News item | 16-04-2025 | 14:51
German-Dutch cooperation successful
How can we reduce the excess sediment (sludge) in the Eems-Dollard, so that the ecology and climate resistance of the estuary improve? To answer this question, the Netherlands and Germany have been working together on sediment management since 2019. Today, the stricter ecological strategy for sediment management was signed by the Lower Saxon Minister of Environment Christian Meyer, the Dutch State Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Secty and Nature Jean Rummenie, the head of the Directorate-General of Waterwegen and Scheepvaart Ericmann, the Rijkswight and the chief engineer and the chief engineer and the chief engineer and The Groningen deputy Leo Wenneger who represents the Ecology and Economy network in the Eemsdelta. This contains the next steps for the future of this cross -border cooperation.
Staatssecretaris Jean Rummenie van het ministerie van Landbouw, Visserij, Voedselzekerheid en Natuur: “Ik ben blij dat we de goede samenwerking met onze oosterburen in het Eems-Dollard gebied voortzetten. Door de grote hoeveelheid slib in de Eems-Dollard is de kwaliteit van de natuur in het estuarium verslechterd. Door dit slib uit het water te halen en te hergebruiken voor het versterken van de dijken en het ophogen van laaggelegen landbouwgronden, We create a win-win situation.
Tightening strategy
The stricter ecological strategy for sediment management includes an action plan for the development of a common understanding of the ecosystem, the implementation of border projects, the joint search for ecologically optimal distribution locations for dredging libe and solutions for legal barriers to the implementation of projects and setting up an estuire-covering. For example, we will get started with a project to restore the ‘Hond-Paap’ sandbar, so that the plate can grow with the sea level rise. The plates of the Wadden Sea are of great importance because birds are looking for food on these plates.
Minister Christian Meyer of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Protection: “We want to and must improve the water ecology of the Estuary of the Ems and want to involve all the authorities and local stakeholders involved as well as possible. With the ecological strategy for sediment management, we follow a successful and integrated approach to the first year and of which we have already completed the first year and we have been integrated and integrated and intended one and intended one and intended one and intended one and intended one and intended one and intended one and intended one and intended one and intended one and intended one in the practice of a one in a one in a one -in -practice one in a one -in -practice one in the practice of a one in the practice. Breed Scala of stakeholders behind the objectives have been able to continue on this promising road on the basis of the updated mission in the coming years.
Achieved results
Since 2019, many experiences and knowledge have been gained, good results have been achieved and more parties have become involved. For example, there are important cross -border programs, such as the Natural Climate Protection ProgramEems-Dollard 2050 and Sediems developed. Various local pilot projects have also been carried out. Furthermore, cooperation has led to more mutual understanding, coordination and knowledge exchange. In addition, a large -scale measuring campaign was carried out together, in which various ecological variables have been measured. Consider, for example, the amount of sludge or algae that is in the water. A Dutch-German working group was also set up in 2023 to be able to demonstrate the effects of measures in the Eems-Dollard area with monitoring.
Less floating sludge as a goal
The ecology of the estuary of the Ems is negatively influenced by the high load with floating sediment and the formation of thick layers of liquid sludge. Germany and the Netherlands have therefore set themselves the goal of reducing the concentrations of floating sediment. The target image for the ecological sediment strategy is particularly aimed at improving ecology and water quality, optimizing the necessary maintenance work and improving the resilience of the estuarium for climate changes, such as the expected sea level rise.