Collaborating with Wageningen University & Research
- The Green Mile
- Jul 7
- 1 min read
More than 80 students from the Academic Consultancy Training programme applied to take on our challenge: "Can a green riverbank bring life back to the city? Dive into the EcoWal and measure nature's comeback in Amsterdam's canals."
In the end, around 20 students were selected to join the project.
One team explored how the next generation of EcoWallen could be improved. They looked at what could be refined, added or removed as we continue to develop and expand the concept. The second team also worked on design improvements while investigating the flora and fauna around the EcoWallen. They developed a practical framework for long term ecological monitoring, providing a solid foundation for measuring the impact of the EcoWallen over time.
The results were incredibly valuable. The students proposed more sheltered habitats for species such as dragonflies, safer hiding places for fish, more organic shapes, layered terraces and a greater variety of structures. They also suggested adding features that encourage freshwater mussels and create nesting opportunities for insects.
One of the most interesting findings was that the EcoWallen along the boulevard side support higher biodiversity and greater plant species richness. The existing vegetation on the quay contributes to this, with the gently sloping riverbanks already hosting a wide variety of plants rooted between the stones. The EcoWallen build on this natural foundation, adding even more vegetation and further strengthening biodiversity in Amsterdam's canals.
Comments