Problem and Knowledge Gap: The climate is changing rapidly, outpacing the adaptation of sand landscapes in The Netherlands. This disparity is leading to significant productivity losses due to droughts, flood damages, and biodiversity decline. To develop resilient sand landscapes that can cope with climate change, a deep understanding of the natural water-carbon-nutrient dynamics in these landscapes is essential. Additionally, we need to anticipate how these dynamics will evolve with ongoing climate changes. By understanding the natural development trajectories of landscapes, we can expedite the adaptation process, designing land and water systems that harmonize with new climatic conditions. Despite extensive research on landscape evolution in response to climate, these insights have not been fully applied to creating climate-robust systems. We propose re-activating the natural resilience of Dutch sand landscapes by mimicking natural water-climate relationships, termed Nature Inspired Watershed-scale Guiding Principles (NIPs). Our goal is to derive these NIPs from natural and historical reference landscapes.
Research Questions:
1. What are the natural reference quantities and spatial patterns of water infiltration, usage, storage, and river flows in Dutch sand landscapes under current and future climates?
2. How do current Dutch anthropogenic landscapes compare to these natural reference ranges?
3. How do spatial patterns of water flow and storage impact carbon sequestration and nutrient flows under current and future climates?
4. What is the expected trajectory of landscape changes with ongoing climate change, and what are the controlling hydrological and biochemical mechanisms?
5. Which anthropogenic land uses or combinations can effectively mimic the natural functions of the water system?
By understanding and applying these principles, we aim to enhance the resilience of Dutch sand landscapes to climate change.