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The Paardenschor is also part of ‘marshes and polders of the lower Scheldt’ (BE2301336), a protected area under the bird directive. The site is functional as a roost and foraging site rather than as a breeding site. This type of low dynamic mudflats, relatively high in the tidal frame adds valuable foraging time and space for water birds. However, only few suitable breeding sites were available throughout the study period because benthic invertebrates are abundant and the inundation time of the newly created mudflat is limited. The importance of the Paardenschor as a breeding ground is expected to increase as parts of it develop into tidal marsh. Frequent visitors on the Paardenschor are Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Curlew (Numenius arquata) and Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) (Van den Neucker et al. 2007). But also some other bird directive species (passage and winter birds) visit the Paardenschor. In total nine of the 26 protected non-breeding birds are identified multiple times between October 2004 and December 2006.
The presence of breeding birds is rare on the Paardenschor. Only the Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) is identified: 2 breeding pairs in 2005 and one pair in 2006 (Van den Neucker et al. 2007). However, this species is not on the bird directive list.
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Paardenschor wetland - small scale brackish tidal wetland restoration in the Sea Scheldt (Zeeschelde)
Table of content
- 1. Description of measure
- 1a. Measure description
- 1b. Monitoring
- 1c. Monitoring results
- 2. Execution of main effectiveness criteria
- 2a. Effectiveness according to development targets of measure
- 2b. Impact on ecosystem services
- 2c. Degree of synergistic effects and conflicts according to uses
- 3. Additional evaluation criteria in view of EU environmental law
- 3a. Degree of synergistic effects and conflicts according to WFD aims
- 3b. Degree of synergistic effects and conflicts according to Natura 2000 aims
- 4. Crux of the matter
- 5. References
Additional information
for this measure:
No further information available.
for this measure:
No further information available.
Degree of synergistic effects and conflicts according to Natura 2000 aims
The Paardenschor is part of the ‘Scheldt and Durme estuary from the Dutch border to Gent’ (BE2300006), a protected area under the Habitat directive. This measure is about the creation of newly intertidal mudflats and hence contributes to the protection and conservation of intertidal wetlands in this protected area.The Paardenschor is also part of ‘marshes and polders of the lower Scheldt’ (BE2301336), a protected area under the bird directive. The site is functional as a roost and foraging site rather than as a breeding site. This type of low dynamic mudflats, relatively high in the tidal frame adds valuable foraging time and space for water birds. However, only few suitable breeding sites were available throughout the study period because benthic invertebrates are abundant and the inundation time of the newly created mudflat is limited. The importance of the Paardenschor as a breeding ground is expected to increase as parts of it develop into tidal marsh. Frequent visitors on the Paardenschor are Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Curlew (Numenius arquata) and Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) (Van den Neucker et al. 2007). But also some other bird directive species (passage and winter birds) visit the Paardenschor. In total nine of the 26 protected non-breeding birds are identified multiple times between October 2004 and December 2006.
The presence of breeding birds is rare on the Paardenschor. Only the Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) is identified: 2 breeding pairs in 2005 and one pair in 2006 (Van den Neucker et al. 2007). However, this species is not on the bird directive list.
| Conservation objectives (Sea Scheldt; Zeeschelde) | Specification | Effect? | Short explanation | ||||
| - | 0 | + | |||||
| Protected habitats: Coast and brackish habitats | Atlantic marshes (HD, code 1330) | X | Newly created intertidal mudflat in the protected area BE2300006, and quality improvement for this type of habitat. | ||||
| Protected birds: non-breeding birds (passage and winter birds) | Acrocephalus paludicola | X | Not registered at the Paardenschor. | ||||
| Anas acuta | X | Water bird identified between October 2004 and December 2006: 2 individuals in total | |||||
| Anas clypeata | X | Not registered at the Paardenschor. | |||||
| Anas crecca | X | Water bird identified between October 2004 and December 2006: 117 individuals in total | |||||
| Anas Penelope | X | Water bird identified between October 2004 and December 2006: 53 individuals in total | |||||
| Anas strepera | X | Not registered at the Paardenschor. | |||||
| Anser albifrons | X | Not registered at the Paardenschor. | |||||
| Anser anser | X | Water bird identified between October 2004 and December 2006: 685 individuals in total | |||||
| Anser brachyrhynchus | X | Not registered at the Paardenschor. | |||||
| Anser fabalis | X | Not registered at the Paardenschor. | |||||
| Arenaria interpres | X | Not registered at the Paardenschor. | |||||
| Recurvirostra avosetta | X | Water bird identified between October 2004 and December 2006: 207 individuals in total | |||||
| Aythya ferina | X | Not registered at the Paardenschor. | |||||
| Aythya fuligula | X | Not registered at the Paardenschor. | |||||
| circus cyaneus | X | Not registered at the Paardenschor. | |||||
| Circus bewickii | X | Not registered at the Paardenschor. | |||||
| Egretta alba | X | Not registered at the Paardenschor. | |||||
| Larus argentatus | X | Water bird identified between October 2004 and December 2006: 20 individuals in total | |||||
| Larus canus | X | Not registered at the Paardenschor. | |||||
| Larus ridibundus | X | Water bird identified between October 2004 and December 2006: 287 individuals in total | |||||
| Numenius arquata | X | Water bird identified between October 2004 and December 2006: 138 individuals in total | |||||
| Numenius phaeopus | X | Not registered at the Paardenschor. | |||||
| Philomachus pugnax | X | Not registered at the Paardenschor. | |||||
| Platalaea leucorodia | X | Not registered at the Paardenschor. | |||||
| Pluvialis apricaria | X | Not registered at the Paardenschor. | |||||
| Tadorna tadorna | X | Water bird identified between October 2004 and December 2006: 758 individuals in total | |||||