landscape. For example, in the
300 000 hectare Altmühltal Naturpark, 38 per cent of wetlands, 21 per cent of floodplain areas and 16 per cent of reedbeds had to be destroyed to make way for the canal (Weiger, 1992). Although DM 280 million have been invested to establish new habitats and carry out ecological designs, making it the world's most expensive landscape development scheme, the canal's negative impacts on the environment are far from being mitigated (Bryson, 1992). Accompanying projects, like the creation of 55 hydroelectric power stations (Bryson, 1992), land reforms for agricultural development plans (intensification), improved flood control (Koch and Vahrenholt, 1983) and recreational projects for several large artificial lakes have affected the natural balance in regions far beyond the direct impacts of the place of construction.
Map 21.2 - Location of the RhineMainDanube Canal
Source: EEA-TF