WhatsApp-Image-2021-08-22-at-12.11.41-aspect-ratio-x

Mitigation of common myna abundance in protected areas

Eli Finarov, Assaf Shwartz, Uri Roll, Shay Meiri

The common myna )Acridotheres tristis( is a highly successful invader in many countries globally. It is known as one of the worst invasive species in the world, with various evidences showing its’ adverse impacts on native species. Since the myna invaded Israel in 1997, it is growing in numbers and in distribution, with a recent penetration into natural and protected areas that poses a threat to native species.

WhatsApp Image 2021-05-30 at 13.35.39

The main aim of the research was to test the feasibility and effectiveness of a promising control method that could mitigate the presence of mynas in protected areas, by examining the effect of trapping on myna abundance inside these areas. Additionally, the researchers examined how trapping affects mynas’ behavior inside protected areas by measuring flight initiation distances (FID), and whether mynas show preference for a certain habitat inside a protected area, using Ramat Hanadiv nature park as a case study. During two breeding seasons (2021-2022), myna presence and FIDs were recorded in three protected areas in Israel, before and after trapping experiments lasting approximately 45 days in each site. Trapping efforts used high trap density (10.16 traps/km2), achieved high specificity (95.3%) and resulted in 368 captured mynas across the three sites.

מיינה-הודית-תוקפת-קן-של-נקר-סורי-aspect-ratio-x

Findings showed that trapping dramatically reduced myna abundance inside two protected areas (92.7% and 85.4% reduction in Ramat Hanadiv and Yarkon Sources National Park, respectively), with numbers staying significantly low even several months after trapping. An insignificant reduction found in the third site (Tel Afek National Park) may indicate that time-limited treatment may not be very effective for protected areas that are surrounded by urban environments with established myna populations. FIDs significantly increased after trapping in all sites, indicating trapping actions caused heightened vigilance that may lead to negative effects on individual fitness. In addition, significant differences in mynas’ habitat preference were found: mynas were more active in the buffer zone of Ramat Hanadiv than in the urban area adjacent to it and the highly modified recreation areas. This flags the problematicalness in management actions of a natural habitats to reduce the potential damage of fires to an adjacent settlement (i.e., grazing and mowing of dense vegetation that create open spaces), as these actions may encourage the penetration of invasive species into the natural area.

The empirical evidence found in current research imply that a relatively simple intervention in the form of cage trapping can dramatically reduce myna abundance for longer time than expected and can be used to manage myna populations in protected. In other words, it is possible to develop a management strategy to remove mynas from protected areas and thus mitigate their negative impacts. Further research is needed to understand the impact of myna mitigation on native communities to ensure the effectiveness of this method.

Of further interest...

Accessibility

Accessible Trails

We have worked hard to make our buildings, infrastructure and service accessible to special sectors of the population so that everyone can enjoy an accessible and enjoyable visit to the Memorial Gardens and Nature Park.

For further information >>

Sustainability

Sustainable Gardening

Sustainable gardening is defined as gardening that considers the needs of the current generation without harming the needs of future generations. It includes garden design that considers the existing elements on site – the landscape, soil, environment and vegetation suitable for the region

For further information >>

Dining Here

Dining-The Picnic Site

The picnic area is located near the secondary parking lot. You are welcome to spend time there before or after your tour of the Gardens.

For further information >>
AMIT_GERON_IMG_4039-aspect-ratio-x

Sustainable Gardening

Gardening in the previous century was characterized by high-maintenance garden design, ostentatious use of plants and inanimate elements foreign to the environment, and overuse of non-environmentally friendly fertilizers and pest control agents. While this approach produced immediate results, they came at the heavy price of environmental and groundwater pollution, diminished soil fertility, invasive vegetation, long work hours to control fast-growing plants, and routine use of mechanical equipment.

IMG_1873-aspect-ratio-x
At the Visitors Pavilion, a garden of wild plants and a garden of cultivated plants exist side by side

With the increased global awareness of wastage and the environmental damage hidden in this approach, a contrasting trend arose to create sustainable interactions in ornamental gardens.

Sustainable gardening is defined as gardening that considers the needs of the current generation without harming the needs of future generations. It includes garden design that considers the existing elements on site – the landscape, soil, environment and vegetation suitable for the region. Sustainable gardening espouses a low level of maintenance and implementation of gardening methods that enrich the soil, increases the natural resistance of the vegetation to diseases and pests and avoid use of chemical fertilizers and control agents as much as possible.

The main aim of this kind of gardening is to reach a long-term balance between all components of the garden.

Ramat Hanadiv by number

The gates of Ramat Hanadiv are open to visitors 365 days a year (except Yom Kippur). The site is visited by over 500 thousand visitors per year, who enjoy the expanses of the Nature Park covering 450 hectares, the walking trails and the cycling trails. In the center of the Nature Park are the 7-hectare Memorial Gardens dedicated to the memory of Baron Rothschild and his wife. A connecting link between these two points of interest is the Visitors Pavilion, where a garden of wild plants and a garden of cultivated plants exist side by side.

Sustainable gardening is expressed in the Memorial Gardens, in the Visitors Pavilion and in the ‘Green Space’ in a number of ways:

18-07-2013125

Maintaining landscape resources

The garden design of 1936 designated less than 50% of the garden areas to cultivated plants. The remainder of the land (about 4 hectares) remained adorned with local wild plants. As a result, during all four seasons of the year visitors can enjoy displays of native vegetation inside the gardens themselves.
During the dry summer, cultivated plants with a range of foliage colors (such as Acalypha and golden dewdrop) and interesting textures (such as cat’s tail asparagus) take center stage. The vast majority of the plants are perennials, and do not require intensive maintenance.
When constructing the Visitors Pavilion, great efforts were invested in preserving existing landscape assets, such as carob, pine and oak trees. The garden integrated pleasant-looking rocks, with their accompanying vegetation.

Rocks that were dug out on site were crushed and integrated into the construction. On the building’s roof, soil mixed with crushed rock was spread out and enriched with locally-produced compost. In addition, through awareness and planning, the number of parking spaces for cars was reduced in order to plant many trees that will provide shade in the future to 80% of the parking lot area.

גינון בר קיימא, במערב הגנים
  • Water resource managementThe irrigation system in the Memorial Gardens was made more efficient using remote control. Likewise the amounts of water used to irrigate lawns and shrubs were reduced. The seasonal flowerbed area, a relatively high water consumer, was reduced to one percent of the garden area, and the freed-up area was filled with perennial vegetation with reduced water consumption.The garden of the Visitors Pavilion was planted with Israeli wild plants suited to the local climate, which after their establishment can be disconnected from the dripper lines and manage with the winter rains. An example of such plants are herbs and medicinal plants including rosemary, lavender, hyssop, oregano, fringed rue, tree wormwood, common sage, white micromeria and others; shrubs and trees such as European olive, Syrian maple, mastic tree, Palestine oak and Mount Tabor oak, sage-leaved rock rose and pink rock rose, wild grape, Judas tree and mock privet; and corms and bulbs such as Persian cyclamen.
    Diversion of marginal water (from air conditioners) and blackwater from the Visitors Pavilion to the biodisk purification plant.

From the purification plant the clean water flows through purple dripper lines to a designated irrigation plot in the service area.
In the Visitors Pavilion runoff water is drained into four drainage pits, penetrates the soil through penetration pits and is absorbed into the garden areas.
The garden integrates ground cover with wood chips to maintain soil moisture and a pleasant temperature for the root systems, reduce reflected radiation, improve irrigation efficiency, prevent weed growth and enrich the soil as the wood chips slowly decompose.

2002080207
Conservation of rare wild species is also important to us; these plants are grown in Ramat Hanadiv’s nursery area, to be planted in suitable areas around the Park.

Zero waste in the Garden

Garden waste leaving the Gardens or collected from the Nature Park is taken to Ramat Hanadiv’s composite site. There it is crushed, piled up into piles and decomposes slowly. Soil, rocks and tree trunks are kept on site, and are re-integrated as needed.

A Garden without poison

We minimize fertilizer and pest control with chemicals in the Gardens. Our approach is that a plant which is planted in the most suitable environmental conditions will reach its potential, be strong and not require special treatment. In the Memorial Gardens we do not use leaf blowers, and we implement follow-up and early monitoring of diseases and pests.

Integrating local vegetation

We established an Oncocyclus iris garden in the Memorial Gardens. The irises were collected from disturbed habitats around the country, acclimated and buried in the extensive areas (irrigated by rain alone, with no supplementary summer irrigation) in the Memorial Gardens. Conservation of rare wild species is also important to us; these plants are grown in Ramat Hanadiv’s nursery area, to be planted in suitable areas around the Park.

איזון

A garden that attracts animals

Sustainable gardening supports local animals by creating a supportive habitat for them. An example of this is the Ecological Footprint Garden. This picturesque garden is based on vegetation that attracts butterflies, for nectar and as hosts. Butterflies are used as bio-indicators of the balance in their environment, and provide a glimpse of the biological diversity at their service. Such a garden also supports songbirds, for which the Garden’s tree branches provide defense, a place to nest and a food supply.

Positive interactions between humans and the environment

For over 50 years, the Gardens have been serving the broad public that comes for occasional visits, or to enjoy educational activities and cultural events, such as concerts in the shade of the trees and in the amphitheater. Another activity that contributes to strengthening the connection to the community is the work of volunteers from the nearby environment who work in the different divisions at Ramat Hanadiv.

DSCN2491

All this is done via consideration of the local plants and animals; we create a supportive habitat for them by limiting the active hours to daylight hours in order to free up the area for the animals during the night hours.

In summary, the vision of Ramat Hanadiv, expressed through commitment to maintaining harmonious interactions between humans and nature, is reflected in the implementation of sustainable gardening throughout the Gardens, while sharing the knowledge accumulated in this field over many years with the professional and amateur public.

21586540_1482539138500091_7442276502927261688_o-aspect-ratio-x
IMG_7280
Mata'im Restaurant
Kiosk
The Picnic Site

“Green” Picnic Area

We offer you a shaded picnic area next to the secondary carpark of the gardens. You’re welcome to spend time there before or after your visit.

This area is located in a pine grove, giving you the opportunity to rest and have a picnic. For the convenience of visitors to the grove, there are picnic tables, water fountains, a dish-washing station and toilets.

We put a lot of effort into making your visit pleasant and ensuring you can have a quiet, relaxing time – without music, fire or smoke. Do not light bonfires or barbecues in this area.

You are welcome to bring a cool box with food, and enjoy the clean air and a pleasant, quiet stay in nature.

picnic areaee

We ask you to eat your picnic using reusable utensils that are beneficial to humans and the environment.

Are you interested in a nice set of reusable utensils for the entire family? You’re welcome to buy one in our InfoShop in the Visitors Pavilion.

The area is accessible to people with disabilities:

  • An accessible carpark adjacent to the picnic area
  • A standard access path with a slope below 8% leads from the accessible carpark to the picnic area
  • Accessible tables in the shade are located on a paved surface and standard manoeuvring area
IMG_8150

We maintain this area for your convenience and enjoyment!

Please be considerate of the other visitors and follow these rules:

  • The area is designed for visitors; do not hold functions, catered events or meetings
  • Please bring food that is ready to eat and do not light a barbecue or fire
  • This area is quiet and tranquil; do not play music or use megaphones, amplifiers etc.
  • The picnic area is part of the Nature Park, which is home to a diversity of plants and animals. Please look after the surrounding nature.

Thank you for your cooperation!

We wish you a safe, quiet, enjoyable stay.

Of further interest...

Accessibility

Physically Disabled in the Gardens

Many trails traverse the Memorial Gardens. We recommend this route, but you
can choose to walk another route.

For further information >>

Sustainability

Sustainable Gardening

Sustainable gardening is defined as gardening that considers the needs of the current generation without harming the needs of future generations. It includes garden design that considers the existing elements on site – the landscape, soil, environment and vegetation suitable for the region

For further information >>

Dining Here

Dining-The Picnic Site

The picnic area is located near the secondary parking lot. You are welcome to spend time there before or after your tour of the Gardens.

For further information >>