Shifting Transitional Zones
In transitional landscapes, nature, agriculture and culture intersect; people and animals, land and water, local residents and national organizations meet. These areas are characterized by shifting boundaries and porous borders. They are places where different stakeholders, legal systems, and interests overlap and/or collide. Depending on changing goals and priorities, policymakers and planners have approached transitional zones from various angles for centuries. These are regions that have always been in flux—think of riparian areas along streams and rivers, transition zones between farmland and natural areas, or landscape elements such as hedgerows and drainage ditches.
Shifting transitional landscapes (Verschuivende overganggebieden) are the focus of an NWA project proposal that is being developed by 4TU.History of Technology, together with Peel Positief, Ecodorp Boekel, Vereniging Noorden Duurzaam, the Netherlands Open Air Museum, the Delft University Botanical Garden, and 4TU Resilience Engineering.
Pilot Projects
Shifting Transitional Zones focuses on transitional zones across the Netherlands, including pilot projects such as:
- (Former) peatlands of De Peel in Brabant and Limburg
- Transitional landscapes in Northern Netherlands
- Marke communal lands in Overijssel
- Riparian zones along rivers (in collaboration with Rijkswaterstaat)
- Botanical collections of the Netherlands Open Air Museum (historic agricultural crops) and the Delft University Botanical Garden (historic “industrial” plants & climate resistance)
Interested in joining this initiative?
Please contact Frank Veraart (F.C.A.Veraart@tue.nl), Jan Korsten (J.W.A.Korsten@tue.nl) or Harro Maat (harro.maat@wur.nl)