In the Netherlands, state-owned water company PWN and three water filtration companies are working to preserve the water supply of the country’s dune lands, by introducing livestock to ensure the health of the ecosystem.
In 2007, bison and other large grazers were introduced into the Dutch dunelands, an area from which water is drawn to serve 4.4 million people (15-20% of national water supply). As Mongabay reports, “the grazers keep tree and shrub growth in check and allow the dune ecosystem, home to 50 percent of the country’s biodiversity, to reach optimal ecological health.”
Since their introduction, the grazers have helped maintain the ecological health of the area, whilst preserving the water supply. Prior to this, there had be no bison in the Netherlands for thousands of years.
