Understanding the decline of the species

Survival of the Corncrake depends directly on management measures implemented on all of its breeding sites.
Conservation measures in the national restoration plan, which are particularly based on agri-environmental measures, envisage the retention of alluvial grasslands and their relevant management. Specifications in the contracts relating to the retention and management of hay meadows include dedicated measures to protect the Corncrake, in areas where the species occurs. (...)

The intensification of grassland use varies from region to region. Measures such as drainage, flood control and fertilization allow ever earlier mowing. The more frequent dry conditions in Spring in the Loire Valley tend to alter plant cover and encourage farmers to use intensive inputs, allowing several annual mowing operations.
Increased mechanization, earlier mowing and faster mowers are leading to a significant increase of mortality during mowing. The earlier mowing destroys broods, (...)

The decline of the Corncrake in France is mainly due to the disappearance of wet meadows in alluvial valleys. These grasslands are often drained and converted to growing corn or poplars.
Indeed, the future of permanent meadows is highly dependent on the CAP. If the CAP does not continue its support of grassland within agricultural systems, meadows will remain only in the wettest areas where nothing else can be grown.
Occasionally, the decline of agriculture has led to some meadows being (...)