Ambassador profile

Organisation profile

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The "Haaksbergerveen" forms the southern part of the habitat area "Buurserzand en Haaksbergerveen" [code: NL980101]. The "Haaksbergerveen" is a relict of one of the raised bog areas on the border of the Netherlands and Germany. The reserve forms a transborder reserve with the "Ammeloër Venn" in Germany [which is also a Natura 2000 area]. After previous degradation, the reserve is now in a restoration phase. During the last few decades a network of dams was constructed in order to restore the necessary water tables to allow the fen-vegetation to recover.

Eco-hydrological restoration project

Intensive process of stakeholder participation during the preparation and implementation of the project (more details: see below). The stakeholders are satisfied with the approach of the planning and processes used. They are also very happy with the overall outcome of the process.

Good relationship with Natuurmonumenten

There is a long -standing relationship and frequent contact about management issues with the neighbouring NGO Natuurmonumenten who own the "Buurserzand"area and are in charge of managing that part of the habitat area.

Good relationship with Nature clubs

There are intensive contacts with IVN (nature education organization) and other local nature-clubs ( e.g. birdwatchers).

Activities and products for the communication of Natura 2000

 

✓Green Days more info

✓Guided visits

 

✓A few times per year

 

✓Yes

• Monitoring
• Clearing of heathland
  

 

✓Leaflets

✓Other: Powerpoint presentation of the restoration project

 

✓Local community

✓Site visitors

 

✓Yes

• Excursions.
• Leaflet about the reserve
• Some information panels at the site

 

✓At the central office

 

✓Yes

 

A Eurosite Twinning- agreement has been signed in 2006 between Staatsbosbeheer , District Sallland-Twente and the Biological Station "Zwillbrock" and municipality of Borken. The working programme is focused on exchange of knowledge of management issues and cooperation on transborder activities.

The nature reserve "Haaksbergerveen" can be found in the borough Haaksbergen at the border between the province Overijssel and Germany. This is a beautiful nature reserve, over 600 hectares in size, half of which consists of raised bog. As a result of peat cutting, land re-allotment, improved water drainage in the surroundings and an enrichment of the soil, these areas became increasingly dessicated. The decreasing bog was extremely threatened and could have been lost forever. In the late 1960's, the tide changed. From 1969 on, restoration work has been carried out with the aim to restore the growth of the sphagnum. Over the years the Haaksbergerveen has become one of the few locations were the growth of Sphagnum is possible. Raised bogs are scarce in the Netherlands and should therefore be protected and sustained.
Because the first steps in the Haaksbergerveen restoration had shown sensational results, from 1974 onwards, measurements on a large scale have been undertaken. With the help of an effective water household, bufferzones and an infrastructure based on nature-recreation, the area can slowly return to the raised bog status .
In order to balance the recreational and ecological functions, Staatsbosbeheer has worked together with the neighbours, local authorities and other stakeholders in the region.
Due to this co-operation the reconstruction-project did succeed.
There is now space for recreation and nature and the "Haaksbergerveen" has space to breath - like a bog ought to do!
.
Management objectives:

• To secure a sustainable a-biotic system to create the most optimal conditions for the restoration of a vivid bog area.
• To ensure an open moor landscape to reduce the evaporation of the system
• To sustain an infrastructure for the nature-recreation according to good quality standards.
  

The management is aimed at the conservation and restoration of the described habitat types of the reserve.

In order to balance the recreational and ecological functions, Staatsbosbeheer has worked intensively together with neighbours, local authorities and organisations in the region.
Due to this co-operation the reconstruction-project did succeed.
There is space for recreation and nature and the Haaksbergerveen has space to breath - like a bog ought to do.

An eco-hydrological survey showed that the bog-system was still leaking due to the presence of ditches along exploitation roads. It was therefore advised to remove these roads and ditches in order to preserve and stabilize the water tables in different departments of the reserve. As this would have a great impact on the infrastructure of the reserve, Staatsbosbeheer decided to start a process of stakeholder participation.

Process of participation of stakeholders.
The overall objective of this process was to involve the neighbours and users of the area in order to increase their involvement and interest in the nature reserve as well as to benefit from their ideas resulting in a better outcome of the plan.
A difficult history had to be overcome, while in the fifties the reserve had more or less been expropriated from the neighbouring farmers.

Therefore the first step was the production of a brochure, which aimed to get the interest of the people and to gain their involvement in the process. [see attachment 1]. This brochure was presented to the public and the local authorities during a field-visit.
The following step was an information-session (information about peat-moors in the European-context and in the Netherlands and focusin on the specific nature values and a-biotic situation of the Haaksbergerveen ). This was followed by a brainstorming session in order to give room for spontaneous ideas. At this stage the people were asked to join the following process.
Round-table discussions and field-visits resulted in a good atmosphere.
This led to a session in which two mixed groups have been asked to draw their own map of the future-situation. So two ideas for a new infrastructure for the recreation had been drawn on the map and after discussion this led to one new overall picture. The new paths were situated on the higher sandy ridges of the bog area. This allowed us to create bendy paths which give more "adventure" for the visitors. At the same time the motorists have been banned from the reserve and hence the centre of the reserve has become a silent-area.
During the time of the participation-project and afterwards the communication has been realized by a regular production of "newsletters".
These letters contained information about the project as well as information about other activities or developments in the project-area.
Afterwards a full-colour brochure was printed to present the results of the project under the title: "Enjoying pure nature in silence………" (In Dutch)

Time table:

• 1996 Start survey hydrology
  - Conclusions: e.g. large fluctuations in water table due to existing ditches along roads.
  - Roads are cutting through the original sandy ridges
• 1998 Start stakeholder participation
  - (Producing and distribution of brochure and installing working group)
• 1999 Elaborating the results/ plans of the working group
• 2000 Apply for permits and finance
• 2001 Start construction of the project
• 2002 Project finished
  

Measurements in the period 2001-2002 in the field:

• Removal of the straight sand roads from the time of the land reclamation and ditches along these roads.
• Restoration of the relief of the wind-born sandy ridges
• Creation of a new infrastructure for the recreational use
• Footpaths, cycle routes, bridle ways, bird hides, view points.
  

• In general a better relationship with neighbouring stakeholders.
• The eco-hydrological situation has been improved. The water tables are higher and more stable.
• On the other hand visitors are very delighted by the improvements made for them; visitor numbers have gone up to 150.000 and more.

The realization of the measurements of the restoration-plan 2001 took place in 2002 and has been carried out with funding from the Ministry for Agriculture, Nature and Food quality (so called: Survival-plan Forest and Nature).
The restoration project has been realized for ca. Euros 600,000.

Staatsbosbeheer is lead partner or involved in LIFE projects and Interreg- and Leader+ projects.