Water Authorities and Biodiversity Restoration: A Framework for the Future

In 2022, Naturalis, NIOO-KNAW, and Schuttelaar & Partners developed the Biodiversity Framework on behalf of the Dutch Association of Regional Water Authorities (UvW). This guideline provides a structured approach for measuring and promoting biodiversity within water authorities. To test the practical applicability of the framework, the Foundation for Applied Water Research (STOWA) established a Community of Practice (CoP) in 2023. Within this CoP, participants evaluated whether the indicators in the framework were clear and consistent, how they should be calculated, and how they could be applied. This effort resulted in the Biodiversity Framework 2.0.

Knowing the effect of efforts

The Dutch water authorities collectively manage over 35,000 square kilometers of water systems, including rivers, ditches, and streams, as well as dikes and other terrains. This gives them a unique opportunity to enhance biodiversity in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. However, it can be unclear how to measure and steer biodiversity restoration?

To provide valuable insights, the Biodiversity Framework was developed in 2022. By introducing key performance indicators (KPIs) and focusing on biodiversity goals, the framework is a guide for practical experience in biodiversity restoration. It includes over 60 performance indicators linked to specific objectives. These objectives range from establishing the Blue-Green Network to integrating biodiversity into practical implementation plans and managing invasive species.

In addition to analyzing the current state of biodiversity, the framework also provides guidance on the performance required by water authorities to improve it. This makes biodiversity goals concrete and measurable. By actively focusing on biodiversity, water authorities also contribute to the goals of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD).

To evaluate how the framework could be applied in practice, STOWA established a Community of Practice (CoP). Half of the 21 water authorities participated in this CoP. Policy officers and ecologists worked together to refine the first version of the Biodiversity Framework and explore its practical implementation. The aim was to develop a set of usable indicators, with special attention to clarifying the KPIs and refining threshold and target values. This process involved real-world case studies and analyses of biodiversity data in Dutch waters. Participating water authorities contributed their specific and local knowledge to this collaborative effort.

This process led to the development of the Biodiversity Framework 2.0. The updated version includes indicators for both aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity and focuses on "improving conditions" (spatial planning, management, and abiotic factors) and "species monitoring" (effects).

Getting started

Schuttelaar & Partners was asked to coordinate the CoP, primarily to guide the process of refining the indicators. The CoP met five times in 2023. During these sessions, the themes from the framework were discussed, refined, and finalized. Additionally, a separate session was held with experts in biodiversity monitoring. During this session, the proposed changes from the water authorities were evaluated, and experts provided advice on questions regarding KPIs, threshold and target values, and effect indicators. This approach ultimately led to improvements in the indicators, policies, and measures, ensuring they are better suited for practical application.

With this framework, water authorities can take action to improve conditions, measure biodiversity on land and in water, and connect with one another to gain experience and learn from each other.