New nature areas in the Lake IJssel area

A number of wetland areas and areas for aquatic ecosystems are being created in the Lake IJssel area (IJsselmeergebied); 11% of the target set for 2010 has now been achieved.

Current situation

The intention is for an additional 3000 hectares of wetlands and aquatic ecosystems to be created in the Lake IJssel area. At the end of 2001, 330 hectares had already been completed and work was ongoing on 1150 hectares.

Hardly any land needs to be acquired for nature development projects in the Lake IJssel area because the necessary land is already owned by the state. Creating new wetlands and aquatic ecosystems mainly involves making the transition between land and water a gradual one, with marshes and natural banks.

Policy objectives and implementation

Policy is intended to increase the size and quality of the wetlands and aquatic ecosystems in and along the major inland water bodies. One of the aims is to create 3000 hectares of new wetlands and aquatic ecosystems, with good access, in the Lake Ijssel area by 2010. This project forms part of the plans for extra wetlands and aquatic ecosystems in the context of ICES agreements

These new areas will involve the creation of bank and marsh vegetation and feeding and nesting areas for birds. The areas will also be used for recreation, particularly in the case of the more recent projects. Zoning for the development of the areas will be such that recreation and nature do not seriously hamper one another.

Effects

An evaluation of ten projects that commenced in or after 1989 on and have since been completed shows that unusual species of birds have increased in number virtually everywhere. These include the common tern, the black tern, the smew, the red-breasted merganser, the goosander, the sedge warbler, the little gull and the great black-backed gull. Some of the target species have not yet established, however, for example the bittern, the water rail, the spotted crake and the garganey (Lauwaars & Platteeuw, 1999).

Vegetation is also developing more slowly than envisaged, particularly reeds that require variations in the water level; the stable water level means that the areas are drier and more wooded than was the intention.