Last updated: October 2021
From 1850 to 1956 the area Eskesberg was a limestone mine, after that up until 1972 it served as a landfill. When taken over by the city of Wuppertal, groundwater contamination and outgassing required a large remediation to remove toxic substances and recover the area according to nature conservation guidelines. (Ref. 8) Since 2005, it has been turned into a nature conservation area covering 8.5 ha where several rare plants and animals have resettled and thus the area also serves as an important recreational space for residents (Ref. 1, 2, and 3). The project was initiated by the local government, who also collaborate with different partners for maintaining the nature conservation area, such as the biological station, which organizes excursions, performs monitoring on the terrain and sets up bee hives. Also, residents apart from visiting the area can actively participate in its maintenance as volunteers, guided by the city of Wuppertal and the NGO Biologische Station Mittlere Wupper. Furthermore, the nature conservation association of Wuppertal and scientists from the university of Cologne are involved in the intervention by conducting research on the terrain (Ref. 1, 2, 3 and 6).
Vegetation at the former Eskesberg landfill
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=deponie+eskesberg&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.naturwissenschaftlicher-verein-wuppertal.de%2Fsektionen%2FBotanik%2Fveranstaltungen%2F2020%2Fflora-und-vegetation-der-ehemaligen-deponie-eskesberg%2Fdsc106811.jpg%2Fimage_preview
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
Key challenges
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Improvements to water quality
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Environmental quality
- Soil quality improvement
- Waste management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Conversion of former industrial areas
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Effective management
Focus
Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Transformation of previously derelict areas, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity
Project objectives
Creating an open land biotope with dry-warm site conditions (Ref. 6)
Creating attractive habitat conditions to (re)attract a maximum of species diversity (Ref. 6)
Protection of the groundwater from contamination and protection of a valuable biotope. (Ref. 2)
Significantly reducing the seepage of rainwater into the landfill body and upgrading the existing landfill gas collection system. (Ref. 8)
Implementation activities
Hazardous substances from underneath were about to reach the groundwater, therefore the former landfill was remediated during 2004 and 2005 by the city of Wuppertal and turned into a nature conservation area under the guidance of ecologists. 5.5 ha of surface area was removed and sealed with plastic frames, on which a diversity of different soil substrates (120,000t) was spread to provide a mosaique of different habitats, the rest was left to nature for natural succession. Thanks to the sealing, 60.000 cubic metres of rainwater are captured in the area and channelled to a water body. The gas is captured with 17 suction wells and treated in a regenerative-thermic-occidation-plant (RTO). In 2009, the biological station in collaboration with the city department for nature protection and an NGO for sanitation and regeneration built a wild bee wall consisting of nesting aids and information signs about bees and soil development were set up for visitors and PR measures were initiated (Ref. 1, 2, 3 and 6). A measuring station in the form of a sampling bar was also implemented. (Ref. 8) The concept for public relations consists of the elements of citizens' meetings, information boards, Eskesberg flyer, soil adventure path "From Eskesberg to Varresbeck", excursions and events (e.g. soil week 2007, geotag of biodiversity). (Ref. 2) In 2005, the area with 8.5371 hectares has been designated as a nature reserve and was granted protection. (Ref. 9) An urban biotope with an unusually rich variety of species and flowers developed on the initially completely barren area. The repopulation with insects, vertebrates and vascular plants was followed closely through monitoring. After years of largely natural succession, maintenance measures to keep it open were started. (Ref. 9)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
- Create new habitats
- Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect native species
- Undertake specific measures to protect endangered species
- Undertake specific measures to protect valued species
- Means for conservation governance
- Manage biological resources for conservation and sustainable use
- Raise public awareness
- Public engagement
- Create and use scientific knowledge for conservation
- Capacity building
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
- Restore valued species
- Restore endangered species
- Restore ecological connectivity
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Other
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Taskforce groups
- Dissemination of information and education
- Co-management/Joint management
- Other
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Since the city took over responsibility of the former landfill, they initiated the whole process of regeneration and remediation. They collaborate with different partners for maintaining the nature conservation area, such as the biological station, which organizes excursions, performs monitoring on the terrain and sets up the bee hives. Residents can actively participate in its maintenance as volunteers, guided by the city of Wuppertal and the NGO Biologische Station Mittlere Wupper. Furthermore, the nature conservation association of Wuppertal and scientists from the university of Cologne are involved in the intervention by conducting research on the terrain (Ref. 1, 2, 3 and 6). 80 percent of the costs for the intervention were financed by the regional government of North Rhine-Westphalia, 20 percent by the city of Wuppertal (Ref. 2) In accordance with the Federal Soil Protection Act (BBodSchG), The city commissioned the company PBO (Engineering company for Planning, Advice and Organization) with the planning, construction monitoring and site management parts of the project. (Ref. 8)
The biological station forms part of a wider network of 40 biological stations active all over NRW (Ref. 1).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(The remediation and regeneration of contaminated sites is mandated by the national Federal Soil Protection Act (BBodSchG), the so-called "Bundes-Bodenschutzgesetz" since 1999. It prescribes the reduction / elimination of hazardous substances and respective protection measures for the substances not to spread as well as the issuing of a remediation plan. In a registry of the local government of Düsseldorf (responsible for this site), the site Eskesberg on the former landfill is mentioned as such a regeneration measure (Ref. 7). )
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
€2,000,000 - €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public regional budget
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Environmental quality
- Improved waste management
- Improved soil quality
- Green space and habitat
- Increased number of protection areas
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Increase in protected green space areas
- Increased conversion of degraded land or soil
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
- Increased protection of threatened species
- Enhanced support of pollination
- Restoration of derelict areas
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved liveability
- Improved access to urban green space
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
- Other
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Biologische Station Mittlere Wupper (no date) Der Eskesberg. [Weblink unavailble in 2020]
2. Stadt Wuppertal (no date b) Deponie und Naturschutzgebiet Eskesberg. Available at: Source link 20 Sept. 2020]
3. Stadt Wuppertal (no date a) Biotoppflege im NSG Eskesberg. Available at: Source link 20 Sept. 2020]
4. Umwelt Bundesamt (2016) Böden in Wuppertal- Deponie Eskesberg. Available at: Source link 20 Sept. 2020]
5. Biologische Station Mittlere Wupper (2009) Jahresbericht 2008. Solingen. [Weblink unavailable in 2020]
6. Nobis, H. L. (2011) Eskesberg. Eine Deponie mit der Folgenutzung Naturschutzgebiet. Wuppertal. [Weblink unavailable in 2020]
7. Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf (2012) Umweltschutz-Altlasten / Bodenschutz. Sanierungsplanregelungen / -pläne. [Weblink unavailable in 2020].
8. Ingenieurgesellschaft für Planung, Beratung und Organisation. (nd.) Rehabilitation of the former Eskesberg-West landfill, Wuppertal. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 20 Sept. 2020].
9. Wikipedia. (2020). Grube Eskesberg. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 20 Sept. 2020].
10. Wuppertals Grüne Anlagen. (2011). Kalkofenpark. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 20 Sept. 2020].
2. Stadt Wuppertal (no date b) Deponie und Naturschutzgebiet Eskesberg. Available at: Source link 20 Sept. 2020]
3. Stadt Wuppertal (no date a) Biotoppflege im NSG Eskesberg. Available at: Source link 20 Sept. 2020]
4. Umwelt Bundesamt (2016) Böden in Wuppertal- Deponie Eskesberg. Available at: Source link 20 Sept. 2020]
5. Biologische Station Mittlere Wupper (2009) Jahresbericht 2008. Solingen. [Weblink unavailable in 2020]
6. Nobis, H. L. (2011) Eskesberg. Eine Deponie mit der Folgenutzung Naturschutzgebiet. Wuppertal. [Weblink unavailable in 2020]
7. Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf (2012) Umweltschutz-Altlasten / Bodenschutz. Sanierungsplanregelungen / -pläne. [Weblink unavailable in 2020].
8. Ingenieurgesellschaft für Planung, Beratung und Organisation. (nd.) Rehabilitation of the former Eskesberg-West landfill, Wuppertal. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 20 Sept. 2020].
9. Wikipedia. (2020). Grube Eskesberg. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 20 Sept. 2020].
10. Wuppertals Grüne Anlagen. (2011). Kalkofenpark. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 20 Sept. 2020].
Surface sealing of the Eskesberg landfill
https://www.pbo.de/fileadmin/user_upload/redakteure/fotos_referenzen/wuppertal/ofa_eskesberg03.jpg