Background In Germany, many grassland birds are included in the national Red List of threatened species. The 'LIFE LIMOSA' project focuses on the black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa ), a wading bird that has suffered a serious decline in Schleswig-Holstein over the last two decades. Other grassland species, the Dunlin (Calidris alpina ) and the ruff (Philomachus pugnax ), whose breeding populations in Germany are probably on the brink of extinction, are also targeted. In Schleswig-Holstein, these species occur almost entirely in coastal areas along the North Sea. Because of their similar habitat requirements, management efforts for all three species are combined in one project: The counties of Nordfriesland and Dithmarschen are home to most of the last remaining dunlins and ruffs in Germany. Much of Schleswig-Holstein´s population of breeding black-tailed godwits is also found there. The reasons for the decline of grassland birds are not fully understood. But it is known that the reproduction rates of the species targeted by this project are currently not high enough to guarantee their future survival in the area. Regarding the black-tailed godwit, there is concern that many of the still stable populations are threatened because of the very low quality of the habitat (i.e. they are considered ‘sink populations’). For this reason, the project aims to measure the reproduction success of the species, to understand the meta-population biology and optimise conditions for the species in its core areas based on this information. It is expected that an annual surplus of offspring will enable the species to re-colonise former areas at the end of the project. Various conservation measures will be implemented over the course of the project with the aim of converting the ‘sink-(breeding)’ populations into source-(breeding) populations. Objectives The project’s primary objective is to improve the reproduction success of the black-tailed godwit at core breeding sites in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The conservation actions will focus on controlling the factors influencing the decline of the local populations of the species, i.e. habitat deterioration and predator pressure. A complex monitoring programme will also be carried out in parallel to the conservation efforts and adjusted throughout the project according to findings. The project actions will also benefit the remaining breeding pairs of dunlin and ruff in the region. Expected results An increase in the reproduction rate of the black-tailed godwit from 0.4 to 0.6 offspring per breeding pair; Development of suitable habitat structures for the ruff at Rickelsbüller Koog, Beltringharder Koog, Eiderästuar and Speicherkoog Nord; Development of suitable habitat structures for Baltic dunlin at Rickelsbüller Koog, Beltringharder Koog, Katinger Watt and Meldorfer Speicherköge; An increase in the annual reproductive rate of the black-tailed godwit (monitored by colour ringed individuals - minimum target: 0.6 fledged chicks/pair/year); Hydrology will be optimised according to the ecological needs of the target species on 700 ha; The vegetation structure will be optimised according to the ecological needs of the target species by conversion of scrub-land and high vegetation into grassland on 375 ha, by an after-grazing mowing regime on 360 ha and by new, or improved, grazing regimes on 700 ha; Work to change the vegetation composition to favour the target species will be started on 22 ha; Predation control will be established at six core breeding areas; Some 29 km of existing fences will be improved to enable grassland birds to avoid colliding with them; Efficient monitoring of grassland birds in the target areas and basic analysis of the ecological status of grassland birds will be carried out; and A project website, layman’s report and other dissemination and information material on grassland management will be produced.