Content overview: “Staged Mowing of Dikes Can Help Insects, But Many Municipalities Abandon the Practice”. As concerns over declining insect populations grow, some municipalities are adopting phased mowing of dikes and roadside verges to give pollinators and other insects longer access to flowering plants. Ecologist Constant Swinkels of Radboud University explains that mowing remains essential for dike safety, as untended vegetation like trees or blackberries can develop thick roots that undermine dike stability. However, Swinkels notes that many municipalities struggle to maintain partial mowing schedules, often reverting to full mowing due to practical challenges or public pressure for tidy landscapes.
The practice, while beneficial for biodiversity, requires careful timing and communication to balance ecological goals with flood protection. As climate change increases extreme weather, the resilience of dikes is paramount, but so is the need to support insect populations that underpin ecosystems and agriculture. The full version stays on the original page, which this listing opens directly.