Roadside verges are necessary for the functioning of roads. Additionally, verges can serve other functions, for example, for nature. For Rijkswaterstaat (the Dutch Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management), traffic safety and smooth traffic flow are the top priorities. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management wants to investigate whether Rijkswaterstaat can use its road verges to contribute to the objectives of the National Forest Strategy.
Therefore, Probos will provide insight into the ecosystem services of forests, trees, and shrubs along the main road network and identify how they can contribute to achieving various other policy goals. Additionally, a decision tree will be developed to make well-founded choices between tree and shrub species based on ecosystem services and location-specific conditions such as soil type and groundwater level.
Read the report 'Ecosysteemdiensten bos langs het hoofdwegennet'.
Expert(s): Anne Reichgelt, Martijn Boosten, Sietze van Dijk, Jasprina Kremers, Gera op den Kelder (Stichting Probos) en Nico Spliethof (Borgman Beheer Advies)
Client(s): Rijkswaterstaat
Year: 2021
