Schleswig-Holstein's rivers in change: Renaturation becomes a challenge!

Schleswig-Holstein's rivers in change: Renaturation becomes a challenge!

in Schleswig-Holstein there are large renaturation projects to put the many rivers and streams in the region back into their natural condition. These measures are not only ecologically sensible, but also urgently necessary to ensure so -called flood protection. However, the efforts are associated with challenges and high costs.

The condition of the waters in Schleswig-Holstein is anything but optimal. Most rivers in the region have been straightened since the 1950s to make room for agricultural land. The practice at that time included the construction of transverse structures such as weirs and locks, which affected the natural flow dynamics of the water. It is now clear that these measures have negative effects on the ecosystems and the water quality suffers.

Renaturation: Return to nature

The goal of the renaturation is to bring the rivers and streams back into its original form. This includes measures such as bringing turns and grinding or widening of river beds. These adjustments slow down the water flow and offer further space for flooding, which not only benefits biodiversity, but can also defuse flood events.

dr. Michael Trepel, who is responsible for the protection of the inland waters in the Schleswig-Holstein Ministry of the Environment, explains: "We also have to manage to integrate the river back into the landscape, so that a river can also shout." This enables nutrients to get into the floodplains and help to relieve the water.

to be able to work on these projects every day, however, large -scale sections and a cooperation of many area owners are required. Trepel emphasizes the challenge of reaching the surfaces without gaps, since individual sections are often not coherent. "It just makes it so difficult to move forward in the area of the floodplain," he says.

long -term perspectives and financial challenges

Schleswig-Holstein has been involved in the renaturation for over 20 years. It is planned to renaturalize a total of 6,000 kilometers of rivers and streams by 2027, which is a massive challenge. As part of the EU Water Framework Directive, waters must be brought to a good ecological and chemical state. In the past, successful projects such as the renaturation of the Schwartau, where many areas were in the country and thus the adjustments could be made relatively easily.

The water and soil associations, which are responsible for the implementation of these renaturation projects, report on slow progress, since the currently planned measures are more expensive and complex than the early projects. The lack of space to widen rivers is a common problem. "This is important for many renaturation measures," explains the state chairman of the associations, Hans-Heinrich Gloy.

A central aspect of these renaturation projects is also the simultaneous use of land. Gloy demands a solution to defuse the competition between different interest groups such as farmers, companies and conservationists. "More things have to happen on one area," says Gloy. "The area is no longer multiplied, our planet is finally."

An important concern for those responsible is the sustainable inclusion of farmers, who often hang very much on the areas that they manage. Many farmers are open to renaturation measures, but would like to have compensation areas that are no longer used for agriculture to protect the balance between nature conservation and agriculture. GER tax, the general secretary of the farmers' association in Schleswig-Holstein, states: "We would need a fundamental solution from the legislator to open up these areas."

The coming years will be crucial for the implementation of the renaturation projects. Experts agree that a trusting cooperation between farmers, environmental authorities and water associations is necessary for satisfactory and effective renaturation. After all, not only the ecological goals are achieved, but at the same time creating a good basis for regional development.

interested citizens also have the opportunity to actively participate in the review of the rivers, as the ARD mitachment campaign #ours shows. This initiative encourages people to examine the condition of their local waters and thus collect valuable data that can flow into the further renaturation strategies.