Hoogland's Comfort Canopy

3.1.2 Environmental Strategy
The survival of genetically healthy plant and animal
species depends on sufficient availability of habitats
suitable for all phases of that species' life. In
the Netherlands, many nature reserves are too
small to support all life phases and to ensure sufficient
population mingling. The nature reserves,
therefore, need to be connected to smaller green
landscape features to form a continuous green infrastructure
incorporating a variety of habitats. The
existence of a green infrastructure also enables
plants and animals to move as the habitats they
need to shift geographically under the influence of
climate change.
On the other hand, it is essential to close the natural
cycles of carbon, phosphorus and nitrogen. The
considered environmental cycles can be seen in
Figure 3.1.2. Plants are necessary for sequestration
of carbon and nitrogen. Food waste should be
composted to keep the nutrients within. Luckily,
there is a net energy-positive waste water treatment
plant with phosphorus recovery in Amersfoort,
as high-grade phosphate is increasingly
scarce, although phosphorus demand is expected
to increase over the long term due to population
growth and dietary changes (Kox & Geraats, 2016).
Hoogland is suitable to realise
a respective symbiosis between
human and nature. By
creating natural habitats
where each species can sustain
its natural duty, such as
pollinators with flowers and
crops, predators against
pests, maintenance free
green areas can be given to
the public. Animals like
chicken and sheep will also
result in a more colourful environment
while they maintain
the grass tand their excrement
can be used as fertiliser.
Water-friendly gardens cut
down water usage but are still
beautiful.
Figure 3.1.2: Environmental cycles to protect
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