More Nature, better economy in Gelderse Poort
The scope of natural phenomena of these river forelands along the southern banks of the Waal east of Nijmegen, is unsurpassed. Sandy river dunes alternate with natural pastures, and morasses and alluvial forests have developed in old river beds and in areas where the clay has been peeled off. WWF selected the Millingerwaard for their One Europe More Nature Program, because here it shows what nature development is all about. The policy field guide ‘The Gelderse Poort: A new sustainable economy under construction’ shows how people in the Gelderse Poort area are successfully building a new economy, which is not only helping to restore ecological processes and landscape quality, but is also creating new jobs. The whole process takes place on voluntary basis, is market driven and is independent of long term subsidies.
Gelderse Poort and Millingerwaard
Fifty years of clay extraction has encouraged the development of a spontaneous nature area in the river forelands of the Gelderse Poort area. Nature can be admired in all its stages, from recently developed to 50 years old. Vegetation is very varied and covers the broad range from dry and arid, to humid and rich. The natural grasslands are extensively grazed by Galloways and Konik horses throughout the year. Beavers have been reintroduced into the tree-lined morasses. When the water level is high, the ponds in the foreland are in connection with the river. This makes the ponds into important breeding grounds for the river. The area is characterized by its great biodiversity: a myriad of species of plants, birds, mammals, fish, insects, and other creatures great and small.
Public access
The Millingerwaard has become a popular excursion area favored by tens of thousands of nature lovers. The total area of the river foreland covers nearly seven hundred hectares; about three hundred hectares have been transformed into a nature area and is owned by various parties such as Staatsbosbeheer (Dutch Forestry Commission), Delgromij (a soil company), and firma De Beijer who have been managing the area in collaboration with ARK since 1993.
ARK’s contactperson: 
Johan Bekhuis
