B-team to protect biodiversity in Hilvarenbeek

8 July 2009, Hilvarenbeek (Netherlands). Since April 2008, when the Head of Department of Public Services of Hilvarenbeek signed the Countdown 2010 Declaration, a group of 20 volunteers came together to take concrete actions to contribute to the 2010 Target.

The B-team (Biodiversity team) have met a number of times since December 2008 and established five working groups:

• Yellowhammer, aiming to protect the yellowhammer bird which was chosen as ambassador for the Municipality;
• Urban area, which will focus on the nature and biodiversity in neighborhoods and industrial areas;
• Trees, which combines tree-inventory in the Municipality with raising biodiversity chances;
• Outside urban areas, that takes care of all natural and agricultural areas outside neighborhoods and industrial areas; and
• Communication and education, which focuses on internal and external communications and providing education to citizens.

Activities that the groups have implemented include: the creation of an optimal habitat for the yellowhammer which has aided its reappearance in the Municipality; the sowing (and eventual harvesting) of various grain and wheat species using a traditional method on a small scale in combination with placing and maintaining of hedges to provide habitat to numerous species; the placing of birdhouses in neighborhoods to test their effectiveness in increasing the number of sparrows; and launch of the website.

The B-team intends to apply for grants in the future to extend its activities and increase its contribution to the 2010 Biodiversity Target. Well done B-team!

• Hilvarenbeek on Countdown 2010 website
• B-team website