Seagrass Restoration Wadden Sea Climate Buffer
Over the past two years, the Waddenvereniging nature conservation organisation and Rijkswaterstaat have worked hard on seagrass restoration projects in the Wadden Sea. Their efforts have borne fruit: the seagrass is thriving, flowering and spreading well. The first seagrass came up in 2012. Subsequently, more came up in 2013; the grass had obviously disseminated. However, seagrass has also been discovered at two new locations, outside the pilot areas. Presumably, these seagrass seeds have originated from one of the pilot areas.
Results
Seagrass meadows originally covered a large surface area in the Dutch Wadden Sea, but diseases, deteriorating water quality, and the construction of the IJsselmeer Closure Dam have virtually eliminated them from the Dutch Wadden Sea. Restoring the seagrass meadows is essential to keep the Wadden Sea healthy and natural. For that reason, it has been incorporated into both the “Naar een rijke Waddenzee” nature restoration programme and the Rijkswaterstaat Measures Programme for the implementation of the Water Framework Directive. Restoration could contribute to the retention of sediment, thus enhancing the Wadden Sea’s capacity to expand along with the rising sea water. The rapidly rising sea level makes it vitally important to improve conditions that are conducive to sedimentation. As a bio builder, seagrass is capable of “collecting” sediment, thus stabilising and raising a mud flat. In addition, seagrass restoration can contribute to the development of tidal marshes and thus provide significant protection for the dykes.
Within the “Wadden Sea Seagrass Restoration” climate buffer project, the Waddenvereniging is implementing measures, together with Rijkswaterstaat, to restore seagrass meadows. In 2011, eelgrass seeds were disseminated at three promising locations, each covering one hectare: near the island of Schiermonnikoog, north of the Groningen tidal marshes (Uithuizen), and near Den Oever (Balgzand). To this end, seed stalks have been collected from a donor meadow in the German section of the Wadden Sea (Sylt). This exercise was repeated in 2012, at locations near the 2011 pilot locations. Near Schiermonnikoog and near the Groningen tidal marshes, areas have been sown immediately adjacent to the previously sown areas. Near Den Oever, an area has been sown close to the preceding year’s location but not immediately adjacent. The areas have been selected in consultation with Landschap Noord-Holland, the foundation that manages the tidal marshes.
Example is better than precept
Under the Waddenfonds subsidy scheme, the Waddenvereniging, Natuurmonumenten and Radboud University Nijmegen have been granted permission to sow seagrass at a new location: an area owned by Natuurmonumenten, south-east of the island of Texel. This new project will utilise the know-how amassed over recent years in order to upscale the project. The results inspire confidence that a process has been found that enables the sustainable restoration of seagrass meadows.
Contact person
Josje Fens
Waddenvereniging
+31(0)517 493 663
Fens@waddenvereniging.nl