How online maps help ecological consultancy flourish

Robust nature and increased biodiversity are beneficial for the entire province of Overijssel. Therefore, ecological consultancy EcoGroen, together with Procap and Witteveen en Bos, investigated which types of nature could thrive on the parcels within the Nature Network Netherlands on behalf of the Province of Overijssel. Via the online participation tool MapTalk, EcoGroen collected 309 responses from stakeholders with ideas and knowledge about their areas. How did this work out for them? And what are the implications for policymakers?

How to create robust nature?

From moist meadows to oak forests, strong nature is achieved through connected natural areas and a sufficient diversity of nature management types. This is beneficial for the landscape's survival and for numerous mammals and insects in our province. Therefore, the Province of Overijssel sought insights into the potentials of the nature network in Overijssel.

Maartje Scholten, Project Leader of Ecology at EcoGroen, and her team investigated the potential for nature development on hundreds of parcels within estates, meadows, and forests: the Nature Network Netherlands. "Because these are scattered like a patchwork across the province. However, nature does not thrive on fragmentation," says Maartje. "Biodiversity in isolated natural areas is vulnerable because there is less exchange between species. Therefore, we advised on better natural connections between isolated natural areas and how landowners could contribute by naturally shaping their parcels with the help of subsidies. For example, by managing their areas differently to allow more naturally occurring flowers and plant species to return. This benefits birds and other animals!"

Ambition Map input for subsidies & policy

Many areas in the Nature Network Netherlands in Overijssel border Natura 2000 areas. Parcels are managed by nature conservation organizations such as Staatsbosbeheer, Landschap Overijssel, Natuurmonumenten, or by private individuals. "Because nature management is carried out and financed differently in both cases, fragmentation occurs," explains Maartje. "As an owner of a piece of NNN, you are often part of a larger natural area. It is therefore important to align nature management between each other. For example, if two heathlands where the black grouse still occurs are separated by a production forest, there is an opportunity to transform the forest into open heathland to expand the black grouse's habitat. The Ambition Map is essentially an invitation to all owners of natural areas."

An invitation that requires subsidies. Whether managing forests or meadow bird grasslands, it takes time and money. The Ambition Map prepared and provided by EcoGroen with the help of GeoApps is part of the Nature Management Plan Overijssel. All provincial policy officers immediately see the ecological advice for a parcel and can efficiently determine the corresponding subsidies.

Multiple useful map tools in different project phases

During the project conducted by EcoGroen for the Province of Overijssel, several tools were used depending on the phase and project needs.

• Opportunity Map | MapTalk
  Through the online MapTalk map, landowners could share their ideas, knowledge, and initiatives by leaving a comment on their parcel on the map. This effectively engaged all stakeholders in the project, and EcoGroen collected concrete opportunities for the development of the cohesive network of natural areas in Overijssel (NNN). Over 280 responses were submitted via MapTalk.

• Ambition Map | MapTalk
  The Ambition Map served as an invitation to landowners to enhance nature on their parcels. The map also serves as the basis for policy officers in granting subsidies. The map provides an overview of all NNN parcels in Overijssel, divided into 29 sub-areas and accompanied by ecological advice from EcoGroen's experts. Using elevation maps and old maps, the advisors determined in advance which natural types would fit well with the parcel, considering groundwater levels and soil conditions. For example, developing natural forests or increasing the area of ​​flower-rich grassland.

• Informative websites for all 29 sub-areas | MapTour
  The ambitions and opportunities per sub-area are summarized in a user-friendly manner as a narrative website using MapTour. The MapTour contains maps and explanatory texts, photos, and an explanation of the Ambition Map for each sub-area.

100% stakeholder management

EcoGroen was very pleased with the modern applications offered by MapTalk. "With online maps, stakeholders respond to a location rather than to a picture. This parcel-level information was necessary for us when creating the Opportunity Map and Ambition Map," says Maartje.

Maartje: "The project managers at the province were very pleased with the transparent, open way of sharing and gathering information. So, I would definitely use MapTalk's online tools again when exchanging information with stakeholders on a large scale."

Improvements for software

During the project, EcoGroen suggested various improvements for the map software. Maartje: "For example, the Opportunity Map contains a lot of background information, such as a water map and a forest map. We also wanted to add these map layers, but displaying a comprehensive legend for all these maps proved to be difficult. Also, each stakeholder had to enter separate comments per location instead of being able to place multiple comments at one location. This was sometimes challenging for organizations that wanted to post many comments."

Egbert Griffioen, project manager at MapGear, is pleased with the suggested improvements. "The MapTalk software is quite new and still under development. We will take these improvement suggestions into account for further development."