People and Projects Solving Freshwater Restoration Challenges

EcoAdvance European Project

Showcase category ➤ Recreating Freshwater Ecosystems

BELGIUM

Pieter Boets

Senior researcher aquatic ecology
Provincial Centre of Environmental Research, Ghent

EC / PolicyMakers / Funders / Government
My Projects

Project MERLIN - Restoration project dealing with free fish migration, freshwater restoration and installation of buffer strips to reduce run-off and erosion. 

  • What impact did these projects have on biodiversity, if any?

    Increased fish biodiversity and also increase in macroinvertebrates and insect biodiversity

  • What work challenges did you face and what approach did you take to solve them?

    Working in protected areas and working on a voluntary basis with farmers – planning is crucial but also good communication.

  • What lessons learned are transferable to other places/projects?

    Provide sufficient personnel to have a good follow-up of the administrative and technical issues related to the project. Weather conditions are unpredictable and you should take into account some extra time to implement all measures.

  • What is your biggest barrier and what are you trying to do about it?
    Accessibility of the area – developing a good plan and making good agreements with the contractor helped a lot. 
My Focus and Approach
  • Lessons Learnt - Some recommendations for others?
    1. What’s most important:

      Plan well ahead and foresee the necessary people to support the project.

    2. Do this, not that: 

      Provide sufficient communication and include stakeholders.

    3. Always start by:

      Analyzing the problem/ecosystem.

    4. What to do when things get difficult…:

      Try to get help from colleagues and other experts in the field.

    5. 5 simple steps to:
      1. Investigate the site/ecosystem
      2. Make up a good planning
      3. Provide the necessary permits
      4. Include pre- and post-monitoring
      5. Find a good contractor

    6. The biggest barrier and what I am trying to do about it:
      Try to get help from colleagues and other experts in the field.
My Journey
  • My journey:

    Started studying biology and did a PhD on alien aquatic invasive species. Started working at the Province as aquatic ecologist advising policy and management of watercourses in East Flanders.

  • My Education:

    • Biologist – aquatic ecologist

  • The Big Change:

    More attention to nature restoration and the importance of free fish migration in combination with the targets as set by the EU WFD.

  • Favourite part of the work I do:

    Combination of fieldwork and data analyses – applied science.

Interview

Key Topics:

Key Topics

These relate to specific topics (e.g. technical solutions; restoration activities etc.) addressed within the showcase materials.

  • Fishway
  • Bufferstrips
  • Remeandering
Prone2Success Factors Demonstrated:

Prone2Success Factors Demonstrated

These are the Prone2Success checklist factors which are highlighted within this showcase. More information on the Prone2Success checklist can be found here.

  • Measurable goals to improve ecological status
  • Supports WFD, NRL and other restoration policy goals
  • Communicate/engage with stakeholders from the outset
  • Engage with the local community from the outset
  • Obtain sufficient finance for all project stages
  • Local planning processes are transparent / clearly understood
  • Include adaptive management approaches (combined with monitoring)
  • Ensure stakeholder understanding / education of restoration goals & benefits
  • Demonstrate specific ecological improvements/legal compliance / communicating results during and after the project
  • Take climate change into account
NRL Restoration Categories:

NRL Restoration Categories

These are the restoration categories (listed under Annex VII of the European Nature Restoration Law (NRL) which are relevant to this showcase.

  • [2] Improve hydrological conditions
  • [5] Re-establish river meandering
  • [6] Remove obsolete barriers
  • [7] Re-naturalise river beds
  • [12] Assist migration of provenances and species
  • [19] Stop or reduce the use of chemical pesticides / fertilisers
  • [22] Improve connectivity across habitats
  • [26] Restore fish spawning / nursery areas
Resources
Articles
Videos

MERLIN Upper Scheldt catchment case study

Presentations

River restoration and grass-flower buffer strips increase biodiversity
Restoration Dorenbosbeek, Belgium

MERLIN Fact sheet #16 - Scheldt catchment, small streams and basins

Acknowledgements & Links

This material was provided by: MERLIN project.

Funding provided by the H2020 programme.

Back