The management of the Vrijselhof is a long-term project of organic, land-based and circular agriculture. This organic farm starts from the principles of the circular economy. They don’t produce waste, but reuse everything or process it into raw materials. For example, they make their own compost to feed the soil, they harvest the seeds of their plants to sow them the next season and they work with animals that play a role in the system, without manure surpluses, to become as self-sufficient as possible. The principles of circular production are possible because of the management combination of agriculture, nature and forest land.
El Castañar consists of high and rugged mountains combined with broad pastures, a mosaic landscape of farmland with centuries-old oaks and low mountains dotted with several streams. The Castañar manages a cattle ranch, an Iberian pig and sheep farm, olive groves, vineyards, hunting grounds, etc. They received the Wildlife Estate label as an award for their successful conservation practices. Iberian lynxes were reintroduced in the estate and they participated in the LIFE project for the recuperation of the imperial eagles.
The Hoge Veluwe National Park is the largest interconnected, actively managed, privately owned nature reserve in the Netherlands. It is almost entirely dependent of its 600,000 yearly paying visitors for its survival. The Park is a unique combination of nature, art and architecture. Within the Natura 2000 area of the Veluwe, the Park is an important source of biodiversity. The management targets a sustainable Nature management with public access while keeping a decision making and financial independence.
The ASPM brings together the owners of the 750 ha of the dammed marsh of Mazerolles. 70 owners and users agreed to bundle forces to establish a water level management protocol to allow agricultural activities necessary for the maintenance of the marsh, insure professional fishing, recreation and hunting activities. Over the last 60 years, they have developed a strong expertise in water management, habitats and species management rankings. The hydraulic management of the Mazerolles marshes is key to the conservation of nature and biodiversity in this area.
For more than a half century the airfield in Malle has been in use by NATO for military activities. Today its use is multifunctional including a private flying club, sport manifestations, scouting, air shows, vehicle testing, photo shoots, walking and nature conservation. The Land Is For Ever LIFE+ project was able to bring together the surrounding private owners who were expropriated for the realization of the airport together with Natuurpunt, Flanders’ largest nature organization and PIDPA, a drinking water company that pumps water in the area for the drinking water supply of Flanders. Under the mediation of the LIFE + project, a first cooperation agreement has been signed and the partners are jointly working towards a common vision on and management of the area’s nature.
Slangenbeekbron, a nature reserve formerly owned by the family Sagehomme-Leynen was purchased by the Stichting Behoud Natuur en Leefmilieu Vlaanderen (SBNL), a non-profit organization supporting private landowners in the management of nature reserves with the financial support of the Fund Baillet Latour. Under the guidance of the Land Is For Ever LIFE+ project SBNL has been transformed into the first land trust in Flanders, a new instrument to be used for private land conservation. The land trust will support private land conservation by supporting private landowners in the purchase and the management of nature on private land.
The Tullstorp Stream is located in one of the most intensive agricultural areas of Sweden where 85% of the land is arable and. Since 2009, over 40 wetlands and 15 km of the stream have already been restored. The mains objectives of the project are to reduce the outflow of nutrients into the Baltic Sea, tackle the erosion and flooding, maintain the stream and promote biodiversity by recreating a valuable fish community. The TSP is operated by an association of landowners working all along the stream. The project is unique in a way that the farmers themselves are in control of the project.
