The aims are to safeguard the habitat threatened by agricultural abandonment on 200 ha, but also to promote wild fauna diversity to sensitize the public, hunters, non-hunters and schools. A natural afforestation has been conducted and some activities as the mowing, the extensive horses grazing and a traditional fish breeding have enabled to maintain the habitat. The hunters also created three ponds and five observatories with one opened to public for an efficient birds observation. There is one employee in charge of the maintenance, the monitoring (partnership for scientific monitoring) and the welcoming of visitors. By controlling some wildlife population like the coypu (Myocastor coypus) and the muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus), there has been an increase of the reed beds. Finally, they developped awareness raising programs on wetlands issues like their importance, their threats,… Other actions have been planned as training courses on wetlands management, improving grassland management, creating areas for shorebirds.
Country: France
Region: Central
Starting date: 1993
Species: Coypu (Myocastor Coypus), Muskrat (Ondatra Zibethicus)
Species characteristics: Invasive Alien species; Not applicable
Type of actions: Management of habitats and wildlife, Communication
Leading partners: Fédération départementale des chasseurs de l?Indre (http://www.chasseursducentre.fr/fdc36/)
