Developing and implementing context-dependent population modelling techniques

One of the partial aspects of the PAS/PPB tasks is to assess the effects of human activities for the Habitats Directive species - in addition to mapping out the status and distribution - and to be able to weigh the effects of possible mitigating or population restoration measures. For the recovery and conservation of endangered species, the search for an optimal use of the limited resources available is often crucial. The available resources are best used for actions (management measures) that can be expected to yield the greatest impact on adjusting population trends. A prioritisation must be made between the species (groups) and the management measures to be used.

Population modelling is a commonly used instrument for this purpose. It allows, on the one hand, to support management choices through projections and analyses (possible mitigating measures as well as measures for species conservation and recovery) and, on the other hand, to investigate the possible impact of activities to be authorised on the Annex Species in a specific area.

The species covered in the various parts of the roadmap are selected on the basis of their role as a telling example (model species) because of available knowledge, insights into population dynamics and available datasets from Belgium or abroad. In addition, in function of the PAS/DPB assignment, a set of HRL types will be selected to which the instruments of this project can be applied.

The project consists of a first part in which the project team members bring their knowledge of population modeling techniques and related software to a higher level. This is done both by means of training sessions and workshops on concrete example cases. In a second phase, work will focus on issues relating to specific HRL species.