To improve the habitat quality of dry grasslands for plant and animal species, management methods such as grazing  or mowing will be adapted on each reserve area. Recurring management of the meadows will indeed mostly be performed by using grazing with sheep. But to keep conditions optimal for the development of meadow species, grazing must often be combined with mechanical interventions such as mowing plants left uneaten, wood removal, bush clearing but also fighting against invasive plants (false Acacia, glandular Ailanthus, horizontal Cotoneaster, Buddleia …). The reproduction (by means of seeds or suckers) and germination power of these invasive species is so strong that all of the stricken meadows are in danger. Selective cutting, mowing, pulling up will thus be planned all through the project in order to restrict these species’ expansion.

        At the end, this restoration objective is of course to rejuvenate the calcareous/calaminarian grasslands and rocky environments and these actions need sometimes to be adapted according to the initial situation: reforested environment (black pine tree…), an environment taken again by thick-leaved vegetation and/or an environment overgrown by gramineous vegetation …

        Some of these natural sites were already protected and partially restored during the previous LIFE hélianthème project.Totally, the surfaces of grounds that will be restored or pursued with restoration are:

        All these management tasks would not be possible without specialized land workers but also without volunteers’ remarkable work. So, a lot of days dedicating for “habitat management” will be organized during week-ends with these helpful volunteers. These days are also unique opportunities for people to receive detailed information from specialists on these valuable habitats and the species that are encountered.

        At some places, spreading of plant seeds (Hippocrepis commosa, Anthyllis vulneraria subsp. Pseudovulneraria, Sanguisorba minor, Salvia pratensis) are planned, in particular seeds from host plants for threatened animal species (butterflies in particular). Furthermore, ecological corridors (shrub hedgerows, coppices,...) will be restored to ensure the movement of species between the restored habitats. Some Scarces fruit trees (Pyrus communis subsp. Pyraster and Malus sylvestris subsp. Sylvestris) and a rare schrub (Juniperus communis) will also be planted in some nature reserves in which they were originally founded.

        As a consequence of fertilization or abandonment of agricultural activities, remaining semi-natural grasslands generally show an unfavorable conservation status. Therefore, two major types of restoration actions will be distinguished: removal and control of trees and scrubs, and lowering of soil nutrients levels.

        The restoration of large areas of dry grasslands from soils enriched with nutrients will be tested through a new technology, called « phytoextraction » (removal of top soil nutrients -especially phosphates- by root absorption and above-ground tissue exportation), or by stripping of the nutrient-rich soil layers. These actions will be implemented in close collaboration with the University of Ghent, responsible for the methodology and preparatory actions. Totally, 75ha were planned for both countries.

        Field surveys and inventories will also be performed in all the project area to make opportunities to purchase and further to create some new nature reserves inside the existing Natura 2000 perimeter but also outside of it (for the Walloon region only). The goal is to reinforce the connectivity between the actual protected areas. So, more than 200ha grounds acquisition are foreseen and approximatively divided as follows : 132ha in the Walloon region, 55ha in the Flamish region and 35ha in the Netherlands.

        In addition to the protection and conservation of above mentioned grassland habitats, the project also targets four species of bats that are still present in the Walloon region. The calcareous character of the bedrock is indeed responsible for the presence of numerous caves and cavities, which are used by bats during the winter months. Although knowledge about their population’s status is still incomplete, we know that the Walloon part of the perimeter still shelter reproductive populations of four highly threatened species : Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, R. hipposideros, Myotis emarginatus, M. myotis. These species are strongly dependent on grasslands quality and structural diversity. The lack of connections between foraging habitats and roosts seems to be a key factor for their survival.  The restoration of “green corridors” in less suitable landscapes is another important factor for migration of animal species like bats, as they can only move between sites connected with a continuous network of linear habitats. A lot of work will be done for these scarce species that can be described as follow :

        And last but not least, getting the public involved and making them aware helping them to discover this exceptional environment through guided walks, conferences, manifestations, volunteers’days and didactic paths. We hope so they could enjoy this fabulous common patrimony whatever the region they visit.

Beside the restoration of these specific habitats described above and the protection of several bat species, the LIFE Pays Mosan project’s challenge is also to provide structures that will help manage and ensure permanent actions. An after-LIFE conservation plan will be set up in order to list the means to be provided to meet this challenge. From the start of the project, things will be thought over, especially on the complete aspect of grazing and management control and costs.