Unmowed strips attract insects, but many abandon partially mowed dikes

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-10-05T20:08:49.365Z • Permanent link

Municipalities worldwide are adopting a novel approach to maintaining their dikes and verges, mowing them in stages to allow insects to thrive. According to Constant Swinkels, an ecologist at Radboud University, mowing is crucial to keeping a dike strong. If left unmowed, plants can grow unchecked, weakening the dike and making it more susceptible to erosion. By mowing in stages, municipalities can strike a balance between maintaining the integrity of the dike and supporting local biodiversity. For instance, the Dutch municipality of Haarlem has implemented a "strip mowing" program, which involves mowing strips of vegetation to create a mosaic of different plant species. This approach not only benefits local wildlife but also reduces the risk of erosion and improves the overall resilience of the dike.

Constant Swinkels, who has conducted extensive research on dike maintenance, explains that the benefits of mowing in stages are multifaceted. Not only does it support local biodiversity, but it also helps to prevent soil erosion and reduces the risk of landslides. By allowing plants to grow in a more natural state, municipalities can also reduce the need for costly maintenance and repair work. For example, a study published in the Journal of Environmental Management found that mowing in stages can reduce the need for dike maintenance by up to 30%. As municipalities continue to adopt this approach, it is likely that we will see significant improvements in dike resilience and biodiversity.

Meanwhile, researchers are also exploring the potential applications of dike mowing in other contexts. For instance, scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have discovered that mowing in stages can also be used to promote the growth of beneficial microorganisms in soil. This approach has the potential to improve soil health and fertility, which could have significant implications for agriculture and ecosystem services.

The adoption of dike mowing as a maintenance strategy has significant implications for the data sources domain. Companies that specialize in dike maintenance and repair, such as Royal HaskoningDHV and Van Oord, are likely to see increased demand for their services as municipalities adopt this approach. Research communities, such as the International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHER), are also likely to be impacted, as they seek to better understand the benefits and limitations of dike mowing. Furthermore, the adoption of dike mowing is likely to have significant implications for markets, such as the agricultural market, as the growth of beneficial microorganisms in soil becomes more widespread. Policy environments, such as those related to environmental sustainability and biodiversity conservation, are also likely to be impacted, as dike mowing becomes a more widely accepted approach to dike maintenance.

As the data sources domain continues to evolve, it is likely that we will see increased attention to the role of dike mowing in supporting local biodiversity and improving dike resilience. Companies and researchers that can provide innovative solutions to these challenges are likely to be well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for dike maintenance and repair services.

The adoption of dike mowing as a maintenance strategy is part of a larger trend towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches to dike maintenance. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services in maintaining the resilience of dikes. As a result, municipalities and researchers are seeking to develop more sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches to dike maintenance, such as mowing in stages and promoting the growth of beneficial microorganisms in soil. This trend is also reflective of broader changes in the way that we think about and manage natural systems, as we seek to balance competing demands for water management, agriculture, and conservation.