European Rewilding Network
ERN1401
Meuse Valley River Park
The river Meuse with its wild nature.
Since 2005 the RLKM has started an integrated project called “Maasvalley” with a synergy between nature & landscape, tourism & recreation, education & perception. Within this project the emphasis lies on the preservation, recovery and re-establishment of the natural and landscaping elements. The Maas is an impressive rain river and forms the Belgian-Dutch border from Maastricht to Kessenich for 40 km. The RivierPark has a varied landscape with a jumble of old river arms, bank embankments, trenches, gravel banks, followed by a few well-defined residential areas. It is an area with its own face and with a few monumental historical places.
Project:
Meuse Valley River Park
Region:
Valley of the Meuse, border between the Netherlands and Belgium
Type of protection:
floodplains on former gravel excavations
Habitat types:
Lowland rivers, river banks, river forests (mainly softwood forests), alluvial forests including ash-elm forests and alder swamp forest, dry riverine grasslands.
Keystone species:
beaver, tern
Fauna (mega) species present:
Galloway cattle, Konik horses, wild boar, fox
Type of project:
Creating space for wilder nature, Fostering the development of nature based economies, Increasing interest in the wild through communications, Supporting wildlife comeback
Aim and vision:
To develop the River Park into an 'ecolonomic' landscape: ecology and economy are not opposites here, but reinforce each other. Creating more space and scenic quality in the valley of the Meuse, and thus contributing to sustainable tourism, is of particular interest in obtaining our goal.
Our main focus is action! Doing what we can do today already, inspires tomorrow to new steps and achievements, always closer to the objective. The essential platform is to grow among local people and partners. This also strengthens the governance platform among politicians.
Uniqueness of the project:
The cross-border River Park in Belgium and The Netherlands is one of the biggest and most successful projects on ecological river recovery in Europe. It's also the only part of the Meuse in Western-Europe that's not extensively diked and stowed (45 km on 950 km).
Other activities:
Community involved, Eco tourism, Education, Other, Recreational activities, Research
Results you aim to accomplish in 10 years from now on:
In 2025, the Meuse will be the life line between Maastricht and Kinrooi of a cross-border River Park covering approximately 15 000 ha, of which 2500 ha wild nature.
Results so far:
- Signing of Charter on 15 December 2008. Municipalities and province underwrite three important choices in favour of the River Park.
- This also inspires the Dutch parties that are active around the Border Meuse for a similar joint venture agreement.
- From a 150 ha nature reserve to 650 ha between 2006 and 2011. Nature associations Natuurpunt and Limburgs Landschap's management creates more biodiversity.
- The 'Maas in Beeld' study clearly demonstrates this. Example of Kerkeweerd where 72 threatened plant species are growing again.
- NV De Scheepvaart, the river manager, is continuing its large-scale works to prevent flooding and in doing so is creating many unexpected opportunities for nature development. The result is invaluable for the River Park. The Bilateral Dutch-Flemish Meuse committee co-ordinates these high water safety works. On an executive level we also often meet and work with nature associations and other authorities.
- The restructuring committee - a committee appointed by law that is authorized for the restructuring of gravel pits - for years worked on the landscape restructuring and finish of large gravel extraction areas. Today, these sites are essential nature centers in the Meuse Valley River Park. This was made possible by the gravel taxes the government imposed on gravel companies.
- A few large-scale projects for the development of new nature are under development on both sides of the river. The gravel that is excavated during these operations has to make this financially feasible.
- This also inspires the Dutch parties that are active around the Border Meuse for a similar joint venture agreement.
- From a 150 ha nature reserve to 650 ha between 2006 and 2011. Nature associations Natuurpunt and Limburgs Landschap's management creates more biodiversity.
- The 'Maas in Beeld' study clearly demonstrates this. Example of Kerkeweerd where 72 threatened plant species are growing again.
- NV De Scheepvaart, the river manager, is continuing its large-scale works to prevent flooding and in doing so is creating many unexpected opportunities for nature development. The result is invaluable for the River Park. The Bilateral Dutch-Flemish Meuse committee co-ordinates these high water safety works. On an executive level we also often meet and work with nature associations and other authorities.
- The restructuring committee - a committee appointed by law that is authorized for the restructuring of gravel pits - for years worked on the landscape restructuring and finish of large gravel extraction areas. Today, these sites are essential nature centers in the Meuse Valley River Park. This was made possible by the gravel taxes the government imposed on gravel companies.
- A few large-scale projects for the development of new nature are under development on both sides of the river. The gravel that is excavated during these operations has to make this financially feasible.
Inspirational value:
In this area, the river Meuse sets the boundary between Holland and Flanders. When the river leaves the Ardennes, it enters this region and becomes a lowland river without any dams, which is highly unusual for Western Europe. Here, the Meuse is allowed to flow freely over a distance of 45 kilometres. The project focusses on recent river expansions within the limitations of man-built winter dikes, giving the river more space and enabling it to influence the surrounding landscape. The river dynamics and the new nature which arise alongside the river, constitute the distinctive quality of the River Park. This, in addition to the recreational opportunities in the surrounding line of Meuse villages, lies at the heart of the project.
Experience you would like to share:
The development of a large scale project, in which nature development plays a central role and where, in a relatively small force field, a lot of interests meet.
Experience you would like to gain:
To create an administrative support for the reintroduction of mega species.
Country
Belgium, Netherlands
Start year
2006
Size (ha)
1200
Area type
Other
Natural process
Natural grazing, River dynamics
Flagship species
Otter
The river Meuse with its wild nature.
Since 2005 the RLKM has started an integrated project called “Maasvalley” with a synergy between nature & landscape, tourism & recreation, education & perception. Within this project the emphasis lies on the preservation, recovery and re-establishment of the natural and landscaping elements. The Maas is an impressive rain river and forms the Belgian-Dutch border from Maastricht to Kessenich for 40 km. The RivierPark has a varied landscape with a jumble of old river arms, bank embankments, trenches, gravel banks, followed by a few well-defined residential areas. It is an area with its own face and with a few monumental historical places.
Country
Belgium, Netherlands
Start year
2006
Size (ha)
1200
Area type
Other
Natural process
Natural grazing, River dynamics
Flagship species
Otter
Specification
Project:
Meuse Valley River Park
Region:
Valley of the Meuse, border between the Netherlands and Belgium
Type of protection:
floodplains on former gravel excavations
Habitat types:
Lowland rivers, river banks, river forests (mainly softwood forests), alluvial forests including ash-elm forests and alder swamp forest, dry riverine grasslands.
Keystone species:
beaver, tern
Fauna (mega) species present:
Galloway cattle, Konik horses, wild boar, fox
Description
Type of project:
Creating space for wilder nature, Fostering the development of nature based economies, Increasing interest in the wild through communications, Supporting wildlife comeback
Aim and vision:
To develop the River Park into an 'ecolonomic' landscape: ecology and economy are not opposites here, but reinforce each other. Creating more space and scenic quality in the valley of the Meuse, and thus contributing to sustainable tourism, is of particular interest in obtaining our goal.
Our main focus is action! Doing what we can do today already, inspires tomorrow to new steps and achievements, always closer to the objective. The essential platform is to grow among local people and partners. This also strengthens the governance platform among politicians.
Uniqueness of the project:
The cross-border River Park in Belgium and The Netherlands is one of the biggest and most successful projects on ecological river recovery in Europe. It's also the only part of the Meuse in Western-Europe that's not extensively diked and stowed (45 km on 950 km).
Other activities:
Community involved, Eco tourism, Education, Other, Recreational activities, Research
Achievements
Results you aim to accomplish in 10 years from now on:
In 2025, the Meuse will be the life line between Maastricht and Kinrooi of a cross-border River Park covering approximately 15 000 ha, of which 2500 ha wild nature.
Results so far:
- Signing of Charter on 15 December 2008. Municipalities and province underwrite three important choices in favour of the River Park.
- This also inspires the Dutch parties that are active around the Border Meuse for a similar joint venture agreement.
- From a 150 ha nature reserve to 650 ha between 2006 and 2011. Nature associations Natuurpunt and Limburgs Landschap's management creates more biodiversity.
- The 'Maas in Beeld' study clearly demonstrates this. Example of Kerkeweerd where 72 threatened plant species are growing again.
- NV De Scheepvaart, the river manager, is continuing its large-scale works to prevent flooding and in doing so is creating many unexpected opportunities for nature development. The result is invaluable for the River Park. The Bilateral Dutch-Flemish Meuse committee co-ordinates these high water safety works. On an executive level we also often meet and work with nature associations and other authorities.
- The restructuring committee - a committee appointed by law that is authorized for the restructuring of gravel pits - for years worked on the landscape restructuring and finish of large gravel extraction areas. Today, these sites are essential nature centers in the Meuse Valley River Park. This was made possible by the gravel taxes the government imposed on gravel companies.
- A few large-scale projects for the development of new nature are under development on both sides of the river. The gravel that is excavated during these operations has to make this financially feasible.
- This also inspires the Dutch parties that are active around the Border Meuse for a similar joint venture agreement.
- From a 150 ha nature reserve to 650 ha between 2006 and 2011. Nature associations Natuurpunt and Limburgs Landschap's management creates more biodiversity.
- The 'Maas in Beeld' study clearly demonstrates this. Example of Kerkeweerd where 72 threatened plant species are growing again.
- NV De Scheepvaart, the river manager, is continuing its large-scale works to prevent flooding and in doing so is creating many unexpected opportunities for nature development. The result is invaluable for the River Park. The Bilateral Dutch-Flemish Meuse committee co-ordinates these high water safety works. On an executive level we also often meet and work with nature associations and other authorities.
- The restructuring committee - a committee appointed by law that is authorized for the restructuring of gravel pits - for years worked on the landscape restructuring and finish of large gravel extraction areas. Today, these sites are essential nature centers in the Meuse Valley River Park. This was made possible by the gravel taxes the government imposed on gravel companies.
- A few large-scale projects for the development of new nature are under development on both sides of the river. The gravel that is excavated during these operations has to make this financially feasible.
Exchange
Inspirational value:
In this area, the river Meuse sets the boundary between Holland and Flanders. When the river leaves the Ardennes, it enters this region and becomes a lowland river without any dams, which is highly unusual for Western Europe. Here, the Meuse is allowed to flow freely over a distance of 45 kilometres. The project focusses on recent river expansions within the limitations of man-built winter dikes, giving the river more space and enabling it to influence the surrounding landscape. The river dynamics and the new nature which arise alongside the river, constitute the distinctive quality of the River Park. This, in addition to the recreational opportunities in the surrounding line of Meuse villages, lies at the heart of the project.
Experience you would like to share:
The development of a large scale project, in which nature development plays a central role and where, in a relatively small force field, a lot of interests meet.
Experience you would like to gain:
To create an administrative support for the reintroduction of mega species.