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Three-country cooperation: 1,560 hectares planned for elf protection!
Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg and Lower Saxony sign an agreement to relocate dikes for flood protection on the Elbe.
Three-country cooperation: 1,560 hectares planned for elf protection!
In an important initiative, Saxony-Anhalt, Lower Saxony and Brandenburg have increased cooperation in flood protection on the Elbe. How City Gazette Online reported, an agreement was recently signed to implement the relocation of dikes, which aims not only to protect localities but also agricultural areas from flooding in the region.
The measures provide for the creation of additional flood areas totaling around 1,560 hectares, specifically in Wahrenberg (Saxony-Anhalt), Gorleben (Lower Saxony) and west of Wittenberge (Brandenburg). This new flood plain is intended to help better absorb flood events and protect the surrounding nature. An important aspect of the agreement is the close cooperation between the three countries in relocating the Elbe dikes and continuously informing the public about the progress of the project.
Financing and costs
The total cost of the measures is estimated at 120 million euros, with around 60 percent coming from federal funds and 40 percent from state funds from the National Flood Protection Program. This financial support is intended to enable the planned relocations to actually be realized. In Wahrenberg, up to 1,300 hectares of floodplains are to be restored, at a cost of around 85 million euros. Corresponding relocations are also planned in Gorleben and Wittenberge, which will create 108 and 150 hectares of new flood areas respectively.
A modern approach to flood protection that not only takes into account the safety aspect but also creates ecological benefits is the declared goal of those responsible. Loud Northern Courier These projects will also be incorporated into the dialogue with the region to improve flood protection, with the population being actively involved.
Ecological aspects and successes
The relevance of these initiatives is underscored by the successes of past restoration projects. Between 2002 and 2011, part of Lenzen's Elbe farms were renatured, allowing 420 hectares of former grassland to be revitalized. This shows loudly CONVENTION in a number of positive effects: Intact floodplain landscapes act like sponges and can absorb flood peaks. During the flood of the century in 2013, the renatured areas proved their effectiveness as no sandbags were needed.
The relocations and renaturation aim to create new habitats for numerous animal and plant species. In previous projects, 63 breeding bird species, including threatened species, were identified. In addition, studies show that regularly flooded floodplains store 30 percent more carbon than old floodplains, which also makes an important contribution to climate protection.
The progress of things on the water is clear: While flood protection and nature conservation go hand in hand, the cooperation between the federal states in the border triangle on the Elbe will noticeably benefit both people and nature.