Conserving the Black-tailed Godwit: Legislation, implementation and effectiveness of conservation in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands

The Black-tailed Godwit, Limosa limosa, is a near-threatened wader bird with a European breeding distribution that is concentrated in Western Europe. This report summarizes the legal aspects of Black-tailed Godwit conservation and gives a concise overview of the implementation and effectiveness of conservation action that is taken in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. In all three countries, conservation initiatives are rarely effective enough to halt the ongoing decline of the species, although there are successful local exceptions. The review concludes with the recommendation to formulate a coherent strategy for Black-tailed Godwit conservation starting with the identification of favourable reference values in each of the three countries