Nature in the port
Economic progress is important but may never be at the expense of nature, the environment, and the living environment of the port industrial area. The port of Rotterdam is a place of industry as well as of nature. The Port Authority is careful about nature and devotes itself actively to conserving nature and helping it develop.
Nature Vision
Therefore, in line with the Port Vision 2030, we developed our own Nature Vision. This sets out how we deal with nature in the port of Rotterdam. With the Nature Vision we integrate nature into our plans and projects.
Discover nature in the port
It is surprising how much nature the port of Rotterdam has to offer, like the Green Port tide park, for instance, or nature on Landtong Rozenburg, the Bird Valley or Geuzenbos, but also at unexpected locations right in the midst of industry. It is home to orchids and free-roaming Highland cattle. Seals and pipistrelle bats can also be found in the area. You can even discover protected species there, such as the natterjack toad and the fen orchid.
Important ecosystem
The port of Rotterdam offers many hectares of nature and is an important ecosystem with over 200 unique plant and animal species. When developing the port, careful consideration must be given to protected plant and animal species, nature values and biodiversity. This requires expert management and considered choices. When developing port areas or building infrastructure, we take into account the quality of the living environment, design with nature in mind (nature inclusive) and prevent and, where necessary, compensate damage to protected nature. The nature guide shows where these species occur on the developable sites, pipeline strips, quays and slopes.
WILD PORT OF EUROPE
The ports of Rotterdam and Moerdijk will not be at the front of your mind when you think about nature. Yet, these industrialised areas inspired the makers of Wild Port of Europe to make a film about the resilience of nature.
Nature-friendly management
In the port area, we apply ecological management, seeking to achieve a healthy balance between plants, humans and animals. We do this by seeing to it that the habitat for crucial species is safeguarded, that problem species are controlled, and that protected and threatened flora and fauna on land and under water are monitored. Examples include nature-friendly banks and using ecological mowing management.
Problem species prevention
Exotic or foreign species are plants or animals which are taken outside their original and natural habitat. By their mere presence, some species, like the Japanese Persicaria, are a threat to the growth of native species, or they damage constructions and paving. The Port Authority does its utmost to keep problem species under control to restore the natural ecosystem.
Connecting nature
The geographical location of the port in a river delta on the coast makes the port the perfect biotope for pioneers and coast-bound species, such as waders, natterjack toads, various orchids, and migratory fish, like eel and salmon. These plants and animals quickly spread from one area to another. ‘Ecological stepping-stones’ have been constructed at strategic locations in the port. Via these locations, like verges, pipeline corridors, and sites not yet issued, plants and animals can move.