River ecotopes

In the last 150 years the proportion of characteristic landscape elements (ecotopes) along the large rivers has fallen sharply. Thanks to proactive nature conservation, the area of these elements is increasing again.

Trends in characteristic river landscapes

As a result of endiking, building and farming (cropping and pasturing), little of the natural character of the large rivers and their washlands remains, and the rivers now look more like each other. Along the Maas there are now far fewer natural grasslands and swamps than there were in 1850 (see figure). Along the IJssel the characteristic floodplain grasslands and backwaters have deteriorated, but much of the hardwood swamp woodland has survived. Along the Waal, not only the natural grasslands have been lost, but also the typical characteristics of a dynamic river, such as backwaters, natural river banks and swamp woodland. And because the Haringvliet is now isolated from tidal influence, there are fewer natural river banks and less swamp.

Many of the characteristic landscape elements mentioned above are the habitats of endangered plants and animals, such as the common spadefoot toad.

Proactive nature conservation along the Waal

Habitat creation projects have been implemented to restore the area of characteristic landcape elements. Along the Waal, for example, the area of natural grassland, swamp and suchlike has been increasing since 1990.

The large rivers are an important component of the National Ecological Network.