On 11 November, the Provincial Council of Gelderland awarded grants to three projects that are implementing the ‘Aanpak Veluwe’ initiative. One of these is the Uddelerveen landscape plan, which is the first project to demonstrate how agriculture, nature, water, recreation and quality of life can be developed in tandem. To mark this decision, officials unveiled a weir in Ermelo on 13 November.
By installing three weir boards in Uddel, Peter Drenth, a member of the Gelderland Provincial Executive, Jarin van der Zande, a councillor for Apeldoorn, and Ronald van Veen, a councillor for Ermelo, gave the go-ahead for the implementation of the Uddelerveen plan. Thanks to the provincial contribution of 5 million euros, work on the measures in the area can now begin.
Councillor Jarin van der Zande: “It is precisely in Uddelerveen that we see just how much energy there is in the area to work together on solutions. Thanks to this investment, we can implement concrete measures that benefit nature and water, whilst at the same time ensuring there are prospects for farmers and the quality of life in the area. In this way, we are taking an important step together from planning to implementation.”
A key part of the plan is to improve water retention. This ensures that, during dry periods, more water remains available for nature, agriculture and the local environment. At the same time, this helps to better cope with heavy downpours and prevent flooding. The Crown Estate Het Loo and the Vallei en Veluwe Water Board are supporting residents and land managers in replenishing groundwater and retaining water for longer. This improves water quality because wet soils break down nitrogen naturally. This reduces the run-off of nitrogen from residential and agricultural areas into vulnerable nature reserves.
Farmers play an important role in the area-based approach. Arable farmer Versteeg from Uddel has demonstrated that he can now adapt his business plan to a form of farming that gives more space to the surrounding landscape and puts less strain on the soil. Other farmers in the area are also taking part. They will be working with what is known as ‘target-based management’. They use water quality measurements to identify precisely which measures are effective. In this way, they tailor their fertilisation precisely to the crop and the soil. This prevents unnecessary nitrate from entering the environment.
Uddelerveen is also the first project under the GEUS area plan to be implemented. In the agricultural enclave comprising Garderen, Elspeet, Uddel and Speuld, local authorities, farmers, residents, businesses, community organisations and research institutions have jointly agreed on measures to ensure that the area remains a good place to live, work and enjoy leisure activities in the future. Peter Drenth: “It is no coincidence that we are now seeing the first concrete measures here. In the GEUS area, they took up the challenge at an early stage. This means that future generations will also be able to live, work and run businesses here.”
Under the Veluwe Action Plan, the central government, 21 local authorities, 2 water boards and the Province of Gelderland are reaching agreements on nature restoration, water systems and nitrogen reduction in the Veluwe. The central government is making €300 million available for the implementation of these measures. The Province of Gelderland has decided to pre-finance three projects so that implementation can begin immediately. In addition to the Uddelerveen landscape plan, these are nature restoration in the Weteringse Broek near Teuge (€300,000) and nature restoration of the Wenumse stream valleys north of Apeldoorn (€3.5 million).
For more information, please visit www.aanpakveluwe.nl and www.gebiedsaanpakgeus.nl
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