This gallery presents the images submitted by North Sea Region projects for the North Sea Photo Contest category 2. We recommend you to read the captions to get a better idea of the story behind each image.
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1
CANAPE fen restoration in action: A fen lost over the last decades is restored, improving the carbon sink and biodiversity in the area.
2
CANAPE uses this charcoal burner to turn waste wood from conservation management into biochar – sustainable, high quality charcoal. Conservation waste wood is often burned in open fires as it has no commercial value.
3
Following the fish, then emailing them: CANAPE researchers are catching and tagging bream in Lake de Leijan in the Nothern Netherlands. The researchers are tagging them with emails for fishermen to report back, and then setting them free. The tracking is used to inform fish and ecosystem management in shallow peatland lakes.
4
Farming for the future – CANAPE is building a pilot sphagnum farm in 2020. Previously this peatland field was drained to allow grazing, which releases significant amounts of CO2. The new crop keeps the soil wet, reducing CO2 emissions, and providing a sustainable harvest.
5
In DUAL Ports, the Danish port of Hvide Sande and Hvide Sande District Heating are working together to create a system of sustainable energy. A “Power to X” system that accelerates the green transition and produces green energy for citizens and businesses.
RIGHT – kkk
RIGHT is building right skills for the right future, to achieve a sustainable and innovative world. Sustainability and innovation are said to be the future, but the future is happening today! Regardless of who we individually are, we can all be part of the future. Innovation and sustainability can be nurtured, developed and shared by each of us.
7
SalFar is on the way to finding salt resistant wheat. As saline soils spread due to climate change, there is a need for crops that can withstand salt. Henrik Aronsson, professor of plant molecular biology at the University of Gothenburg, is inspecting the wheat.
8
Irrigation of onions in SPNA in the Netherlands, one of SalFar’s 16 test fields. The photo visualises the need for irrigation due to drought, one of the main climate impacts causing soil salinisation. It also shows how SalFar tackles challenges of salinisation: Pilots demonstrate that irrigation with brackish water works with some varieties of onions. Using brackish water to water crops can significantly reduce the pressure on freshwater resources.
9
Test field on the island of Texel in the Netherlands where the SalFar partner Salt Farm Foundation,is growing different varieties of vegetables under saline conditions including cabbages, potatoes and wheat. SalFar developing new agricultural practices which reduce freshwater consumption through climate adapted products.
10
Test field on the island of Texel in the Netherlands where the SalFar partner, Salt Farm Foundation, is growing different varieties of vegetables under saline conditions including cabbages, potatoes and wheat. SalFar developing new agricultural practices which reduce freshwater consumption through climate adapted products.
11
A dike with little difference between sea (on the right) and land (on the left). Due to climate change and sea level rise, agriculture in coastal areas is under pressure from soil salinisation and degradation of farmland. SalFar develops innovative farming methods adapted to saline conditions. The aim is to develop viable and sustainable alternatives of farming, improve resource efficiency, and create new food product chains that accelerate the greening of the European economy.
12
University Rostock measuring nutrients discharge in drainage water. This helps NuReDrain researchers developing a model to estimate the impact of new measures and filter systems to remove nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen in two contrasting catchments across the region.
13
Partner in NuDeDrain, LWK Niedersachsen constructed a phosphor filtration systems in a tile drain near the Venner Bruchkanal. This should help to stop the giant algue bloom development (with a negative economic impact) at the nearby Dümmer Lake. On the picture we see Raimund Esch of LWKN in the entrance pipe to the filter.
14
Partner in NuDeDrain, LWK Niedersachsen constructed a phosphor filtration systems in a tile drain near the Venner Bruchkanal. This should help to stop the giant algue bloom development (with a negative economic impact) at the nearby Dümmer Lake. On the picture we see Kristine Bolte of LWKN in the entrance pipe to the filter.
15
NuReDrain partner University of Gent tests light and compact filter boxes for phosphorous filtration in drainage fields. Here we see a filter box at a experimental test site of Inagro in Zedelgem.
16
The NuReDrain team experiences chilly conditions during a first project field test visit in Jutland. The pond on the right is a constructed wetland for the removal of nitrogen in agricultural runoff.
17
This Dutch PARTRIDGE farmer couple stand proudly behind the first Marsh Harrier nest on their farm, and indeed of their area. Having thought the nest was lost by poachers, the farmer found it accidently while mowing his Lucerne field. He saved it, making everyone, including his wife very happy. Photo: Marco Renes
18
Children planting PARTRIDGE hedge. PARTRIDGE implements 7-10% high quality habitat measures at 10 demonstration sites. Here children of our project partners and their volunteers get their hands and boots dirty, planting a partridge-friendly hedge at one of our Dutch project sites. An experience they are likely never to forget. Photo: Jochem Sloothaak
19
PARTRIDGE farmer discussing PARTRIDGE measure: PARTRIDGE works very closely with almost 100 farmers across the North Sea Region, demonstrating how to reverse the decline of farmland biodiversity. Personal and regular communication between our local project managers and their project farmers is key to deliver our project goals. Our bottom-up approach also creates a sense of pride for what we achieve together. Photo: Sophia Thamm
20
PARTRIDGE farmer discussing PARTRIDGE measure: PARTRIDGE works very closely with almost 100 farmers across the North Sea Region, demonstrating how to reverse the decline of farmland biodiversity. Personal and regular communication between our local project managers and their project farmers is key to deliver our project goals. Our bottom-up approach also creates a sense of pride for what we achieve together. Photo: Sophia Thamm
21
Aerial view of PARTRIDGE flowerplot: PARTRIDGE demonstrates how to reverse the decline of farmland biodiversity and aims to inspire others to follow our example. This aerial photograph of a PARTRIDGE flower mix surrounded by conventional farm crops, was taken outside our German project areas, illustrating how nature-friendly farming looks like from a bird’s eye perspective. Photo: Gelpke_Schnegelsberg
22
SHARE-North: Shared Mobility Rocks is an unconventional symposium about shared mobility with a rocking atmosphere, which you can see reflected in this picture. Even the vice world champion in beatboxing attended the symposium!
23
SHARE-North: Shared Mobility Rocks is an unconventional symposium with a rocking atmosphere, which you can see reflected in this picture.
24
Within the SHARE-North project, the Mobipub game was developed. It is a fun and insightful game to learn more about mobihubs, their potential and the possible barriers to install them. This photo gives just a small impression of Belgian students visiting the Mobipub!
25
The first shared mobility hub – mobil.punkt – in Bergen (Norway), one year after its inauguration.
26
WASP: The picture shows the gigantic Wind Assisted Ship Propulsion technology, in this case a VentiFoil, on the vessel of one of the project beneficiaries. The Wind Assisted Ship Propulsion technology on the vessel enables the research, trail and validation of performance data for accelerating the greening of the sea transport within the North Sea Region.
27
WASP: Here you can see that the ship of one of the project beneficiaries is moored and the Wind Assisted Ship Propulsion technology, the VentiFoil, is on the quay at the shipyard. The green product is ready to be installed on the vessel.
28
WASP: This photo shows three different processes of the development of the Wind Assisted Ship Propulsion technology, in this case a VentiFoil, in the fabric. This wind propulsion solution will be harvesting the North Sea abundant wind potential once installed on the ship of one of the five ship owners participating in the project.