ASPIRING GEOPARK DELTA

On the tides of time and climate ASPIRING Tidel River GEOPARK morphology SCHELDT DELTA

The Flemish-Dutch Delta is a unique is used, the sustainability and future geological area. Not only the geological structure of it. geological structure, but also the relationship between the history and The contrasting, living Delta, where future climate change makes this living with and the struggle against area like no other. water has largely characterised Flooding the local society, would be, in our Climate change and the way man opinion, an interesting addition to responds to it is decisive, in particular the international GeoPark knowledge in a Deltaregion, for the way the land network.

Food, Leisure and Outdoor

Salt Marshes and Tidal Flats 5.415 km²

61 municipality

1,5 million inhabitants

Defense Lines and Forts

Estates and Castles Man Made

(Historical) Landscapes Quarry 33.9 - 28.1 M years ago 1 Early Geological Classification Cenozoic

Oligocene (Rupelian) M years ago

Sea level approximately + 40 m 0 6 Shallow open sea, deposition of clayey 5 Holocene sediments on the sea floor (Boom clay) 4 CLIMATE Sharks present Quaternary 0.0117 3 2 LIVING LAB Pleistocene

18.000 - 14.700 BP 2.58 From the Middle Ages, the salt 2 Late Pleniglacial Pilocene marshes were gradually provided Cenozoic 5.333 Neogene with dikes. As a result, the Sea level approximately - 90 m Miocene Braided river system of the Scheldt became smaller and Aeolian sediments 23.03 Oligocene smaller. Therefore the tide in the Tundra vegetation 1 33.9 Scheldt became larger. Paleogene Eocene 56.0 12.700 - 10.200 BP Paleocene This process was reinforced from 3 Younger 66.0 Dryas the 20th century borg by making the better navigable Sea level approximately - 70 m Braided river system Chronostratigraphy Holocene and recent accelerated sea level rise. Aeolian sediments, minimal vegetation and Late Pleistocene In the densely populated Scheldt Parabolic dunes present

BP region, this will pose major safety risks due to the increasing risk of 0 6 4700 BP Early Late flooding and drainage problems. 4 Subatlantic Subboreal Holocene We will have to make a new alliance

Sea level approximately - 2,5 m 2.600 with the water and adapt our area to Tidal flats and salt marshes Subboreal 5 climate change, taking into account with peatland 4 Middle the lessons from the past. Holocene 5.700 Atlantic For thousands of years the Scheldt

3450 - 2950 BP HOLOCENE Late Estuary has functioned as a ‘climate 5 8.700 Subboreal Early Boreal living lab’. Where people have been Holocene 10.250 Sea level approximately - 2 m Preboreal dealing with climate change and 11.650 Small river stream Scheldt Younger Dryas 3 the consequences of their own Peatland with raised bog and fence Late Allerød 12.850 Glacial Older Dryas 13.900 interventions (e.g. building dikes). Bølling 14.030 14.640 Late Pleniglacial 2 During storm surges dikes collapsed 30.000 Pleniglacial Middle Pleniglacial and cities drowned. Flooding events Current 60.000 Subatlantic Early Pleniglacial

6 Weichselian over the last decade led to the Late Holocene 75.000 EARLY GLACIAL innovative flooding protection plans: Sea level approximately + 0 m 117.000 LATE PLEISTOCENE LATE the Delta Programme () Broad river/estuary EEMIAN Reclaimed land (mostly clay) 130.000 and Sigmaplan (Belgium). As a result and dikes the Scheldt Delta became the most teaches residents and visitors about the past and inspire them to reflect about future climate proof solutions. There is no other area in the world where human influence over the last 2000 years was that significant on geology and landscape. The transboundary Geopark offers an international forum for the exchange of experiences and knowledge in this field.

We want to share the knowledge of how land, sea, man and water interacted, in a constantly changing climate. By doing this we want to learn more (for ourselves and for other delta’s in the world) what is the effect on climate, land, sea, man and water of new decisions on Map of and Flanders in 1573, C. Sgrooten protected delta in the world, with the development: Climate Living Lab Storm Surge Barrier Scheldt Delta. as best-known example.

Increase in Mean High Water of the Up until today the inhabitants of the Sea Scheldt from the Late 19th Century area are still facing the challenges of sea-level rise and climate change. + 85 cm sea ​​level rise New studies show a sea level rise of Mean 1 meter in 2100 and heavy rainfall is High Water no exception any more. By looking at the past we can learn how to deal with present and future challenges on climate change and adaptation (e.g. saline agriculture). A shift takes place from the struggle against the water to living with the water (water management). The Geopark area has Distance to Scheldt mouth (km) many sites where geological heritage New Concepts of Living with Water have to be made MORE INFORMATION [email protected] and www.scheldedelta.eu

INITIATORS

INVOLVED PARTIES

Artevelde University College Ghent, Brabants Landschap, Breda University of Applied Sciences, Deltares, Erfpunt Onroerend Erfgoed Waasland, Grenspark Groot-, Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide, Havenland, HZ University of Applied Sciences, IVN, Nationaal Park Oosterschelde, Natuurmonumenten, Natuurpunt, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Oosterscheldemuseum, Rivierpark Scheldevallei, Stichting De Brabantse Wal, Staatsbosbeheer, Streekorganisatie Brabantse Wal, TNO, Vlaams Nederlandse Delta, University of Antwerp, Ghent University, Vildaphoto, VU Amsterdam, Watersnoodmuseum, Waterpoort and Zeeuws Landschap

Art Impressions Ulco Glimmerveen and Anneleen Quist (illustration) Photography Agiv, Luc Bauters, Arjen Hartog, Erik Heskes, Rudy Jansen, Jasper Jonkers, Walter Jonkers, Imke Mulders, VWWM, Watlab, Willem de Weert and DNA Beeldbank Zeeland

Maps material Buro Kreek enzo Design www.marlymulders.nl