Natuur & Milieu and The North Sea Foundation are receiving an extra donation for their program The Rich North Sea. The National Postcode Lottery has just announced at the Goed Geld Gala (Good Money Gala) that it will provide the organizations with an additional 2.6 million in support. De Rijke Noordzee already received a wonderful contribution from the Postcode Lottery’s Dream Fund five years ago. Currently, six wind farms contain artificial reefs and experiments with nature-friendly construction are underway in the wind farms. The organizations are overjoyed to be able to resume their work for a healthy North Sea.
‘We are incredibly happy with this extra support from National Postcode Lottery. A fantastic recognition of the fact that we are doing good work for nature. Thanks to the Dream Fund, we have set up a program where we have made great strides for nature restoration and development in the North Sea. A large number of wind turbines will be added in the coming years. So we need and want to continue. This extra gift from the Lottery is going to help us tremendously with that. Participants of the Postcode Lottery, many thanks to you!” said Natuur & Milieu and The North Sea Foundation.
Extra donation at an important time
The support comes at an important time. The Rich North Sea is working hard to continue growing the program. ‘Every wind farm has the potential to be a hotspot for nature development. By building smartly and investing in nature, we create more habitat for fish, oysters, crabs, lobsters and sharks. Wind farms as nurseries for nature, that is our dream and that is what we are working towards. There is also increasing interest from abroad in the insights we are gaining in the Netherlands. We are happy to share our knowledge so that we can always use the best available techniques to enhance nature. Nature does not respect national borders, ultimately all North Sea countries need each other in protecting and strengthening North Sea nature,’ the organizations said.
Wind energy and nature development hand in hand
Nature in the North Sea is under pressure. This is because the Netherlands’ largest nature area is used very intensively. Shipping, fishing, wind production, but also military exercises take place there. Natuur & Milieu and the North Sea Foundation believe it is very important that nature restoration and nature development receive more attention: ‘We want sustainable wind energy to always go hand in hand with nature enhancement. With our program The Rich North Sea, we show in practice that this is possible.’ In recent years, the organizations have secured a large number of partners from consortia of wind energy producers to scientific institutes and banks.
About The Rich North Sea
Due to fishing, climate change and disease, oyster reefs have been lost over the last century. Worrying, in the opinion of The Rich North Sea, because oyster beds occupy an important place, in underwater ecosystems. They form the basis of a healthy ecosystem. But development and recovery of oyster beds is complex, which is why De Rijke Noordzee is conducting research at various locations into the conditions in which oysters and other shellfish thrive best. Wind farms are very suitable for this, because there is no fishing; the bottom is left alone, and there are enough hard materials for shellfish to attach to.