Deputy Maurits von Martels said last Sunday during the broadcast of Vroege Vogels (NPO Radio 1) that the province of Overijssel has invested nearly 800,000 euros in this rescue plan over the past few years. “We have a legal obligation to make efforts. But we must remain realistic: if after all these years it turns out that it offers no relief, we may need to make other considerations. That choice will only be made next year.”

History shows how great the challenge is: in 1930, there were an estimated 8,000 males in the Netherlands. By 1976, that number had dropped to about 500, and since 1997, the black grouse has only been found on the Salland Ridge. Since 2012, birds from Sweden have been reintroduced. However, in 2019, it was found that the last specimen of the original wild population had disappeared.

For Staatsbosbeheer and the many volunteers, the commitment remains strong. Ranger Ben Vlaskamp explains in the broadcast that they are doing everything they can to preserve the black grouse. Ultimately, however, it is up to the province to decide which choices will be made after 2026. Until then, the province, rangers, and volunteers are working together to improve the conditions on the Salland Ridge and give the black grouse a chance.