The project aims at the realisation of an ecological water corridor network linking Natura 2000 and other wildlife sites. The project includes the direct implementation/creation of some corridors as well as work on further implementation plans. A training course will also be held. The enhanced watercourses should increase biodiversity and provide a basis for improvements in other fields such as tourism development.

The boundaries and functions of ecological systems tend to be very broad and complex, crossing both national and managerial boundaries and creating the need for a holistic approach to their management and husbandry. The best expression of this dilemma is in the river ecosystem, which flows through many different nations. The aim of "Transnational Ecological Network III" (TEN 3) is to enable the ecological network in the water systems in the North Sea area. This is achieved by supporting and implementing interdisciplinary concepts for the revitalisation of water systems, creating an integrated approach for ecological design, water management and spatial planning through the economic development of rural areas to match the development of ecological corridors, and through creating links between Natura 2000 and other wildlife sites.

Expected Outcomes

There are four main outcomes anticipated from TEN 3. The first is knowledge and expertise that will help evaluate existing techniques, methods and measures for the management of water systems, as well as design ecological corridors and educate planners and decision makers. The second is the implementation of projects that will create ecological corridors in the four different areas. The third area is the development of new techniques that result from carrying out the pilot projects and fourthly there is the improvement in water management as a result of the various projects, which will see improved conditions for endangered species like the otter, improved living conditions for people living along the river and the implementation of flood control methods. Materials including reports and a website will also be produced.

Activities

The approach taken to TEN 3 revolves around the implantation of four projects around three areas of implementation. The first is creating an ecological corridor from point zero in a former river system, which will attempt to reconstruct and revitalise a former water course along the Runde watercourse in the Netherlands, in a natural form, and link the Natura 2000 sites between Dollard and Bargerveen. The reconstruction will benefit agriculture and tourism as well as improve flood protection. The second area is creating an ecological corridor in a river system, which will seek to improve the quality of existing ecological corridors in two areas, along the Waveney/ Little Ouse in the UK and along the River Vecht in the Netherlands through a number of different measures. The final area is creating an ecological corridor in a transnational water system. A small pilot project will be carried out along the Brualer Schloot in Germany for educational and learning purposes to be shared with British and Dutch partners. For each of the areas and projects a number of measures will be undertaken including developing ideas into implementation plans, which will see the research, development and implementaion of the various pilot projects; the promotion of interdisciplinary transnational co-operation will highlight the value of transnational cooperation through the production of promotional material and international forums; exchange of knowledge on international, national and local levels through international seminars and bilateral and partner meetings will include field trips to the various projects in TEN 3; finally, learning will identify the knowledge gaps of policy officers, water managers and planners with respect to water systems manamgment.

Reported Outcomes

With the project approaching completion, physical work in sub-projects is close to an end. A number of activities imply remarkable voluntary participation and raise public awareness also by broad press coverage. Dissemination is in place by inviting to guided tours and representing the project with information boards at local events. In the final phase of the implementation work some specific examples of the work carried out are: development of a water course, weirs and biking/ walking paths in Runde, the Netherlands; creating a turf pond, a riverside path and a new boardwalk footbridge at Little Ouse, UK; earth removal and re-vegetation of land at Nunnery Lakes, UK. All of these projects aim to provide practical examples of re-establishing the natural functions of water bodies through implementing sustainable water management practices. The Environment Agency of UK has also included the site at Waveney channel in its national study on the effects of river rehabilitation schemes for mitigating flood risks. Four implementation plans for realising ecological corridors were also developed as part of the project and further commitment has been secured from responsible municipalities for implementation of the plans after the project's end. These are also well under development with a particular interest on the cross-border corridor between Germany and the Netherlands. This link is outline to a 21 km. long ecozone and also to carry out a small demo project on this stretch.