measures. Instead they compensated all adjacent farmers by paying them the difference in land value between their land in its natural status and in a well-drained
status. Sectoral rivalries regarding nature and drought exist in the pilot area in the
form of water extractions in or near nature areas by both drinking water companies
and framers. In the nature area of Mander a large drinking water well is exploited.
Fierce discussions between the water authority and the drinking water company
were resolved for the time being by a “gentleman’s agreement” in 2008 that the
extraction would be stopped as soon as alternatives had been found. While working
on this, such alternatives still have not been placed into effect, also because there is
a structural shortage of water for drinking water production in the Twente region,
requiring the drinking water company to even import water from Germany. The
water extraction by farmers for irrigation is less of a problem for nature in Twente,
since most of the creeks run almost dry in summer anyhow and have permanent
extraction bans and pumping groundwater is very expensive. This pressure might
rise however in the future as the lifting of the milk quota will make farmers strive
for higher productivity. For the rest, similar rivalries than in Groot Salland exist
concerning the desired water levels for nature and those for agriculture and the
buffer zones that are required for this difference. Promoting the acceptance of
generally higher water levels by farmers is one of the drought resilience measures
taken.
This overview shows that across the Northwest European area climate change
has a double impact of intensifying both drought and flood risks, demonstrated by
more extreme weather events and periods. While the areas with water reservoirs can
cope relatively easily with these impacts also in those cases further climate change
effects can disturb that picture in the future. The water scarcity impacts of climate
change on nature areas are worsened by sectoral rivalries with other water consumers, like drinking water extractions and agriculture, especially when it is irrigated agriculture. In Eifel-Rur also industry and in Vilaine also tourism (yachting)
present competing claims on the water availability.
12.4 Multilevel and Multiscale Issues and Nature
Measures
Nature protection runs the risk of just leading to isolated patches of natural beauty.
To create viable ecosystems their relationships need to be considered. Likewise,
also the governance of nature needs to be multilevel with the involvement of all
relevant administrative levels.
In Flanders the municipalities are handing over responsibilities for small waters
to the provinces. As a consequence they get “out of the loop” on these issues. This
reinforces that there is very low awareness of drought as a problem and economic
interests prevail over environmental ones. Thus if anything, it is the agricultural
consequences that get attention at the local level, not the nature consequences.
12 Cross-cutting Perspective on Nature
237
status. Sectoral rivalries regarding nature and drought exist in the pilot area in the
form of water extractions in or near nature areas by both drinking water companies
and framers. In the nature area of Mander a large drinking water well is exploited.
Fierce discussions between the water authority and the drinking water company
were resolved for the time being by a “gentleman’s agreement” in 2008 that the
extraction would be stopped as soon as alternatives had been found. While working
on this, such alternatives still have not been placed into effect, also because there is
a structural shortage of water for drinking water production in the Twente region,
requiring the drinking water company to even import water from Germany. The
water extraction by farmers for irrigation is less of a problem for nature in Twente,
since most of the creeks run almost dry in summer anyhow and have permanent
extraction bans and pumping groundwater is very expensive. This pressure might
rise however in the future as the lifting of the milk quota will make farmers strive
for higher productivity. For the rest, similar rivalries than in Groot Salland exist
concerning the desired water levels for nature and those for agriculture and the
buffer zones that are required for this difference. Promoting the acceptance of
generally higher water levels by farmers is one of the drought resilience measures
taken.
This overview shows that across the Northwest European area climate change
has a double impact of intensifying both drought and flood risks, demonstrated by
more extreme weather events and periods. While the areas with water reservoirs can
cope relatively easily with these impacts also in those cases further climate change
effects can disturb that picture in the future. The water scarcity impacts of climate
change on nature areas are worsened by sectoral rivalries with other water consumers, like drinking water extractions and agriculture, especially when it is irrigated agriculture. In Eifel-Rur also industry and in Vilaine also tourism (yachting)
present competing claims on the water availability.
12.4 Multilevel and Multiscale Issues and Nature
Measures
Nature protection runs the risk of just leading to isolated patches of natural beauty.
To create viable ecosystems their relationships need to be considered. Likewise,
also the governance of nature needs to be multilevel with the involvement of all
relevant administrative levels.
In Flanders the municipalities are handing over responsibilities for small waters
to the provinces. As a consequence they get “out of the loop” on these issues. This
reinforces that there is very low awareness of drought as a problem and economic
interests prevail over environmental ones. Thus if anything, it is the agricultural
consequences that get attention at the local level, not the nature consequences.
12 Cross-cutting Perspective on Nature
237