Background Meadow birds are among the most threatened bird species in Denmark and in the rest of the EU. Many species have suffered from serious decline since the 1970s primarily due to lost of suitable breeding sites: Only a fourth of the breeding sites for dunlin (Calidris alpine schinzii) remain in Denmark. Compared with the situation in the 1970s, and for ruff (Philomachus pugnax) only a seventh of the breeding sites remain. The Danish Ministry of Environment has adopted a national action plan for meadow birds covering 25 SPAs (Special Protection Areas of the Natura 2000 network). This project targeted four of the most important of these sites. Objectives The project’s overall aim was to restore, or enhance the conservation status of areas of habitats for dunlin and ruff at four key sites in Denmark. This would contribute significantly to the implementation of the national action plan for the threatened meadow bird species. The project actions targeted 13% of the country’s dunlin population and 9% of its ruff population. At the species’ population level, the project aimed to halt the decline of the two species at the four project sites, where their current populations are only half the size of those recorded in 1986. A secondary objective was to restore to a favourable conservation status associated habitats/ habitat types of the species within the project areas. Targeted habitats, all listed in the EU Habitats Directive, were: Atlantic salt meadows; Hard oligo-mesotrophic waters with benthic vegetation of Chara ssp.; and areas of Botaurus stellaris, Chlidonias niger and Porzana porzana. The actions would focus principally on practical works to: (i) restore the hydrology of the preferred habitats of meadow birds e.g. the Atlantic salt meadows; (ii) clearance of trees, reeds, scrub etc; and (iii) ensure a proper grazing regime among the targeted habitats. The project would also adopt a participatory approach through cooperation with landowners. A seminar for nature managers was also planned in order to spread knowledge of managing meadow bird habitats. Results The project implemented all actions and successfully met its overall and secondary objectives. The main results are summarised as follows: Improvements in the hydrological conditions of the targeted habitats for the meadow birds were achieved at all four sites covering a total area of approximately 1 900 ha meadows; Actions focusing on the clearance of trees and reeds have resulted in the restoration of areas of habitats for the meadow birds – including 220 ha of wet grasslands and 18 ha of Atlantic salt meadows; Actions were taken to reduce eutrophication in order to improve water quality on 975 ha of the Habitats Directive-listed water bodies supporting vegetation of Chara spp. This action has also helped to improve the breeding and feeding habitats for other meadow bird species, notably for the bittern (Botaurus stellaris) and Black tern (Chlidonias niger) at the Vestlige Vejler project site; Appropriate grazing regimes, sympathetic to the breeding/ feeding habitats of the meadow birds; have been established on approximately 900 ha of preferred habitat. The grazing actions included the establishment of a grazing society at the Nyord site, and by the development of a management plan at the Vestlige Vejler site; Artificial fox dens (25) were created and a fox- blocking gate erected at a bridge. Together these actions will help to reduce the predation by foxes on meadow birds at two project sites (Nyord and Vestamager); Visitor access to view the birds at close hand has been provided at the Vestamager site with the construction of a 5 km footpath and a bird observation platform. Swedish, German, Norwegian, Finnish, English and Greek nature managers (60) attended a seminar organised by the project to share experiences on improving conditions for meadow birds. This has helped to raise awareness of the management of the species’ across the EU. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).