IMPACT OF HYDROLOGICAL CHANGES ON NATURE CONSERVATION AREAS IN THE NETHERLANDS

The extraction of groundwater and the drainage of agricultural land ca n have an effect on nature conservation areas through the lowering of the phreatic groundwater level, the reduction in upward seepage and th e inlet of surface water of poor quality, necessary to compensate for groundwater shortages. We made a nationwide assessment of the problem by conducting a survey of the resulting changes in vegetation. On the basis of this survey we concluded that at least 50% of the groundwater -dependent ecosystems in the Netherlands have been moderately to stron gly affected by hydrological changes. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Scie nce Limited.