4. Nature and biodiversity 4A. Current Situation The various types of landscapes in the Rijk van Nijmegen offer living space to many species. Because of its growth since 1880, Nijmegen has barely any open space: this is why Nijmegen is fully investing in the green ring around the city. Its secondary channel will become an artery for nature and biodiversity. ‘River scape Nijmegen embraces the Waal’: making the city more accessible and attractive for nature and biodiversity. Total surface Year of the data Indicator Number area (ha) provided Gelderse Poort 2014 (see figure 2) Number and total surface total 6,105 ha area of Natura 2000 sites that 2 Rhine branches are situated in the city or Waal total 5,525 nearby (i.e. within 10 km) ha Approx. 800 ha 2015 (see figure 2) Gelderland Nature Number and total surface categories: Network within city limits area of assigned areas of Natura 2000 (Natural areas are not national interest for Nature defined separately by biodiversity in the city (habitat Interweaved the province/State) / species management areas) Wildlife corridor Number and total surface area of assigned areas of 1 - 10: approx. 2015 (see map 4) 10 + 9 local (urban) biodiversity 600 ha Hotspots interest in the city (habitat / A - I: approx. 20 species management areas) ha Whole Nijmegen Groene Draad territory (5,760 determined 2007 1 + follow-up plans (see ha) (including all footnote and 4D) developments Date and time horizon of the 2020) city’s biodiversity action plan Natura 2000 Waal floodplains to the west and east, partly on Nijmegen territory, was finally destined as Natura 2000 area in 2014 (figure 2) (open water, swamps, muddy banks, underwood, willow forests, types of grassland) (figure 1). The area is also largely Habitats Directive and Birds Directive area. Figure 1: Nature Waal floodplains Main Ecological Structure/Gelderland Nature Network The green ring around Nijmegen is largely within the conservation regime of the national Main Ecological Structure and provincial protection (=Gelderland Nature Network) (figure 2). West of Nijmegen the green ring is partly urbanised, partly agricultural. Millingerwaard is situated in the National Landscape Gelderse Poort: origin (1983) of large-scale nature rehabilitation along Dutch rivers and of cooperation between Ministry of Waterways, the brick industry, farmers, soil removers and nature organisations. Nature reserves in Gelderse Poort connect to the nature and landscape, including Natura 2000 areas, along the German Niederrhein. Nijmegen does not have a separate biodiversity plan. Green policy is laid down in Policy Plan De Groene Draad with elaboration: Handboek Stadsbomen, Groene Allure Binnenstad, Groenaanpak Dukenburg and Lindenholt; Groen Verbindt; and in green management plans. The forest and heathland rich lateral moraine south and east of Nijmegen is part of Gelderland Nature Network, and is partly property of Nijmegen, fully managed by conservation organisations. Essential in the green ring is the buffer zone between Arnhem and Nijmegen. Here Arnhem, Nijmegen, the province of Gelderland and Waterschap Rivierenland are realising Park Lingezegen (1,700 hectare) (figure 2), a wildlife corridor of the Gelderland Nature Network. [Nature rehabilitation specification, Nature rehabilitation, Past nature rehabilitation, Main Ecological Structure Regional Plan 2009, Nature, Interweaved, Ecological connection zone, Natura 2000] Figure 2: Main Ecological Structure Gelderland Nature Network Municipal ecological network Spatial structure and form of green are results of geomorphology/geology, (cultural) historic and urban development. Lateral moraine and Waal (figure 3) dominate with the glorious, Parisian allure of the tree lanes and hilly, monumental parks in the centre and old forests source areas on lateral moraine in Nijmegen-Oost. There is park-like green in the outwash plain in former village centres such as Brakkenstein, Hatert and Hees and ‘urbanised’ country estates such as Heijendaal and Winkelsteeg. Park-West is the green area of small and big connected parks realised since 1995 in early 20th century built-up, stony districts of Nijmegen-West. Lavish green and water in young (= after 1965) western part of the city’s Dukenburg and Lindenholt districts deeply penetrates the residential areas. Waal, channel zone and railways form the main ecological routes straight through the city; tree structures along radial roads and tree lanes around the centre form ecological connections. Figure 3: Scenic situation Due to its special geomorphology and geology, Nijmegen and environs have major variety of environments for plant and animal species. Research (Flora van Nijmegen and Kleef 1800 – 2006) shows that approximately 1,500 types of plants have been found. The Netherlands currently has 1,536 native plants. In the national benchmark Atlas of Dutch municipalities 2013 Nijmegen scores first in the abundance of birds. Ecological hotspots are valuable nature reserves with a relationship with nature outside the city. Here we focus on the further development of nature, management is aligned to present and potential ecological values. Nijmegen also has several district hotspots that are largely managed by locals (figure 4). [Ecological hotspot, District spot, Nature garden Bottendaal, Botanical garden, wooded area, Pools and orchard Lindenholt. Legend: EHS and protected areas, Current natural value (source:), Relatively high natural value, Average, Relatively low, Unknown (insufficient data), Ecological structure urban area, Ecological hotspot, District spot, Dry ecological veining, Wet ecological veining] Figure 4: Ecological structure Nijmegen The secondary channel becomes the ecological connection through the city centre, with challenging possibilities for nature in floodplains and on the town island (figure 5); desired situation and management laid down in memorandum Management and Upkeep Plan Room for the River Waal. [Desired situation IP, Types of vegetation IP Desired situation: Field, Mud flat, Reed, Sandy beach, Groyne field, Softwood forest, Rough meadow, Roughened meadow, Natural meadow, Normal meadow, Flat meadow, High-water safe, Built-up/paved, Stone revetment, Sandy path/semi-paved, Structure-rich grassy brushwood, Homogenous brushwood, Wet brushwood homogenous, Normal forest, Open forest, Thickets, Dense forest, Tree avenue (flat), Secondary channels, Pools, Creek, Summer bed, Hedges and tree-lines] Figure 5: Management plan secondary channel, general (above), in detail (below) Invasive type: Japanese Knotweed; now control in 45 locations (Biodiversity Strategy 2020, Target 5). There is currently little inconvenience of invasive species for the green in the city. Conservation organisations and nature monitoring organisations have a good view of this. No pesticides in green management since 1995. Genentech-free: Nijmegen is the first Genentech-free municipality (2012). Nijmegen has been promoting and subsidising Green roofs and disconnecting rainwater since 2009. Nijmegen supports numerous educational organisations and projects for the protection of biodiversity. 4B. Past performance targets Natura 2000 area Rhine branches runs straight through Nijmegen. The floodplains are Birds Directive and/or Habitats Directive area. The nature in the Main Ecological Structure/Gelderland Nature Network, in the green ring around the city, some of this Nijmegen territory, is managed on the basis of conservation plans. Management and monitoring are in the professional hands of renowned conservation organisations. Nijmegen is compact, surrounded by a natural, green ring, attractive and easily accessible by bike. In the compact city we distinguish main green and district green: from the natural potential and within what is possible in an urban environment and taking account of the wishes of residents, the challenge and objective is: conservation and development of natural values. Nature and landscape outside municipal boundaries Over the past few years, the city of Nijmegen invested €0.6 million in the improvement of biodiversity in the adjoining agricultural area Ooijpolder (part of National Landscape Gelderse Poort) (figure 6). Naturally occurring footpaths and wildlife corridors have been realised together with farmers, conservation organisations, municipalities, Province of Gelderland and the State. Land owners are managing landscape elements contractually for 30(!) years, against payment in line with the prevailing market (!!) (Biodiversity Strategy 2020 Targets 2 3). Monitoring (see 4D: ‘’He who invests in landscape, will reap nature’’) shows the increasing natural wealth: With its support for landscape and natural values outside its municipal borders, Nijmegen has a nationally recognised exemplary function. Figure 6: Landscape development in the Ooijpolder [Hiking path, New or restored landscape elements] The opening up of the Ooijpolder for walking, improved by the bridge (2012) over the provincial road Nijmegen-Kleve (figure 6: the red dotted line), adjoining the realised wildlife corridor between the lateral moraine and polder. In 2013 Nijmegen realised the 60-metre long footbridge (€0.5 million) between its centre, over a branch of the Waal, straight into Ooijpolder. Motto: ‘going out in the city, walking in the polder’. We are currently developing plans for ‘the green carpet’, between nature centre De Bastei (ready in 2017) and this bridge. Until 2013 Nijmegen had up to approx. 625 hectare of forest/nature, immediately outside its municipal borders, which used to