Living Rivers
In 1992 WWF presented the plan ‘Living rivers’. A plan which aimed to put new life into nature along the restrained Dutch rivers. The Dutch population seemed to have forgotten how varied, rich and resilient their rivers once where. They got familiar with the image of grassy forelands and a wide river, streaming along riverbanks overrun with groynes. Whereas by nature, lowland rivers stream through many shallow, meandering gullies. The water squeezes itself through these gullies and along gravel banks, river dunes, forests and swamps: A landscape with an unprecedented biological richness.
Moving Force
However, this river-ecosystem can easily be restored as the initiating powers are still active: the river processes. As a matter of fact, this is the philosophy of ‘Living rivers’. Carefully peeling off the 2 to 3 metres thick layer of clay sediment from the sandy subsoil of the floodplain, results in a landscape with side channels and sandy levees. In this new landscape nature revives. The fertility of the soil and a continuous migration of seeds and organisms along the river, results in a rapid revival of nature.
Win-win-win-win! along rivers
- in the wake of living rivers, rich and varied nature arises. Nature which yields a living landscape, modelled by water and wind, where vanished species like beavers and wild horses can be part of ecosystem again
- the public can fully enjoy ‘wilderness’ near home. Nature which is not easily hurt and allows visitors to enjoy its splendour, even besides footpaths and during nocturnal hours
- the brick producing industry - which has long been designated as a threat to forelands - is afforded plenty of opportunities again to gain clay
- forelands disposed of clay can retain more water during times of high water, whereby. chances of dikes bursting decrease.
’Living’ Rivers
Rivers are living systems, transporting melt- and rain-water as well as sand, clay and gravel. At times, water quantities are small and the river thus peaceful. At other times, large quantities of water dislodge unprecedented forces. Where forceful currents move, the bottom is burrowed, vegetation washes away and riversides crumble down. In places where water runs more quietly, sand, clay and other sediments sink and form new layers of soil. The river develops a meandering course: outside-bends carve out, whereas in inside-bends, sand and clay deposit. The water may cut off riverbends so that islands and nevengeulen originate. These river processes continuously mould and grate the landscape. A rich diversity of vegetation and animals has adapted themselves to these dynamics. One comes across all kinds of unique species in the rich variegation of biotopes in the river-landscape: ooibossen, river-dunes, ponds, sheer banks, meadows, nevengeulen, etc. For this reason, the river-landscape abounds with such a rich fauna and vegetation.
Success Story
Since the publication of ‘Living rivers’, the plan saw a rapid implementation. A multitude of initiatives was launched and many authorities and stakeholders adopted the philosophy. Living rivers proved to be very productive for biodiversity as was shown by many spectacular developments in flora and fauna along the rivers: red list birds like common sandpiper, corn crake, sand martin and kingfisher started breeding again; endangered insects like Rivierrombout (Gomphus flavipes) en Beekrombout (Gomphus vulgatissimus), Blue-winged Grasshopper, Brwon Argus recolonised the area and many rare plant species of dry, sandy levees like Long-leaved speedwell showed up again.
