The international ZWIN project: an example of European cooperation?

The Zwin natural reserve, shared by Belgium (Flemish Region; 125 ha) and the Netherlands (33 ha), is the relict of a marine floodplain and important navigation route from Bruges to the North Sea. It has the characteristics of a slufter area, dominated by tidal inflow and outflow of North Sea water through an entrance channel twice a day. Although parts of the reserve are maintained in the present state artificially, ecological processes and patterns still are mainly influenced by morphological and hydrodynamic processes. Due to the reduced size of the area (caused by drainage, canalisation and... Mehr ...