Case study:Dommeldal: cross-border habitat restoration in the Dommel Valley

0.00

(0 votes)

To discuss or comment on this case study, please use the discussion page.

Location: 51° 9' 43.64" N, 5° 33' 52.47" E

Edit location

Loading map...

{"format":"googlemaps3","type":"HYBRID","minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"types":["ROADMAP","SATELLITE","HYBRID","TERRAIN"],"limit":50,"offset":0,"link":"all","sort":[""],"order":[],"headers":"show","mainlabel":"","intro":"","outro":"","searchlabel":"... further results","default":"","import-annotation":false,"width":"auto","height":"400px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"visitedicon":"","wmsoverlay":false,"zoom":14,"layers":[],"controls":["pan","zoom","type","scale","streetview","rotate"],"zoomstyle":"DEFAULT","typestyle":"DEFAULT","autoinfowindows":false,"resizable":false,"kmlrezoom":false,"poi":true,"cluster":false,"clustergridsize":60,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clusteraveragecenter":true,"clusterminsize":2,"imageoverlays":[],"kml":[],"gkml":[""],"searchmarkers":"","fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":false,"showtitle":false,"hidenamespace":true,"template":"Location map popup","userparam":"","activeicon":"","pagelabel":false,"ajaxcoordproperty":"","ajaxquery":"","locations":[{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EProject Title:\u003C/b\u003E Dommeldal: cross-border habitat restoration in the Dommel Valley\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECountry:\u003C/b\u003E \u003Ca href=\"/wiki/index.php?title=Belgium\" title=\"Belgium\"\u003EBelgium\u003C/a\u003E\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EProject Status:\u003C/b\u003E Complete\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThemes:\u003C/b\u003E \n\u003C/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\n\u003C/p\u003E","title":"Dommeldal: cross-border habitat restoration in the Dommel Valley","link":"","lat":51.162121860021,"lon":5.5645751953125,"icon":"/wiki/images/a/af/Red_marker.png"}]}

Left click to look around in the map, and use the wheel of your mouse to zoom in and out.

Project overview

Edit project overview

Status	Complete
Project web site
Themes
Country	Belgium
Main contact forename	Tom
Main contact surname	De Beelde
Main contact user ID
Contact organisation	Natuurpunt
Contact organisation web site	http://www.natuurpunt.be/default.aspx
Partner organisations
Parent multi-site project
This is a parent project encompassing the following projects	No

This case study hasn’t got a picture, you can add one by editing the project overview.

Project summary

Edit project overview to modify the project summary.

In the 1950s, the river Dommel was straightened, the water levels became lower and changes in land use practices led to increased input of nutrients, afforestation with exotic tree species and abandonment of extensive uses. Habitats and species decreased in variety in consequence.

The ‘Dommeldal’ project aimed to establish an ecological corridor between the heath habitats of the Hoge Kempen and the heath habitats in North Brabant by restoring habitats along the valley, supporting species migration along the river.

The project resulted in the restoration of valuable habitats from Peer in Flanders up to Valkenswaard in the Netherlands. Typical Campine nature, such as land dunes, heathlands, ponds, irrigated grasslands (‘vloeiweiden’), orchid-rich hayfields and alluvial forests, were restored, and new opportunities were created for threatened species, such as the European nightjar, the natterjack toad ( Epidalea calamita) and the alcon blue butterfly (Phengaris alcon).

As part of the project, many lots were swapped with local farmers to stop soil degradation and area loss. A total of 130 000 m3 nutrient-rich soil was removed and land topography was restored. A dozen ponds were created along with the easing of smooth transitions towards drier sandy land. Around 25ha of uniform softwood stands at Hageven-De Plateaux were removed to restore heath habitats.

Hiking paths were reconstructed and new visitor guides were created to ensure local involvement. Also much information has been disseminated in the area, by means of information panels and exhibitions. Local farmers and volunteers associated with the beneficiary will be involved in the management of the area after the LIFE project.

Monitoring surveys and results

This case study hasn’t got any Monitoring survey and results, you can add some by editing the project overview.

Lessons learnt

This case study hasn’t got any lessons learnt, you can add some by editing the project overview.

Image gallery

Edit Image gallery

Catchment and subcatchment Select a catchment/subcatchment Site Edit site Name From source to Hageven - De Plateaux WFD water body codes WFD (national) typology WFD water body name Pre-project morphology Reference morphology Desired post project morphology Heavily modified water body No National/international site designation Local/regional site designations Protected species present Yes Invasive species present Yes Species of interest Floating water-plantain (Luronium natans), Eurasian bittern (Botaurus stellaris), Little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus), Western marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus), Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica), European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus), Woodlark (Lullula arborea), Tawny pipit (Anthus campestris) Dominant hydrology Dominant substrate River corridor land use Average bankfull channel width category Average bankfull channel width (m) Average bankfull channel depth category Average bankfull channel depth (m) Mean discharge category Mean annual discharge (m3/s) Average channel gradient category Average channel gradient Average unit stream power (W/m2) Project background Edit project background Reach length directly affected (m) Project started Works started Works completed Project completed Total cost category Total cost (k€) 5,818.6505,818.65 k€ <br />5,818,650 € <br /> Benefit to cost ratio Funding sources Cost for project phases Phase cost category cost exact (k€) Lead organisation Contact forename Contact surname Investigation and design Stakeholder engagement and communication Works and works supervision Post-project management and maintenance Monitoring Supplementary funding information EU contribution 2,676,579.00 € Reasons for river restoration Edit reasons for restoration Mitigation of a pressure Hydromorphology Biology Physico-chemical Other reasons for the project Measures Edit Measures Structural measures Bank/bed modifications Floodplain / River corridor Planform / Channel pattern Other Non-structural measures Management interventions Social measures (incl. engagement) Other Monitoring Hydromorphological quality elements Edit Hydromorphological quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Biological quality elements Edit biological quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Physico-chemical quality elements Edit Physico-chemical quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Any other monitoring, e.g. social, economic Edit Other responses Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Monitoring documents Upload monitoring documents Additional documents and videos Upload additional documents Additional links and references Edit links and references Link Description http://www.natuurpunt.be/nl/natuurbehoud/life-natura-/life-dommeldal 742.aspx Project Website http://www.natuurmonumenten.nl/sites/default/files/Report-LIFE-Dommeldal-2012-English.pdf LIFE Dommeldal. A cross-border Natura 2000 project http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.dspPage&n proj id=2921&docType=pdf Dommeldal - Transboundery habitat restoration in the valley of the Dommel Supplementary Information Edit Supplementary Information