European Fundend Projects

ID:
projects-682

fiwar:
LIFE94 NAT/B/001531

Project_Acronym:
MARS

Project_Name:
MARS (Marsh Amelioration along the River Scheldt)

Funding Authority:
LIFE

Call for proposals:
Nature

Focus Area:
Coastal,Site rehabilitation - Decontamination,Hazardous waste

Begin Date:
1995-01-01

End Date:
2000-12-31

Status:
Completed

Budget:
No data

Description:
The main objective of the MARS project was to undertake restoration work of degraded tidal marsh along the River Schelde. Actions were foreseen at four sites, totalling 200 ha: Lippensbroek, Groene Meirsch and Kijkverdriet (Belgium) and Kaloot in the Netherlands. The most important component of this project was to reduce the erosion eating away the freshwater tidal marshes. Foreseen actions included the raising of dykes, removal of contaminated soil and restoration of tidal inlets. The project actions hoped to restore damaged habitats and to kick off the natural development of new freshwater tidal marshes which would compensate the marshes lost elsewhere. By proving the feasibility of creating new marshes, the project sought to generate a model which could be employed during future dyke-building plans, as foreseen in the Belgian Sigma Plan. The project’s efforts were expected to allow future flood control construction works to be compatible with the conservation of freshwater tidal areas. As a joint effort between public bodies in Belgium and the Netherlands, the project hoped also to provide an incentive for the elaboration of a cross-border management plan for the Schelde.

Resource:
https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/life/publicWebsite/project/LIFE94-NAT-B-001531/mars-marsh-amelioration-along-the-river-scheldt

Inland water types:
Rivers and estuaries', 'Coastal waters', 'Wetlands'