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This work presents the state of the art of aquatic and semi-aquatic ecological restoration projects in The Netherlands. Starting from the conceptual basis of restoration ecology, the successes and failures of hundreds of restoration projects are described. Numerous successful projects are mentioned. In general ecological restoration endeavours greatly benefit from the progressive experience achieved in the course of the years. Failures mainly occur through insufficient application of physical, chemical or ecological principles. Spontaneous colonization by plants and animals, following habitat reconstruction, is preferred. However, sometimes the re-introduction of keystone species (e.g. eelgrass, salmon, beaver) is necessary in case the potential habitats are isolated or fragmented, or if a seed bank is lacking, thus not allowing viable populations to develop. Re-introducing traditional management techniques (e.g. mowing without fertilization, low intensity grazing) is important to rehabilitate the semi-natural and cultural landscapes that are so characteristic for The Netherlands.
List of contents
Ecological restoration of aquatic and semi-aquatic ecosystems in the Netherlands: an introduction.- Case Studies.- Ecological restoration in coastal areas in the Netherlands: concepts, dilemmas and some examples.- Restoration of salt marshes in the Netherlands.- Ecological rehabilitation of the lowland basin of the river Rhine (NW Europe).- Lakes in the Netherlands, their origin, eutrophication and restoration: state-of-the-art review.- The restoration of fens in the Netherlands.- Towards a decision support system for stream restoration in the Netherlands: an overview of restoration projects and future needs.- Restoration of brook valley meadows in the Netherlands.- Restoration of aquatic macrophyte vegetation in acidified and eutrophicated shallow soft water wetlands in the Netherlands.- Restoration of coastal dune slacks in the Netherlands.- A review of the past and present status of anadromous fish species in the Netherlands: is restocking the Rhine feasible?.- Synthesis.- The state of the art of aquatic and semi-aquatic ecological restoration projects in the Netherlands.
Summary
This work presents the state of the art of aquatic and semi-aquatic ecological restoration projects in The Netherlands. Starting from the conceptual basis of restoration ecology, the successes and failures of hundreds of restoration projects are described. Numerous successful projects are mentioned. In general ecological restoration endeavours greatly benefit from the progressive experience achieved in the course of the years. Failures mainly occur through insufficient application of physical, chemical or ecological principles. Spontaneous colonization by plants and animals, following habitat reconstruction, is preferred. However, sometimes the re-introduction of keystone species (e.g. eelgrass, salmon, beaver) is necessary in case the potential habitats are isolated or fragmented, or if a seed bank is lacking, thus not allowing viable populations to develop. Re-introducing traditional management techniques (e.g. mowing without fertilization, low intensity grazing) is important to rehabilitate the semi-natural and cultural landscapes that are so characteristic for The Netherlands.
