1. General information
2. Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
1. A central goal of the Emscher Park project was to clean up the Emscher River, which runs through the very middle of the green plan and stretches a distance of 70 kilometers from east to west through the region. For decades, the river had a reputation of being a biologically dead "open sewer," acting as a waste water canal since the end of the late 19th century (Ref. 2).
2. To prevent abandonment and dereliction of many steel works (Ref. 2)
3. To improve employment situation of the area (Ref. 2)
4. To give the region a greener image (Ref. 2)
5. To improve living conditions of the local population (Ref. 4)
6. To increase biodiversity in the area (Ref. 7)
2. To prevent abandonment and dereliction of many steel works (Ref. 2)
3. To improve employment situation of the area (Ref. 2)
4. To give the region a greener image (Ref. 2)
5. To improve living conditions of the local population (Ref. 4)
6. To increase biodiversity in the area (Ref. 7)
Quantitative targets
Unknown
Monitoring indicators defined
1. Number of species increased (Ref. 7)
2. Water quality (Ref. 2)
3. Amount of investment to the area (Ref. 2)
2. Water quality (Ref. 2)
3. Amount of investment to the area (Ref. 2)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate change adaptation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Implementation activities
Now that much of the mining in the region has ceased, underground sewers have been installed to carry waste away from the river and promote its re-naturalization. Additionally, the river has been re-profiled to allow for better flooding management and, to slow the speed of the currents, part of the river's course has been changed from a straight narrow concrete channel back to a wide curved pool. Trees and native plants have been introduced along the bank, which has improved the water quality as well as the ecosystems in the area (Ref. 2).
3. NBS domains, ES and scale
4. Governance and financing
5. Innovation
Type of innovation
Please specify technological innovation
The Emschergenossenschaft is acknowledged for its pioneering efforts in introducing sustainable stormwater management practices in the cities of the region (Seltmann, 2007).
Novelty level of the innovation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
By signing the ’Future Convention on Stormwater’, the 17 municipalities have voluntarily committed themselves to disconnect 15% of the region’s impervious area from sewer connection within 15 years while proceeding with the river regeneration (Seltmann, 2007).
Replicability/Transferability
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
"The paper also includes lessons learned from the Emscher Region that can be transposed to other cities depending on the local context. These relate to: (1) the restoration of an ecologically dead river; (2) the socio-economic restructuring of a
region using water as a central theme; and (3) a regional mayors’ convention on stormwater management." (Ref. 5).
region using water as a central theme; and (3) a regional mayors’ convention on stormwater management." (Ref. 5).
