Provincial Executive and water authorities launch exploratory study into the future of peat meadow areas
The Province of Groningen and the executive boards of the Hunze en Aa's and Noorderzijlvest water boards have adopted the Regional Peat Meadow Strategy (RVS). This marks the start of a multi-year process to work with stakeholders in the peat meadow areas to find solutions to the problem of ground level subsidence and peat oxidation.
Peat oxidation causes the ground to sink by 1 to 2 centimetre year, which could jeopardize the current use of peat meadow areas in the future. CO2 is also released when peat oxidizes. The provinces have been tasked by the national government with reducing peat oxidation. This is part of the national Climate Agreement www.national government.nl/documenten/rapporten/2019/06/28/klimaatakkoord. In the coming period, the province will conduct exploratory discussions in peat meadow areas based on the RVS to assess how much CO2 reduction is feasible.
Collaborative process
The 2019 Climate Agreement sets targets for reducing CO2 emissions in the Dutch peat meadow region. The target for Groningen is 0.05 to 0.08 megatons (Mton) of CO2 by 2030. To make this possible, the peat meadow provinces have been tasked by the national government with developing a Regional Peat Meadow Strategy. The province is carrying out this work in collaboration with the Hunze en Aa’s and Noorderzijlvest water boards, as the lowering of the ground level also affects water management. The process also involves councils with agricultural organizations, nature and environmental groups, and the councils . When discussions begin in the regions, farmers, other land users, and local residents will also be involved. There are a number of promising areas where we will begin work at an accelerated pace.
Area Plan
The peat meadow approach is part of the National programme Areas programme (denationaleomgevingsvisie.nl) of the national government. The province is incorporating the approach into the regional plan for Groningen, which is scheduled for completion in July 2023. The regional plan brings together the climate, water, and nitrogen challenges. In the coming period, the province will conduct exploratory discussions in the regions based on the RVS to assess how much CO2 reduction is feasible.
Consequences of drought
The Netherlands has many peat meadow areas. The drying out and oxidation of these peat meadows are causing problems in various parts of the country, such as cracks in foundations, damage to infrastructure, and waterlogging of farmland. customised the customised ground)water level to match the drop in ground level is not a sustainable solution, as this encourages further subsidence. This means that where the ground level drops, the area will eventually become wetter. Over time, this can have consequences for land use.