'Only by working together can unique landscape be preserved'

'The success of Maasheggen' is the headline above a column in the January issue of the magazine De Levende Natuur. The column was written by professor Noëlle Aarts. She is affiliated with the scientific program of Maasheggen UNESCO.

In her column, Aarts praises how parties with different interests cooperate with each other in The Maasheggen: "The key to the success of the Maasheggengebied lies in the fact that different stakeholders feel responsible from different motivations to maintain the hedgerows and work together to explore and realize new possibilities. There is a great sense of mutual dependence: only by working together can important steps be taken and the unique landscape preserved."

Graduation project

In her column, Noëlle Aarts refers to "An Interplay of Agriculture and Culture," the graduation project of Eline Koelman. She took the master's program Science in Society at Radbouw University in Nijmegen. "Koelman's research confirms once again that strengthening local culture is essential for conservation. That local initiatives that people like to contribute to for various reasons make a difference. That those initiatives are recognized and appreciated by governments. And that good examples deserve emulation."

Read Eline Koelman's research here