Transboundary coordinated natural development and national park extension

Full Solution

by Silke Weich, Dutch-German Nature Park Maas-Schwalm-Nette

One of the new signs at the entrance of the National Park Region

The project focuses on protected areas along the Dutch-German border intersecting the municipalities Roermond, Roerdalen (NL), Wassenberg and Wegberg (D). The aim of the project was to further develop a common national park region and to highlight its common history and its present-day significance. It provides the transboundary (TB) improvement of nature and landscape quality by connecting and valorizing habitats. An agreement on common zonation and a sustainable tourism concept were developed.

Last update: 01 Apr 2019

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Context

Challenges addressed

Loss of Biodiversity

Wildfires

Invasive species

Lack of alternative income opportunities

1. Insufficient TB coordination between environmental organizations / landowners 2. Insufficient TB cooperation between stakeholders regarding tourism and public relations activities 3. Insufficient connection of habitats to protect endangered species that are covered by the EU habitats directive

Scale of implementation

Multi-national

Ecosystems

Temperate deciduous forest

Temperate evergreen forest

Pool, lake, pond

River, stream

Wetland (swamp, marsh, peatland)

Temperate grassland, savanna, shrubland

Theme

Habitat fragmentation and degradation

Connectivity / transboundary conservation

Legal & policy frameworks

Protected and conserved areas governance

Terrestrial spatial planning

Outreach & communications

Tourism

Location

Roermond, Netherlands

North Europe

Process

Summary of the process

The landscape forms an ecological unit influenced by the common history of the area, which should be considered in a common strategy for nature conservation. Therefore, funds from the European Union (Interreg IV A Deutschland-Nederland) were made available. Co-funding was provided by the partner organizations. Of fundamental importance were the long experience in TB cooperation of Nature Park Maas-Schwalm-Nette’s staff and mutual cultural understanding among the project partners. To expand the national park, the mentioned measures to improve habitats and ecosystems (BB#3) were necessary, and modified zonation of the National Park de Meinweg (BB#2) provides a basis for further joint management. To implement these measures, it was important to cooperate and coordinate successfully across the national border (BB#1). TB conservation planning (BB#3), the promotion of sustainable tourism (BB#4), and cooperation with local stakeholders (BB#1) will ensure an integrated and lasting legal protection of natural areas, environmental awareness of locals, and sustainable use of ecosystems while highlighting the common historical development of the region.

Building Blocks

Transboundary working group for nature conservation

In the scope of the project, a TB working group for nature conservation was established for the first time. Members are representatives of private and governmental nature conservation groups who coordinated the preparation and implementation of measures for landscape and nature protection across the border. This working group has also coordinated and further developed the expanded recreational zonation for the national park region. An improved cooperation resulted in more effective and better coordinated conservation measures and the realization of biotope connectivity among Natura 2000 sites. Workshops on cooperation regarding maintenance and development of the Dutch-German Meinweg region also took place. The participants (representatives of forest organizations, forestry authorities and nature conservation organizations) discussed possible strategies for short- or long-term conservation of natural processes (on at least 50% of the area) and developed a concept for the use of the TB natural region. Experts gave information about forestry management options for both sides of the border.

Enabling factors

Collaborators can easily communicate and work together, as Dutch and German are similar languages. All park staff can understand both languages, and some can speak both. In addition, there exists strong mutual cultural understanding. Expertise on the occurrence of species, types and development of landscape enabled the drawing up of a common concept for nature conservation in the region.

Lesson learned

The working group and workshops were essential for the implementation of nature and landscape protection measures, as it was very important to work collaboratively and to exchange ideas and experiences. These workshops helped improve understanding about the perspectives of each participating organization, especially regarding cultural views and professional opinions regarding biotope management measures.

Transferring of national park zonation between two countries

The transboundary National Park (TBNP) Region MeinWeg spans protected areas within the municipalities Roermond, Roedalen, Wegberg and Wassenberg on both sides of the German-Dutch border. The NP de Meinweg dominates the Dutch side of the TBNP Region and has three zones (core, buffer and recreational), which allow for conserving sensitive natural areas and regulating tourism within the NP. Within the neighboring German part of the TBNP Region, there are several fragmented protected areas. Before the project, each park had its own protective status and there was no consistent protective zonation throughout the German part. The transboundary working group of the project applied the Dutch NP zonation within the German portion of the NP Region MeinWeg. In particular, nature reserves were classified as core zones, protected landscapes as buffer zones, and other natural areas without protective status as recreational zones. The zonation and protective status of the TBNP Region thereby became comparable on both sides of the border, and future cooperation in nature conservation and joint monitoring measures became easier. This in turn helps to achieve conservation of natural process on at least 50% of the TBNP Region.

Enabling factors

Working groups and workshops (the same as those described in BUILDING BLOCK #1) were crucial for achieving a common understanding and consensus among participating stakeholder groups regarding the transboundary transfer of national park zonation, through joint work and communication.

Lesson learned

Having a good basis for cooperation and personal contacts between the protected areas is a key ingredient to ensure mutual understanding, agreement, and effective implementation of the altered zonation.

Coordinated transboundary measures to improve and connect biotopes

The project included TB nature and landscape management measures to improve habitats and the biotope network. TB management measures included: > Support of heathland and myrtle bogs development, which included removal of emergent alders, pines, spruces and birches, along with removal of shrubs along streams. To better connect people and nature, interested locals helped park staff to free the dunes from pines and black cherry to allow the heathland to develop. > Management of habitat for reptiles and amphibians (e.g. adder [Vipera berus], sand lizard [Lacerta agilis], northern crested newt [Triturus cristatus], common spadefoot [Pelobates fuscus],) by connecting and enlarging biotopes (via mowing ferns, cutting small sods, removing lumber and copes) and restoration of aquatic breeding sites (habitat of crested newt [Triturus cristatus]). > Part of the project was the implementation of the water management plan of the National Park de Meinweg: >35 ponds and temporary water bodies were renaturalized and/or restored.

Enabling factors

Before the project began, there was already a water management plan (including guidance for restoration and enhancement of water bodies and biotopes) drawn up for the National Park de Meinweg. This plan enabled coordinated water body management during the project.

Lesson learned

Having a good basis for cooperation and personal contacts between the protected areas is a key ingredient to ensure mutual understanding, agreement, and improving the condition and connectivity of native biotopes.

Transboundary sustainable tourism

To encourage nature-friendly behavior of visitors and to create consciousness of locals about ecosystems and the region’s common history, multiple measures were taken to foster TB cooperation in the sustainable tourism sector: 1) Wooden tourism infrastructure (walkway, viewing hut, tower) was set up, allowing visitors to experience nature without disturbing habitats. 2) Walking and cycling routes, which benefit from and emphasize the common cultural and natural history, were expanded and matching bilingual maps were published. 3) Training of TB nature and culture guides ensured valuable TB guided tours for every audience on various topics. 4) To foster common projects and to improve coordination of local tourism, workshops for local tourism stakeholders were organized. These measures resulted in combined tour offers that attract visitors, give an understanding of the regional history and modern ecosystems and landscapes, and benefit local businesses. 5) Finally, outcomes of a better coordination of TB public relations included a common logo, travelling exhibitions, a bilingual homepage and informative signs along the trails to elevate the visibility of the TB National Park Region.

Enabling factors

From the beginning of the Middle Ages to the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815), the region at the Dutch-German border has been the common property of 12 parishes. The Meinweg reflects this common history still today, which combined with attractive landscape features (e.g., terraced landscapes) and the cluster of Natura 2000 protected areas provides a suitable landscape for sustainable tourism.

Lesson learned

For many stakeholders the cooperation means a shift in their usual reasoning, which concentrates mostly on attracting the most visitors possible to their own organisation or municipality. It turned out to be the most motivating to integrate tourism-focused stakeholders from the start as partners, which increased their identification with and commitment to the project. Similar considerations applied to cooperation of guides, hotels, and restaurants: even though there were some beneficial outcomes, maintaining collaboration required constant motivating actions and cooperation turned out not to last in several cases. In future, a more detailed concept for these stakeholders should be established at the beginning of the project. Regarding the elaboration and publication of hiking and cycling maps, it turned out to be very useful to cooperate with an editor from the start to ensure the maps are published/reprinted even after the completion of the project.

Impacts

The project included measures for a more diverse and improved cooperation across the NL-DE border, extension of National Park recreational zones, coordinated habitat management and promotion of sustainable tourism. Particular impacts included: 1) Establishment of networks of volunteers and stakeholder organizations focused on nature, forestry and tourism, which provide a basis for coordinated broad-scale conservation; 2) Strengthened cooperation between border municipalities, which enables further TB cooperation for an improvement of the ecological and economic situation; 3) Improvement of ecosystem integrity through extensive habitat restoration and enhancements, and 4) Enhanced tourism infrastructure, which increased name recognition of the TB area and thereby supports local tourism industry and its stakeholders. Improved cooperation, strengthened TB networks, and a common national park zonation can be used as a basis for further TB nature conservation measures.

Beneficiaries

- Protected area authorities - Endangered species and habitats - Local organizations - Visitors - Local economy such as restaurants and other nature ventures

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 13 – Climate action

Story

The opening of the culinary smuggler’s route took place on the Dutch-German borderline, at a border crossing point for cyclists marked by a barrier that restricts motorized vehicles. On this occasion, one employee of the Nature Park Maas-Schwalm-Nette and one hotel owner dressed up as customs officers and controlled the passports of passing cyclists. Because no-one is used to pass controls at the Dutch-German border anymore, this astonished and amused visitors in a way that led to good opportunities to talk about the project and the history of the region.