Dutch breaking dykes

1993/06/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ingurumena

Even if it seems a lie, according to a plan approved in 1990, the defenses of the Dutch are breaking with the sea, so that 240,000 hectares are irrigated.

The Dutch have been fighting with the sea for a thousand years. 38% of the area of Holland (33,500 ^km2) is 6 meters below sea level, so they have been protected by levees. Now we want to add some of the levees and for this we have given six reasons. The first is financial due to the high maintenance costs of dams and agricultural irrigation systems. The second is the progressive sinking of the pavement.

The third refers to national hygiene, where intensive agriculture generates a growing pollution of the water layers. The fourth is economic, as farmers must abandon 15% of the land to collect EVD subsidies. The fifth reason is ecocultural, since most Dutch experts say that in Holland there are too many lands without ecosystems. The sixth and last reason lies in international ecology, since the placement of levees can cause an increase in sea level.