Hanging beaches at the Eastern Scheldt

The hanging beaches concept is a promising initiative which has the potential of solving erosion of intertidal areas. By creating terraces with natural materials as a form of hanging beaches which also may serve as shellfish breeding grounds and may be combined with shellfish larvae catching structures. This ensures foraging possibilities for birds as wall as the wave reducing function for the dike. A clear example of an eco-innovation and building with nature.

The results of this project are very relevant for other partners within the project and within the North Sea Region as a whole. The CPA partners investigate the different effects of climate change on these areas. They gather information on current government policies, test the foreseen adaptation measurements and administer improvements and new policy advice.

Our climate is changing and this is affecting the water management: extreme wet or extreme dry weather conditions occur more frequently and water levels are rising. The CPA partners aren’t awaiting the consequences, they’re proactively  and preventatively working on adequate adaptation measures.

Zeeland can’t face these threats on its own. That’s why various partner organizations from 5 North Sea Region countries have joined forces in a transnational cooperation: Climate Proof Areas. The project was launched at the end of 2008 and continues until the end of 2011.