Noorderzijlvest largely agrees with new code of conduct for Management and Maintenance
In mid-November 2024, the water authority was extremely concerned about an impending ban on the use of so-called flail mowers. As the situation stood at the time, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Nature appeared to include all kinds of regulations in the new code of conduct for Management and Maintenance that would be extremely detrimental to the water authority's mowing activities.
Good conversations lead to improved texts
Right up to Christmas, the water authorities, united in the Dutch Water Authorities, held productive discussions with the ministry. During these discussions, many of our water authority concerns were removed. For example, it was decided that the flail mower may be used when the safety of employees or the surrounding area—such as road traffic—is at stake.
Official text of the code of conduct available for inspection until 1 April
The improved texts and agreements between the ministry and the water authorities have resulted in an official text for the code of conduct. Various parties can submit their views on this text. An approved code of conduct is expected to be available in April. As mentioned, this text also includes exceptions for flail mowing. When it comes to working safely in our region, we may use the flailing machine. When it comes to the use of the flailing machine in extensive management, there is no exception yet.
Research should provide clarity on flail mowing in extensive management
In previous statements, we have indicated that, as water authority, we want to use flail mowing for so-called extensive management of our mowing paths and watercourses. We firmly believe that mowing less often, but using a flail mower, benefits biodiversity.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and Netherlands Enterprise Agency not agree with including this exception, but insist on further research into this method.
Research leads to new insights
In the coming years, we will conduct research in collaboration with several parties to further substantiate the use of flail mowing for extensive management. This research will have to demonstrate whether there are indeed ecological benefits to flail mowing in extensive management. The substantiated greening of our management area fits in well with the vision of our water authority. We therefore look forward to the research results.
Provisional code of conduct does not immediately lead to issues
At present, the lack of an approved code of conduct does not pose a direct problem for us. We do not mow at this time of year. When we do start mowing, there will most likely be an approved code of conduct that we can use for a large part of our management area.
As water authority, we are currently working out where the new code of conduct could potentially cause issues in terms of carrying out management. For these sites/areas, we will examine whether suitable area-specific solutions are possible. We are currently consulting the provincial executives on this matter.
Would you like to know more about the code of conduct?
The attached infographic answers your questions:
CODE OF CONDUCT Sustainable management and maintenance – species protection (Dutch only)