We still have a stock of the SPECIAL EDITION ON GRAZING AND GRAZING ANIMALS as published in the series of the Vakblad NATUURBEHEER. You can ask me for a hard copy.
From its foreword:
The presence of large herbivores grazing in nature areas is not an isolated phenomenon. Policy makers, managers, supervisors, researchers and visitors are all involved in one way or another. The issues involved are diverse and include such matters as ecology, ethology, ethics, welfare, animal heath and the spread of diseases.
The purpose of this special edition is to provide more information on important aspects of grazing which also have practical relevance for managers of nature areas and policy-makers. In response to the matters currently under discussion we concentrate on more natural forms of grazing. It is a misconception to believe that there is a consensus of opinion on this subject. Views are divided on the effects of grazing and the role of large herbivores in the natural ecosystems. We believe it is important for all the views to be represented, but there is unfortunately not enough room for extensive discussion of the issues here. We would however welcome any reactions to this special edition. It is interesting to note that in as far as opinions differ, researchers are just as divided in their views as site managers and policy makers. No one has a monopoly on knowledge about grazing. The same could be said about the responsibility of allowing nature areas to be grazed. Thanks to the fact that policy makers, managers and researchers have the courage to experiment with different forms of grazing, new facts are being brought to light. This is absolutely necessary, because real natural grazing disappeared in our climate zone long ago, and the question remains whether we can reconstruct it.
- This special edition begins with a summary of 25 year practical management experience by Harm Piek and Henk Siebel of Natuurmonumenten. This special edition begins with a summary of 25 year practical management experience by Harm Piek and Henk Siebel of Natuurmonumenten. This special edition begins with a summary of 25 year practical management experience by Harm Piek and Henk Siebel of Natuurmonumenten.
- This is followed by three articles on various aspects of the prehistoric, natural western European grazing system. Margret Bunzel-Drüke of Germany takes us back to a time before the Holocene, when really large herbivores like giant elk and mammoth still lived in this region. The parkland she describes is similar to the landscape of a later epoch described by Frans Vera, which he suggests was only populated by smaller grazers like aurochs, tarpan, red deer and moose.
- Daniël Josten of the Ministry of Flemish Community describes the situation of large grazing animals in Flanders.
- Joep Dirkx of Alterra doubts whether these animals occurred in large numbers in the Netherlands. He believes that most of the higher ground was covered by woodland before humans cleared the areas on a large scale. A number of writers discuss the influence of grazing on plants and animals, and what consequences this has for management.
- Loek Kuiters of Alterra gives a summary of the results of a scientific study on the subject and comments on the theory of Frans Vera.
- Jan Bokdam of Wageningen University talks about his own study of poor sandy soils which questions the feasibility of maintaining open landscapes with limited food through grazing alone.
- Henk Strijbosch of the University of Nijmegen discusses the vulnerability of reptiles and other fauna and warns that they should not be disregarded in the development and management of grazed nature areas.
- Stichting Ark contributes two articles giving a clear insight into the various aspects of natural grazing in the floodplains of the major rivers. These authors make a case for year round grazing as opposed to seasonal grazing. They also discuss the social behaviour of large herbivores and management aimed at creating genetically healthy herds.
- The risks of animal diseases are highlighted by Jaap van Leeuwen and Gerard van Essen of the Institute for Animal Science and Health, ID-Lelystad.
- Paul Koene of Wageningen University shares his views on the way domestic animals can be made feral and demonstrate their natural behaviour.
- Korthals discusses the ethical aspects of large herbivore management. He introduces the new principle of respect for the self-sufficiency of large herbivores. He also makes a plea for a multiform ethical approach, which holds that there can be different moral standpoints for one and the same situation.
- Henkens and Maasland give a number of facts about the interrelation between grazers and public; an aspect to pay attention at.
- Frans Vera wrote an interesting article about the question whether European bison and cattle will cross spontaneously or not.
- Marionne van de Klashorst and Ruud Kreetz of Natuurmonumenten write about the importance of good communication for grazing projects.
- Geert Groot Bruinderink of Alterra makes a strong plea for the extensive linking zones which will be necessary to connect the European nature areas. Inset boxes throughout the issue contain practical knowledge supplied by various authors. These vary from a list of the old breeds in the Netherlands and cattle diseases to a text about the Chillingham cattle, descendants of the aurochs.
- Finally, Hans Kampf from the Dutch National Reference Centre, who has been the driving force in developing policy for natural grazing in the Netherlands, gives a summary of the Ministry of Agriculture’s policy document on grazing.
- This special edition closes with an article by the editors, which draws conclusions and makes recommendations for the future.
