Dynamic dune management, integrating objectives of nature development and coastal safety: Examples from the Netherlands

The potential for developing and restoring natural assets in large-scale water systems in The Netherlands is investigated. Maximizing the natural qualities of The Netherlands means giving full play to the dynamics of wind, water and sediments. Within the limits set by safety, shipping and drinking water supplies, there appear to be numerous opportunities to restore dynamics and create sustainable nature. Ecological engineering, which concentrates on restoring natural physical processes, is linked to nature policy goals in terms of processes, habitats and species. Essential abiotic mechanisms can be identified. Three examples of projects in characteristic Dutch ecosystems (rivers, down stream freshwater lakes and estuaries) illustrate both the prospects for nature and the feasibility of combining uses with nature development. The Grensmaas-case combines gravel extraction, flood protection and natural development of a rain-fed river. The case on Lake IJssel shows the importance of “natural” water level fluctuations in an “artificially” created freshwater lake. The Western Scheldt provides an interesting case for combining the economic interests of shipping with the ecological interests of the estuary by returning arable land to the sea.

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Assessing CH4 and CO2 emissions from wetlands in the Drenthe Province, the Netherlands: a modelling approach

Netherlands Journal of Geosciences – Geologie en Mijnbouw ◽

10.1017/s0016774600000913 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 88 (2) ◽

pp. 101-116 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

A.M.R. Petrescu ◽

J. van Huissteden ◽

F. de Vries ◽

E.P.H. Bregman ◽

A. Scheper

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Organic Matter ◽

The Netherlands ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Surface Flux ◽

Nature Reserves ◽

Peat Soils ◽

Flux Measurements ◽

Nature Development

AbstractAssessment of land use related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on larger spatial scales is usually achieved by modelling. Surface flux measurements are expensive and measurement locations too widely scattered to serve as spatially reliable flux estimates. Here we assess CO2 and CH4 fluxes from wetland nature reserves in the Dutch province of Drenthe, using the PEATLAND-VU model. Since surface flux observations in the province are absent and cannot be obtained in a short (<1 year) time frame, we extrapolated model validation from elsewhere to the research area. In this way a cost-effective methodology is developed for landuse-related greenhouse gas emission assessments, which can be applied by local governments at a subnational scale.Nature development and restoration in the Netherlands involves usually the restoration of high water tables in former agricultural areas and extensivation or abandonment of agricultural activities. Wet peat soils are known to emit considerable quantities of CH4, while drained agricultural soils emit CO2 from decomposition of the soil organic matter. Therefore, these landuse changes may affect GHG emissions and an assessment of their effects is useful for environmental policy.The PEATLAND-VU Model was used to simulate the CH4 and CO2 emissions for the years 2005-2007 and for May/June 2008. Previous field validation of the model elsewhere was checked for local validity with CH4 and CO2 flux measurements in short field campaigns in May/June 2008, at two locations, Visvliet and Balloërveld. These sites represent respectively eutrophic and oligotrophic peat and peaty soils, and showed large differences in fluxes. These flux differences were simulated correctly by the model by adapting the vegetation net primary production and methane oxidation parameters. Next, model simulations were run for eight combinations of vegetation and soil type. Using the simulated fluxes and the areal extent of the soil combinations, a GIS-based upscaling over all nature reserves was made.This study shows that river valley floors with mesotrophic and eutrophic peat soils dominate the greenhouse fluxes of the area. CH4 fluxes are high in wet terrain, while the CO2 fluxes are high when water table is lower. The fluxes from oligotrophic peat soils are comparatively low. Nature development can contribute to a decrease of the total greenhouse gas flux from peat soils and to conservation of soil organic matter.

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