Grazing Management in Practice

A course in grazing management by the specialist in this field: Free Nature. This four-day course is essential for anyone working with large herbivores and grazing projects.
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About this course

Grazing management is a form of management that is increasingly used in the Netherlands. Various forms of grazing and various types of grazers are available for different purposes, like rewilding, or nature target types. Just think of water buffalos that contribute to water management, bull pits that bring back rare insects or the reduction of exotics, such as giant hogweed, through Rode (red) geus and bison. Grazers create gradients and bring succession phases back into various stages. This ensures an increase in biodiversity and helps to achieve European nature objectives. Moreover, it is a special form of nature management that can also make a positive contribution to the human experience in landscapes.

Grazing management cannot be done without the involvement of people. This four-day course is essential for anyone working with large herbivores and grazing projects. During this course we will explore all aspects of natural grazing. We will substantively address many questions such as: What is the role of grazers in the ecosystem? What results can and cannot be expected from grazing? Which animal species or which combination of species give the best effect in different types of areas? What laws and regulations apply? What does a natural social herd association look like? How do you deal with possible concerns such as thistles, ragwort or confrontation with dogs?

In Dutch: Begrazingsbeheer is een vorm van beheer die steeds vaker toegepast wordt in Nederland. Voor verschillende doeleinden of natuurdoeltypen zijn verschillende vormen van begrazing en diverse soorten grazers beschikbaar. Denk maar eens aan waterbuffels die bijdragen aan waterveiligheid, stierenkuilen die zeldzame insecten terugbrengen of het terugdringen van exoten zoals reuzenberenklauw door rode geus en wisent. Grazers creëren gradiënten en zetten successiefases lokaal in diverse stadia terug. Dit zorgt voor een grote toename van biodiversiteit en helpt met het behalen van Europese natuurdoelstellingen. Bovendien is het een prachtige vorm van natuurbeheer die ook voor de beleving van de mens een positieve bijdrage kan leveren.

Begrazingsbeheer gaat niet zonder inzet van mensen. Daarom is deze vierdaagse cursus onmisbaar voor iedereen die in de praktijk met natuurlijke begrazing te maken heeft. Tijdens deze cursus gaan we diep in op alle aspecten van natuurlijke begrazing. We gaan inhoudelijk in op vele vragen zoals; Wat is de rol van grazers in het ecosysteem? Welke resultaten kun je wel en niet verwachten van begrazing? Welke diersoorten of welke combinatie van soorten geven het beste effect in verschillende soorten gebieden? Met welke wetten en regels heb je te maken? Hoe ziet een natuurlijk sociaal kuddeverband eruit? Hoe ga je om met mogelijke zorgen als distels, jakobskruiskruid of loslopende honden?

Course details

Learning mode
Country
Netherlands
Type
Certificate
Duration
4 days
Time investment
30 hours
Starting date
September
Costs
885
Accommodation
Included
Meals
Included

What you’ll learn

Participants will gain insight into the role of large grazers in ecosystems, into the possibilities and impossibilities of grazing and how to deal with large grazers in practice. There is ample time to contribute your own questions and practical cases.

Course partners

Course outline

The course will be delivered at various locations in the Netherlands (including Maashorst & Noordwaard), further information will follow upon registration. Each course day consists of a theory part and a field excursion.

Course dates: March 26, April 19 & 20 and May 20, 2021

Day 1: Natural processes and the role of grazing.
Day 2: (Semi) wild grazers in practice: behaviour.
Day 3: (Semi) wild grazers in practice: management.
Day 4: Nature results: flora and fauna.

Requirements

Experience in this professional field or MBO.

Interested in joining the Grazing Management in Practice course? Complete the form and take the first step toward your learning journey.

Enquiry Form