New phase of area-based approach Brabantse Wal

Monday 17 June 2024

In Brabantse Wal, governments and other social organisations are working together to put soil, water and air in order. Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide participates in this as one of the area partners in an area-specific approach. Brabantse Wal partly overlaps with Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide and the entire area of Brabantse Wal is included in the Masterplan Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide.

The cooperation in the area-based approach is of great importance for our nature, agriculture, landscape and health. Together - on the initiative of the province of North Brabant - they are looking for smart combinations of solutions to ensure that this area remains a healthy, safe and pleasant living and working environment in the future too. The administrators of all area partners involved recently adopted the vision document, which came about after an extensive process. This document is the starting point for the next phase, that of plan development.

About the area-oriented approach Brabantse Wal

The Brabantse Wal is a Natura 2000 area. This entails obligations from the European Birds and Habitats Directive, the Nature Restoration and Nitrogen Reduction Act and the Water Framework Directive (WFD). The Brabantse Wal contains about a third of all nitrogen-sensitive nature in Brabant and also has a hydrological system unique to the Netherlands. Besides an excess of nitrogen and a shortage of water, recreational pressure and fragmentation, among others, also have negative impacts on the vulnerable nature.

That is why measures must be taken to ensure that water, soil and air in and around the Brabantse Wal are put back in order. This is necessary for the intended nature restoration, but is also important for our health, agriculture, housing, drinking water supply and other economic developments. We do this together with other authorities and social partners in an area-oriented approach. In this, we look for opportunities to cleverly combine and balance the use of space with soil, water and air. And thus contribute to stronger nature, sufficient and clean water, good soil and the future of agriculture.

Starting points per theme

The vision document formulates principles for six key themes - water and soil, nature, agriculture, recreation & tourism, spatial development and energy & climate. In addition, the area was divided into seven subareas based on a landscape analysis. The six themes and the starting points of each theme are as follows:

1. Water and soil: a resilient and climate-robust water and soil system as a basis for sufficient, clean water and healthy soil.
2. Nature: diverse resilient ecosystems consisting of robust and healthy nature.
3. Agriculture: a sustainable production area with space for a beautiful (liveable) agricultural landscape with broad social added value and future prospects for farmers.
4. Recreation and tourism: recreational zoning appropriate to the vulnerability of the area.
5. Spatial development: spatial developments, such as the urbanisation task, are possible, with water and soil providing guidance.
6. Energy and climate mitigation: limited emissions (such as reduced nitrogen emissions), short cycles and an energy-neutral environment.

Seven subareas

In the vision phase, the landscape of Brabantse Wal was analysed, looking at the composition of the soil (clay or sand), the altitude and water flows, among other things. Based on this, a classification was made into seven subareas. During the plan elaboration, the subareas will be zoomed in and out so as not to lose sight of the coherence of the area as a whole.

The full vision document can be found here.

How to proceed

With the adoption of the vision document, the area-oriented approach Brabantse Wal enters the phase of plan elaboration. This starts with concretising and quantifying the vision. Then, via three distinctive courses towards a sustainable future for Brabantse Wal, we will work towards a coherent and supported plan elaboration (for the entire area and subareas). The nature and water tasks are the starting point in each of the courses, but each time in different combinations with other functions (e.g. agriculture, housing or recreation). These plans are then translated into measures in an implementation programme.

This does not mean that nothing is happening now. If there are initiatives that contribute to the integrated picture of the future for the Brabantse Wal, we will take them up wherever possible. After all, it is important to take measures quickly to put water, soil and air in the area in order.