Junior farm minister Jean Rummenie is planning to set aside tens of millions of euros to save the black tailed godwit (limosa limosa), dubbed the Dutch national bird, whose number has been plummeting due to intensive farming methods, RTL news has reported.  

Rummenie, a minister on behalf of the pro-countryside BBB, is currently working on a package of measures to shore up the godwit population, the broadcaster said. There are now just 25,000 breeding pairs in the country, compared with 120,000 in 1970.

 In August, the European Commission said the Netherlands is in breach of the European Bird Directive by failing to protect the godwit, putting it in danger of extinction.

The Netherlands is of crucial importance for the survival of the bird as 80% of the black-tailed godwits in northwestern Europe come here to breed. The bird was even elected  “national bird” of the Netherlands in 2015.

The money would be used to fund farmers who want to make parts of their land more suitable for godwits, by leaving it fallow or adding ponds. Farmers will also be encouraged to sow more varieties of grass and plants to encourage the insects that the birds feed on.

Farmers can already apply for subsidies to take similar steps but the minister wants to expand the regulations to cover more farms and more measures, RTL said.

The target is to increase the number of breeding pairs to 70,000 by 2032.

Rummenie’s rescue plan will be discussed at Friday’s cabinet meeting.