Debergh, H.

Deneudt, K.

Govaerts, A.

Hernandez, F.

Lescrauwaet, A.-K.

Mees, J.

Lescrauwaet, Anne-Catherine

Debergh, Heidi

Deneudt, Klaas

Govaerts, A

Hernandez, Francisco

Mees, Jan

Ghent University Academic Bibliography

Indicators for the Scheldt Estuary

Open Marine Archive

Indicators for the Scheldt Estuary  
Lescrauwaet Ann-Katrien1, Heidi Debergh1, Klaas Deneudt1, Ann Govaerts2, Francisco Hernandez1  
and Jan Mees1  
1 Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), InnovOcean site, Wandelaarkaai 7, B-8400 Oostende, Belgium 
2 Afdeling Maritieme Toegang, Tavernierkaai 3, B-2000 Antwerpen, Belgium 
 
Policy and management of the Scheldt Estuary are a transnational issue which concerns both 
Flanders and the Netherlands. Since the end of the last century, Flanders and the Netherlands aim 
to adjust their policies and ideas as much as possible. This resulted in 2001 in the Long-Term 
Vision (LTV) of the Scheldt Estuary (Directie Zeeland AWZ, 2001) which was drafted by the Technical 
Scheldt Commission. An important part of the LTV is the ‘Target 2030’ (‘Streefbeeld 2030’) which, 
by 2030, aims for a healthy and multifunctional Scheldt Estuary, used in a sustainable way for 
human needs. The strategy to be followed in order to achieve the ‘Target 2030’ is written down in 
the ‘outlines of development’ of the Scheldt 2010. 
 
In order to evaluate and support policies, it was decided to start up, within the framework of the 
LTV, a joint research and monitoring program which is known as the ‘working group on research 
and monitoring’ (WG O&M). One of the tasks which were performed in this group is the 
development of a set of indicators in order to provide a concrete content for the development of the 
Scheldt Estuary (Lescrauwaet et al., 2009). 
This project aimed to compile the latter set of indicators for the Scheldt Estuary based on facts and 
figures: policy-relevant indicators which are scientifically underpinned, quality-controlled data and a 
correct citation of the source (authors, data managers) and methodology. A number of strategic and 
specific objectives were envisaged (Lescrauwaet et al., 2009): 
 
Strategic objectives 
 Gaining understanding of cause-effect relationships for advising policy makers and managers. 
 Situating gaps in our knowledge and providing direction for future research within the LTV 
Research and Monitoring program. 
 Establishing an educational and outreach function, in order to clarify the ecological and socio-
economic functioning of the system and to be able to communicate about the boundary 
conditions. 
  
Specific objectives 
 Selecting, developing and visualizing a set of indicators that has an impact on, or is characteristic 
for an integrated vision on the safety, nature and accessibility of the system, as well as for fishery 
and recreation and tourism. This also means that the comparability of the measurements and 
analysis-methodologies and the differences in the standard specifications between Flanders and 
the Netherlands are accounted for. 
 Updating the ScheldeMonitor, in addition to the data portal, as a portal site for the Scheldt 
Estuary.  
  
In total, a set of 18 indicators was selected for the Scheldt Estuary. Each indicator was reported 
according to a fixed pattern: Key message, Why monitor this indicator?, What does the indicator 
show? Where do the data come from?, Opportunities and threats and, finally, integration with other 
indicators/measurements. Furthermore, technical sheets with specifications of the measurements of 
the indicator with metadata were supplied. The Scheldt indicators are embedded in the site of the 
ScheldeMonitor (http://www.scheldemonitor.be/indicatoren.php), where they are offered in 
combination with an information system (a data portal containing all metadata about projects, 
institutions, datasets, researchers ...). 
 
References 
Directie Zeeland; Ministerie van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap. Administratie Waterwegen en Zeewezen 
2001. Langetermijnvisie Schelde-estuarium. Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat. Directoraat-
Generaal Rijkswaterstaat. Directie Zeeland/Ministerie van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap. 
Departement Leefmilieu en Infrastructuur. Administratie Waterwegen en Zeewezen: Middelburg, 
The Netherlands. 86p. 
 
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Lescrauwaet A.-K., H. Debergh, K. Deneudt, J. Mees and F. Hernandez. 2009. Indicatoren van 
Duurzame Ontwikkeling voor het Schelde-estuarium. IDO-Schelde. Visiedocument als 
toelichting van de opmaak en doelstellingen van een set indicatoren van duurzame 
ontwikkeling voor het Schelde-estuarium in het kader van de langetermijnvisie 2030[S.n.]: 
Oostende, België. 9p. 
 
 
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Indicators for the Scheldt Estuary

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