruxelles

Belgium Tel: +32 (0) 2 234 30 00Fax: +32 (0) 2 234 30 09

E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]

No part of this activity report may be reproduced in any form whether by print, photo print, microfilm, photocopy or any other means without the prior writtenpermission of the association. All personal data contained in this publication is for the exclusive and internal use of the association. Any other use is forbidden.


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43104 Wildlife Brochure En

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