Province and water boards launch exploratory study into the future of peat meadow areas
The province of Groningen and the executive committees 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 decline in ground level and peat oxidation.
Peat oxidation causes the soil to sink by 1 to 2 centimeters per year, which could jeopardize the current use of peat meadow areas in the future. Peat oxidation also releases CO2. The provinces have been tasked by the national government with reducing peat oxidation as part of the national Climate Agreement. In the coming period, the province will hold exploratory talks in peat meadow areas based on the RVS to determine how much CO2 reduction is feasible.
Joint process
The 2019 Climate Agreement sets targets for reducing CO2 emissions in the Dutch peat meadow area. 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 doing this in collaboration with the Hunze en Aa’s and Noorderzijlvest water boards, because the decline in ground level also has consequences for water management. The process will also involve consultation with agricultural organizations, nature and environmental groups, and the municipalities. When discussions begin in the areas, farmers, other land users, and local residents will also be involved. There are a number of promising areas where we will start sooner.
Area plan
The peat meadow approach is part of the National Rural Area Program (denationaleomgevingsvisie.nl) of the national government. The province is incorporating the approach into the area plan for Groningen, which is due to be completed in July 2023. The area plan brings together the climate, water, and nitrogen challenges. In the coming period, the province will hold exploratory talks in the areas based on the RVS to assess how much CO2 reduction is feasible.
Consequences of desiccation
The Netherlands has many peat meadow areas. The drying out and oxidation of peat meadows is causing problems in various places in our country, such as cracks in foundations, damage to infrastructure, and waterlogging of agricultural land. Adjusting the groundwater level to the decline in ground level is not a sustainable solution, as this encourages further decline. This means that where the ground level declines, it will eventually become wetter. In the long term, this may have consequences for land use.