Rotterdam harbour looks to rabbits to help with expansion

The Rotterdam port is exploring an unconventional method to aid its expansion efforts: introducing rabbits into the surrounding dunes. The Dutch government, city of Rotterdam, and the Port Authority have allocated €50 million for nature conservation measures, which include releasing rabbits to promote a "robust dune ecosystem that is resistant to nitrogen deposition."

This initiative aims to address the lack of permits for new businesses and the expansion of existing enterprises due to nitrogen pollution restrictions in protected areas near the port. The native rabbit population has dwindled due to infectious diseases, but reintroducing them could alleviate gridlock caused by a 2019 Council of State ruling that deemed the government's nitrogen reduction strategy in violation of EU directives.

The Rotterdam Port Authority's project plan, titled "Roadmap to the granting of nature permits in the Port of Rotterdam," also proposes using exotic plants and insects to further enhance the environment. However, despite recent efforts, reducing nitrogen pollution in the Netherlands has proven challenging, with successive governments struggling to find solutions. In June, the Dutch cabinet approved a €20 billion package of measures to tackle the issue.