Nature conservation advice

From November 26-27, 2013, the eighth conference on individual nature conservation consulting will take place in Witzenhausen. Last year, the focus was on experiences with advisory approaches within the funding programs of the federal states. Two position papers were also presented, one on the topic of "Flower strips and wild herb protection in arable fields" and a second on individual farm nature conservation advice, which was developed as a result of the 2011 conference.
The "Witzenhausen position paper on individual farm nature conservation advice" will also be taken up at this year's conference. After an overview of the possible future status of nature conservation advice in the federal states (Jan Freese), the experiences of the conference participants will be incorporated into a workshop with a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges) on *individual farm nature conservation advice in the new agricultural funding period*; this will form the framework and conclusion of the conference. Two presentations from the field will show perspectives on what is possible in terms of *measures in the cultural landscape at farm level*: Detlef Hack (Lämmerhof, initiator of the "Kolk" project) raises the question of species protection with agriculture by means of flexible farm-specific agri-environmental programs, and Marcus Sperlich (Berlin) reports on active landscape design on four farms in Germany and Poland. Both farmers have been involved in the implementation of measures for many years. Laurens Bockemühl, a landscape planner, will also speak about the impetus provided by the European Landscape Convention for nature conservation advice.
On Wednesday, the focus will be on the "Focus Nature Day": a project of the Bioland advisory service, which is funded by the BLE. In 2013, it enabled a number of conventional farms throughout Germany to participate free of charge. During half-day to full-day consultation sessions, farmers learn how biodiversity can be promoted. Together with the consultant, potentials and new ideas for more nature conservation on the farm are recorded. The ideas are documented during the day. After a presentation of the project, which is based on the "Kulturlandpläne" project, several advisors with different backgrounds will report on their experiences of advising farmers with different motivations.
At the end of the conference, there will again be a *strategy discussion in plenary*: What is the way forward for the topic of "individual farm nature conservation advice", what initiatives are there, what cooperation is possible?
Please note that the event will again take place at the university site south of the Werra in Steinstraße 19, as last year in the lecture hall building in room "H 13". It is a 1.5 km walk from the train station (but the hotel and canteen will be close by). We will endeavor to provide a shuttle service if necessary.
It will make our organization easier if you return the completed registration form in good time (registration deadline: 18.11.2013). Please also let us know if you would like to bring a poster so that we can provide display walls.

Dr. Thomas van Elsen
University of Kassel, FB 11
Fachgebiet Ökologischer Land- und Pflanzenbau
Nordbahnhofstr. 1a
D-37213 Witzenhausen

Phone: +49 (0)5542 981655
Fax:Â +49 (0)5542 981670
E-mail: Thomas.vanElsen[at]uni-kassel[dot]de