Monitoring Managing nature is a long-term process. However, researchers who work with an organisation for more than 30 years are becoming rare, which is why PWN invests in annual collection of information about the dunes for decades. Research data over extended periods allow us to spot trends and intervene effectively.
Research The dunes managed by PWN fall under the aegis of Natura2000. We are increasing our knowledge of these reserves via research, which we differentiate into three types: evaluation; detection; and accumulation of new knowledge. The emphasis at PWN is on the first two. In evaluation research we check what the effect of our management is so we can learn from it and make corrections. Detection research is of a whole different order: we constantly keep our finger on the pulse and try to observe trends. Continuous monitoring to answer our questions which encompass the quality of the livestock, how the summer bird situation is developing, or the quality of our reserves in general. For example, we have a data collection programme which entails meticulous recording of the vegetation found in 500 random spots every year. This type of long-term research is very important because human memory is sometimes very selective. Long-term successive samples help us to objectively deduce patterns. Thus we increase our knowledge and develop our understanding of what is happening in the dune ecosystem. The third variant, research to gain new information, is always aimed at a very specific question. For example, why is the wheatear declining? Volunteers welcome Not only do we use our own rangers and call in specialist agencies for our research, we also get help from large numbers of enthusiastic volunteers. For example there is a group which annually combs through a different area of a square kilometre to identify all plants growing in it.
There are also volunteers who help us with their knowledge of summer birds, lizards, mushrooms, dragonflies, fish or butterflies. We share all research data with national data collecting networks. These networks in turn also provide us with very useful reference material. Nevertheless, it is not necessary for a volunteer to contribute knowledge per se. Many people faithfully help us by emptying and repairing sand traps every week. Sand traps are placed randomly on the top of dunes to catch drifting sand. From this we deduce where the sand originates and how it affects the dune ecosystem, as dune sand rejuvenates and brings in a new supply of lime and nutrients. International exchange Thanks to the large amount of research, we are also in contact with researchers internationally, an important network because of course our nature does not end at the national borders. Take the research by Bert Buijzer for example, who has ties to the Vrije University (Amsterdam). He researches the consequences of climate change on crowberry and studies this species from Bergen (Netherlands) to Spitsbergen, which are the southern and northern boundaries of its habitat, respectively. Along with the two other dune water supply companies in our country, Dunea and Waternet, we are in search of reference material abroad on the increasing nitrogen precipitation in the dunes. We found a reference area in Wales, for example, where they are not troubled by nitrogen precipitation as yet. Incidentally, we are also collaborating on this with the KWR national research institute. Hubert Kivit, PWN head Research
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