Activities

What activities does LIFE CrossBorderBog offer?

Preparation

After research by Landschap Overijssel in 2016 revealed that Aamsveen and Hündfelder Moor form a common raised bog area, the idea of a cross-border renaturalisation campaign was first raised. At that time, the Landschap Overijssel foundation had already started working on measures for Aamsveen as part of the Natura 2000 structure plan.

Structure plan

At the start of the LIFE CrossBorderBog project, the Zwillbrock Biological Centre did not yet have an action plan for the restoration of the raised bog in the Hündfelder Moor. At the suggestion of the Province of Overijssel, a concept was developed and a joint LIFE-application submitted. Following the award of EU funding, Zwillbrock began to develop its own action plan tailored to the situation in Germany.

Co-operation

The German and Dutch project teams are working together to further prepare the implementation of LIFE CrossBorderBog. This includes, for example, the development of technical solutions, the procurement of materials and consultancy services, the preparation of joint planning and the coordination of communication and knowledge exchange. Other elements include support during the complex German authorisation process and the development and coordination of a joint monitoring system.

 

Realisation

The implementation of LIFE CrossBorderBog is proceeding asynchronously on both sides of the border. This is due to various reasons. The main reason is that Landschap Overijssel already had a detailed approved structure plan (Inrichtingsplan) at the start of the project. In addition, there are good passable roads to and within the project area. This enabled the Dutch team to get started almost immediately after the contract was awarded.

Differences in the measures

The German project area is hardly accessible, which makes it difficult to deliver building materials for the dams. The many trees and bog lakes in the area make this task even more complicated. In addition, the interventions must not lead to hydrological changes in the (agricultural) surroundings of the Hündfelder Moor. For this reason, a metre-high impermeable barrier will be erected in the ground over a long distance as an additional measure.

Phasing

The work in the Hündfelder Moor will be carried out in three phases between 2025 and 2027. 2028 is planned as a ‘reserve year’ in order to be able to react to any delays due to unfavourable weather conditions.

Work in Aamsveen will begin in 2024 and be completed in 2025.

Monitoring

The Dutch and German project teams are coordinating their existing measurements and observations in the raised bog area and are jointly developing a cross-border monitoring system under the leadership of the province of Overijssel.

Communication & dissemination of information

Het Nederlandse en het Duitse projectteam werken voor de communicatie en kennisdeling over (de uitvoering van) LIFE CrossBorderBog samen op basis van een gezamenlijk plan. De uitvoering ervan gebeurt onder leiding van de provincie Overijssel. Het plan bevat onder meer een overzicht van alle communicatie- en kennisdoelgroepen van het project en van de gezamenlijke communicatie- en kennismiddelen en -activiteiten.

BOG4LIFE

The exchange of knowledge within the framework of LIFE CrossBorderBog is organised by the BOG4LIFE working group, among others. Four raised bog restoration projects in the east of the Netherlands work together in this consortium: LIFE Multi-Peat (natuurgebied Witte Veen), Peat Pals for LIFE (natuurgebied Fochteloërveen) and AddMire LIFE (natuurgebied Engbertsdijksvenen).

All projects are basically working towards the same goal: Raised bog restoration. However, their starting points are partly different. Furthermore, they are not all at the same stage of realisation. The 4 projects have the following objectives within the framework of BOG4LIFE:

  • Exchange of knowledge and mutual learning from each other’s experiences
  • Strengthening the network of projects
  • Practical cooperation in the field of communication, for example through the joint organisation of a raised bog symposium