As part of the Green Deal Infranatuur, partners explored how infrastructure can contribute to biodiversity through nature-friendly design, management, and collaboration. 

Client Rijkswaterstaat and De Vlinderstichting
Duration 2016–2019

As part of the Green Deal Infranatuur, partners explored how infrastructure can contribute to biodiversity through nature-friendly design, management, and collaboration. 

Context

Dutch biodiversity is under pressure. The large-scale infrastructure, with its many verges and waterways, has great potential to connect areas and thus enhance biodiversity. As part of the Green Deal Infranatuur, various infrastructure stakeholders, at the initiative of De Vlinderstichting, have further explored and harnessed this potential. (Semi-)governmental bodies, infrastructure companies, and knowledge organizations joined forces and collaborated on the business case, innovation in procurement, and effective forms of environmental management to also engage local residents in the necessary adjustments.

Objective

To construct and manage Dutch infrastructure in such a way that it contributes to biodiversity by

• Working on real-world examples and exploring them in greater depth
• Sharing and further developing knowledge and experience
• Creating favourable conditions through collaboration

Process approach

The parties met quarterly and collaborated in the interim through a number of thematic working groups. NextGreen helped create the structure of the collaboration and facilitated the broader working sessions. In the working groups, participants explored their practical experiences in greater depth and developed new knowledge focused on the construction, management, and maintenance of assets that enhance biodiversity. The working groups focused on the business case, innovation in procurement, and effective forms of environmental management. Each working group had two leaders and consisted of approximately 4–6 organisations.

Partners

• Government agencies: Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment (Rijkswaterstaat), Province of North Brabant, Province of North Holland, Municipality of Tilburg, the Vallei en Veluwe, Aa en Maas, Rivierenland, and Rijn en IJssel water boards, the Hollands Noorderkwartier Water Board, and the Rijnland Water Board.
• Companies: Arcadis, Brabant Water, ENGIE Infra & Mobility, Gasunie, Heijmans, Sweco, TenneT, ProRail, Vitens, Royal HaskoningDHV
• Knowledge organizations: De Vlinderstichting (initiator)

Services and activities

Preparing and supervising interactive workshops | Organizing and supervising symposiums | Contributing to progress meetings