Ecological guidance Bossche Broek

Assignment
South of 's-Hertogenbosch lies nature reserve Bossche Broek, an open and wet nature reserve managed by Staatsbosbeheer. It is part of Natura 2000 area Vlijmens Ven, Moerputten and Bossche Broek. This nature area suffers from nitrogen deposition. Under the Habitat Directive, the province of North Brabant must ensure the conservation of these habitat areas. This is done through the Program Approach Nitrogen (Programma Aanpak Stikstof, PAS), which includes recovery measures aimed at developing new nature and preserving existing nature.

In Bossche Broek, so-called PAS measures such as mowing, scrub removal and dredging or re-profiling waterways were carried out at the end of 2018. In addition, culverts have been laid and weirs built. With these, the Forestry Commission hopes to better retain seepage water and drain acid rainwater faster. Staro Natuur en Buitengebied was asked by contractor Van Beers Hoogeloon to perform a ecological work protocol writing and the work ecological guidance.

Approach
Staro has a ecological work protocol written for the purpose of implementing the PAS measures. For each measure, obligations are named that:

• Prevent negative effects on (potentially) present protected species (fish, birds, small martens, badger, amphibians, bats and plants)
• Preventing the spread of (invasive) exotic species
• Limiting soil pressure

Prior to the work, Staro alerted employees to the relevant points ecological work protocol in a Toolbox. In addition, locations with high ecological values were marked for conservation and the ecologist supervised the implementation work. This was done in consultation with the contractor and the supervisor from the Forestry Commission.

Result
Ultimately, negative impacts on protected species were prevented and the spread of invasive exotic species was prevented. Badger and fox dens were marked and locations with large water pennywort (invasive exotic species) were eradicated. The clearing of ditches was carried out under ecological guidance from Staro, which included capturing large mudskippers and crucian carp and releasing them (elsewhere). In addition, the ditches were only partially mowed to maintain sufficient suitable habitat for protected species and to prevent the accessibility of the ditches to pike. Locations with crabweed were skipped in this process.