De duinhagedis voor de toekomst behouden over duinbeheer, versnippering en monitoring

In the Netherlands the Sand Lizard ( Lacerta agilis Linaeus, 1758) is also called “Dune Lizard”. It is a species of the coastal dunes, although it also appears in inland areas. Its biotope is characterised by geomorphological gradients and small-scale transitions between different types of vegetation. The biodiversity of this dune habitat is relatively high, therefore the Dune Lizard biotope is also of importance for other characteristic species. Management and planning in dune areas are important for Dune Lizard conservation. The purpose of this publication is to help the managers of dune areas in making their decisions. It describes the consequences of measures for the Dune Lizard, its biotope and organisms that inhabits this biotope. This publication describes the distribution of the Dune Lizard in the Coastal Dunes, its biotope in these areas and the influence of habitat management. For each of the described dune areas the future of the lizard is outlined based on the present management and existing plans. Important is to allow an increasing influence of natural processes and to prevent the effects of eutrophication in these naturally poor areas. Concrete measures like sod cutting and grazing can have negative effects when carried out in the Dune Lizard biotope. This publication presents guidelines for checking whether planned measures are located in or outside Dune Lizard biotope. The effects of dune management on the Dune Lizard population are monitored. The first results, after a successive monitoring period of six years, indicate that the Dune Lizard population in the coastal dunes does not decline. There are signs of an increasing population in several areas, possibly as a result of some successive warm summers. Barriers intersect the coastal dunes for Dune Lizards, making the dune population fragmented. Barriers are urban and agricultural areas, canals, roads and large areas with dense forest. This publication presents mitigating measures and indicates where ecological corridors are desired.