Life MICA is an international cooperation with the goal to reduce coypu and muskrat population to a manageable size in order to prevent damage to waterways, biodiversity and plant life.

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Research and innovation

DNA mapping

DNA mapping

DNA mapping visualizes the migration routes of muskrats. This is done with the help of DNA material from trapped muskrats. DNA mapping visualizes

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eDNA

eDNA

The entrances of muskrat burrows are under water. Because the burrows are thus hidden, trapping muskrats has to be done by specialists and

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Smart Life Traps

Smart Life Traps

The smart life traps are based on an image recognition system and represent selective live traps for the species coypu or muskrat. Thus,

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Camera tracking

Camera tracking

How do you locate muskrats? We do by placing wildlife cameras in areas where trappers suspect the presence of muskrat. Wildlife cameras are

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Dashboard

Dashboard

>> MICA dashboard  Registration of trapped muskrats and coypus is essential to monitor the population and the effectiveness of eradication campaigns. Both the Netherlands

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Research areas


Partners

Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen

Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen

University of veterinary medicine Hannover, Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research

University of veterinary medicine Hannover, Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research

Flanders Environment Agency

Flanders Environment Agency

Vlaams Gewest

Vlaams Gewest

Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)

Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)

University of Amsterdam

University of Amsterdam

Dutch Water Authorities

Dutch Water Authorities

Waterschap Rivierenland

Waterschap Rivierenland

Life Mica program EU

LIFE is a program introduced by the European Union in 1992, with which projects on environmental issues proposed by the member countries are c-financed.

The objective is to provide specific support for the development and implementation of Community environmental policy and legislation, in particular to pursue the objectives of the Seventh Community Environment Action Program.

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Timeline


19 December 2019
Field visit European Union
Partners: WSRL, UvW, INBO, ITAW, LWK NDS

30/31 oktober 2019
Kick-off meeting Life MICA project


19 December 2019
Field visit European Union
Partners: WSRL, UvW, INBO, ITAW, LWK NDS

Finished
Use apps, database and dashboard established (A2)
Partner: INBO, LWK-NDS, UvW, ITAW

1 February 2020
Service provider contracted for DNA mapping (A3)
Partners: EVINBO, ITAW, LWK-NDS, UvA

Finished
Use apps, database and dashboard established (A2)
Partner: INBO, LWK-NDS, UvW, ITAW

February 2020
Optimized eDNA laboratory (A3)
Partner: UvA

February 2020
Protocol DNA-mapping ready and start collecting samples (A3)
Partners: UvW/WENR

February 2020
Optimized eDNA laboratory (A3)
Partner: UvA

February 2020
Established field strategies for eDNA sampling of water areas
Partner: UvA

1 February 2020
Communication and dissemination plan MICA: Environmental, biodiversity, safety, social and economic impact (E1.2)
Partners: INBO, UvW

February 2020
Established field strategies for eDNA sampling of water areas
Partner: UvA

February 2020
Protocol for the set-up of camara traps
Partner: EVINBO

February 2020
Set up of 50 camera traps in the project area (C1)
Partners: LWK NDS, UvW, VMM, ITAW, EVINBO

February 2020
Protocol for the set-up of camara traps
Partner: EVINBO

1 March 2020
Project plan MICA established for all (field) activities to be executed (A 1.2)
Partner: WSRL

June 2020
All equipment operational on field sites
Partners: VMM, WSRL, LWK-NDS

1 March 2020
Project plan MICA established for all (field) activities to be executed (A 1.2)
Partner: WSRL

1 September 2020
1th managementreports KPI’s
Partner: UvA

June 2020
Selection consultancy firm to support day-to-day management activities (F1)
Partner: WSRL

1 September 2020
1th managementreports KPI’s
Partner: UvA

December 2020
Dashboard operational
Partner: UvA

December 2021
DNA mapping recommendations: spatial distribution of active trapping effort in Fryslân
Partner: UvW/WENR

December 2020
Dashboard operational
Partner: UvA

1 September 2022
3th managementreports KPI’s
Partner: UvA

31 December 2021
Intelligent traps are placed in predetermined locations based on data obtained through DNA mapping

1 September 2022
3th managementreports KPI’s
Partner: UvA

April 2023
Scaling up and real-life implementation of eDNA approach
(C2.1.1)
Partner: UvA

1 May 2023
Survey ‘Experiences with new traps’ completed among fighters
Partner: WSRL

April 2023
Scaling up and real-life implementation of eDNA approach
(C2.1.1)
Partner: UvA

July 2023
After-life plan approved
Partner: WSRL

June 2023
DNA mapping Evaluation report available
Partner: WENR

July 2023
After-life plan approved
Partner: WSRL