On dynamic naturalness, static regulation and human influence in the Ems-Dollard estuary

Abstract

Many river systems in Europe have altered morphology and deteriorated ecosystems due to human interference. We demonstrate how conflicting interests of nature, society and economics in the Dutch-German Ems-Dollard system complicate achieving the nature restoration targeted by the EU Water Framework Directive. This article provides a multidisciplinary perspective on the natural characteristics of a water system and the practical implementation of regulation and policy in a transboundary setting. Important shortcomings of EU and national laws and directives are the static constraints for protection of demarcated habitats under EU directives, which do not do justice to natural hydro-morphodynamic processes.

Improving connectivity in water governance: the implementation of water cooperation mechanisms in disparate political and social contexts

“…Although the paths towards expected policy outcomes are appealing, the implementation of designed policies and mechanisms has proven difficult and complex in practice. Studying the Ems-Dollard estuarine area (on the northern Dutch-German border), Van der Werf et al (2020) consider the dynamic natural functioning of the system alongside the static laws and policies. They show that the interplay of natural processes, policy, law, economy and society's view of the natural system jointly dwarf water governance at the operational level.…”

“…For example, the channels of Ems-Dollard must remain deep to enable the navigation of large ships, even though this disrupts the natural balance of the river. The underrepresentation of hydro-morphodynamic functioning and the strong economic components of current legislation and policy have thus obscured the water goals of the WFD, making successful implementation elusive (Van der Werf et al, 2020).…”

Continuous Negotiation in Climate Adaptation: The Challenge of Co-Evolution for the Capability Approach to Justice

“…This reflects the absurdity of trying to freeze or preserve a static imaginary of an ecosystem that never was static to begin with. For instance, European Union Directives such as the Water Framework Directive and the Habitat Directive contain static policy goals that do no justice to the complexity of hydromorphodynamic processes [39]. Dryzek and Pickering draw the normative conclusion in The Politics of the Anthropocene that 'co-evolution may often be a more appropriate way of thinking than nature restoration or conservation' [17] (p. 30).…”

Bio-morphodynamics of coastal wetlands with mangrove vegetation

“…Apart from the coastal constructions limiting potential mangrove landward habitats, coastal landscapes have been observed to be transformed through human activities in upstream watersheds. Historically, colonial settlements (such as European settlement) were often based on sites close to rivers followed with natural resource exploitation, such as deforestation, pastel or agriculture (van der Werf et al, 2020). These disturbances from the upstream environment are often associated with increasing sediment loss, with more sediment transported through river flows and deposited in the affiliated estuary systems (Syvitski et al, 2005).…”