Land subsidence

The ground in the Dutch peatlands is subsiding, and so is the ground in our area. This is a cause for concern. Land subsidence causes damage to buildings, roads, and agricultural land. It leads to more complex water systems (especially where there are buildings), the disappearance of peat, and the risk of brackish seepage. This is detrimental to the climate, water quality, the sustainability of agriculture, and the characteristic peat landscape and nature. And when peat soil subsides, large amounts of CO2 and greenhouse gases are released. Land subsidence is a problem for society as a whole, and we are tackling it together.

What do we do?

The problems in water management in the peat meadow area are still manageable at present. However, we believe that sustainability and manageability will come under pressure in the long term. We have outlined this in a 'fact sheet' (see the download at the bottom of this page). To prevent future problems, we are working together with other parties. We are currently doing this primarily by raising awareness of the issue at the provincial and national levels, sharing knowledge, and contributing to research into measures to slow down or even stop soil subsidence.

Research

In the programme Innovation programme (IPV), the agricultural nature association Water, Land & Dijken and the nature conservation organization Landschap Noord-Holland are investigating whether soil subsidence in the peat meadow area can be counteracted with wet forms of agriculture. The research is being conducted in Nauerna with the cultivation of wet crops and water level-controlled drainage. The IPV is investigating what adjustments to water management are needed, the effects of this form of agriculture on soil subsidence, greenhouse gas emissions, water quality, nature, and the landscape.

We are a member of thePeat Meadows Innovation Center, an organization that researches innovations to slow down or stop soil subsidence.

At STOWA'sNational Knowledge Program on Land Subsidence, we share and develop knowledge about land subsidence.

Putting issues on the map

We raise awareness of the issue of land subsidence at provincial and national level, so that tackling the problem becomes part of policy. At provincial level, we do this together with the province of North Holland and two other water boards in the Land Subsidence Task Force. At the national level, we are raising awareness of the issue with the Union of Water Boards and lobbying the national government. We are also doing this in the nationalPlatform Slappe Bodem(Soft Soil Platform). In addition, we are participating in the climate table to discuss reducing CO2 emissions caused by soil subsidence in peatlands.

Facts and figures

• The peat soil is located in Laag Holland: the area north of Amsterdam up to the Alkmaar-Hoorn line.
• There are approximately 20,000 hectares of peatland, which is about 9% of the Hollands Noorderkwartier region.
• The peat soil in our area is subsiding between 2 mm and 4 mm per year. The national average is a decline of 10 mm per year.
• This results in between 6 and 12 tons of CO2 being released per hectare per year. That is more than between 110,000 and 220,000 tons of CO2 in our entire area. That is between 3% and 6% of the national amount of CO2 released from peat.