A healthy countryside: partnership launches four new projects in Weerterland
In the coming years, the municipalities of Nederweert, Weert and Leudal, the Province of Limburg, the Limburg Water Board, LLTB and Natuurmonumenten, with their partnership "Platteland in Ontwikkeling Weerterland," will work on four new projects.
The partnership, also known as PiO Weerterland, was created in 2018 with the goal of jointly addressing challenges in the outlying area. The four new projects can also count on a contribution from the Region Deal Midden-Limburg.
It is good to see that we are working concretely on goals and are visible. The fact that the Region Deal also makes a significant contribution to this makes it possible for us to achieve even more goals.
says chairman of the steering committee and Alderman of Nederweert Boris Meessen.
Getting started on four new projects
Near Weert, Natuurmonumenten is going to work on nature restoration on its own land in the Moeselpeel. Part of the project is also an exploration of the surrounding area, where interests of Waterschap Limburg, LLTB and municipality of Weert are central.
Collaboration between these parties ensures a strong, joint approach to the challenges in the outlying area. Challenges that call for careful use of space and choices.
said Thomas van Gemert - Alderman of the municipality of Weert.
In addition, the Limburg Agriculture and Horticulture Association (LLTB) is launching the Boerenperspectief Weerterland and Waterwinst Weerterland projects together with the three municipalities. These projects focus on supporting farmers. Boerenperspectief supports in developing a perspective on a future-proof business. Water Profit supports farmers in preventing excessive fertilization and leaching of nutrients into groundwater and stream systems. The last project involves joint research with the HAS Green Academy that focuses on the development of the agricultural sector in the Weerterland region.
Connection between economy and ecology
The strength of collaboration lies in consultation on each other's goals and a willingness to give each other space and connect where possible.
We want to work together integrally. That means understanding each other's goals and being willing to give each other something. That's the only way we can move forward.
said Theo Coumans - chief executive officer of the LLTB.
Delegate Léon Faassen says it is a tough but important task to bring the various interests together.
PiO Weerterland can certainly contribute to connecting the economic and ecological development of the region,
continued the deputy.
That ecological development is the main focus for the participation of Natuurmonumenten, which also represents the Forestry Commission and Het Limburgs Landschap in the cooperation:
A rich variety of plants and animals is indispensable for nature and humans. Together with the PiO partners, we are committed to a nature-rich Weerterland - something you can only achieve together.
said Niels van den Hoogen - area manager Kempen-Broek on behalf of Natuurmonumenten.
The Limburg Water Board also emphasizes this common interest.
Working together is essential to moving forward at a time when water quality and wildlife are under pressure.
says Arnold Jansen - member of the executive board of Water Board Limburg.
Sustainable and integral solutions
On Thursday, October 23, at the Visitor Center in Leudal, the partnership proudly presented these four new projects to interested parties from the Weerterland region.
Michel Graef - Alderman of the Municipality of Leudal - concluded:
The tasks in the outlying area are large and complex. This is precisely why it is important that we work together - across the boundaries of organizations and interests - to come up with sustainable and integral solutions that we can tackle together.