The Green Deal Infrastructure Nature investigates how infrastructure can contribute to biodiversity through nature-friendly design, management, and cooperation. 

Client Department of Public Works
Duration 2016 – 2019

The Green Deal Infrastructure Nature investigates how infrastructure can contribute to biodiversity through nature-friendly design, management, and cooperation. 

Context

Dutch biodiversity is under pressure. Large-scale infrastructure, with its many verges, has great potential to connect areas and thus increase biodiversity. Within the Green Deal Infranatuur, various parties, on the initiative of De Vlinderstichting (The Butterfly Foundation), want to further investigate and exploit this potential.

Objective

Constructing and managing Dutch infrastructure in such a way that it contributes to biodiversity, by:

• Identifying and exploring practical examples
• Developing and sharing knowledge
• Creating favorable conditions through cooperation

Process approach

Within the Green Deal Infrastructure Nature, governments, companies, and knowledge organizations are joining forces to harness the potential of infrastructure for biodiversity. In working groups, they deepen practical experience and develop new knowledge, focusing on construction, management, and maintenance, but also on business models and tendering processes. Through workshops, symposiums, and consultation meetings, insights are shared and cooperation is strengthened so that infrastructure can contribute sustainably to nature connectivity and biodiversity. They do this by sharing knowledge and experience. A number of working groups are deepening and strengthening their own practices, both in terms of construction, management, and maintenance, as well as business models and tendering processes.

Partners:

• Governments: 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, Rijn en IJssel, and Brabant Water water boards, the Hollands Noorderkwartier Water Authority, and the Rijnland Water Authority.
• Companies: Arcadis, ENGIE Infra & Mobility, Gasunie, Heijmans, Sweco, TenneT, ProRail, Vitens, Royal HaskoningDHV
• Knowledge organizations: The Butterfly Foundation (initiator)

Services and activities

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