Restore Maasheggen through parcel exchange

The Maasheggen was the first area project in the province of North Brabant to receive a grant for a lot exchange project. The grant had been applied for by Staasbosbeheer.
The grant from the Groen Ontwikkelfonds Brabant will be used to exchange land in the Northern Meuse Valley for the realization of the Nature Network North Brabant (NNB) and to improve agricultural parceling.

A key objective in the Northern Meuse Valley Implementation Program is to restore the Maasheggen landscape. The Maasheggen is an ancient hedgerow landscape, stretching from Vierlingsbeek to the Kraaijenbergse Plassen. It is a chain of natural areas along the Meuse River that together are of great cultural-historical importance. Many hedgerows have disappeared or been damaged. The ambition is to restore the hedge landscape, in combination with strengthening agriculture and tourism & recreation, among other things.

A plot exchange coordinator has been appointed in the area to discuss plot exchange options with landowners. Concrete exchange proposals have been made to several owners and the first agreements have already been concluded. This has led to the planting of new Maasheggen.

For example, Vereniging Nederlands Cultuurlandschap acquired ownership of about 8 hectares of land on Middelsteeg, located within the Cultural Historical Monument in Boxmeer. The land has been converted to nature and nearly 2 kilometers of new Maasheg has been planted. In addition, an agricultural entrepreneur received 5 hectares of agricultural land closer to home as a result of a land exchange.

Staatsbosbeheer planted more than 1 kilometer of hedges in the Vortum and Groeningse Bergjes this spring. Finally, IVN worked with school children to plant missing pieces of Maas hedges in the Loerangel and in St. Agatha.

If you have questions about the parcel exchange or are interested in talking about nature development, contact parcel exchange coordinator Gerald Willemsen (0486-432066).