Rural area

In rural areas, the quality of the landscape, soil fertility, and biodiversity are declining. Finding solutions to challenges such as flooding, drought, land subsidence, CO2 and nitrogen emissions is becoming increasingly urgent. The recognition that these challenges need to be tackled is broadly acknowledged.  The willingness to change is widespread, but the question of how these challenges should be faced remains. 

Innovative landscape development

Stroming advocates for the development of circular landscapes. This is an innovative form of landscape development. This development is a tool to incorporate natural, societal and financial benefits and thereby improve the quality of the environment. Stroming has gained over 25 years of experience in addressing societal and environmental challenges through landscape development. The momentum is there as the national government, provinces, and municipalities will need to develop landscape visions under the new Environmental Act. In our view, a comprehensive, coherent vision at a landscape scale - incorporating a mix of sustainable agriculture, climate buffers, peatland revitalization, recreation, and various other functions - is the starting point for the necessary improvement.

New MARKEN

Stroming often collaborates with a mix of stakeholders in rural areas in the process of developing a vision to realise the dream. A good example is the 'New Marken' vision, where agricultural land is converted into a nature reserve with affordable housing covering only 5% of the area. The first New Marken has been realized in the municipality of Smallingerland. Interest in similar projects is growing, and more New Marken will follow.