Homepage MNP Homepage CBS Homepage WUR

Impact of environmental pressure on nature in the Netherlands: introduction and policy

The consequences of environmental pressure on nature often emerge in changes to numbers and species composition in flora and fauna. A number of examples are given here of the impact on plants and animals for each environmental problem.

Impact on nature of environmental factors


Nature is affected by many environmental factors:
  • Eutrophication, acidification and desiccation affect plant and animal numbers.
  • The spread of hazardous substances such as pesticides and heavy metals involves a risk of poisoning for organisms.
  • The fact that an increasing number of species from more southern regions have been found in the Netherlands in recent years may be a result of climate change.
  • Changes in land use and the fragmentation of the landscape also have major consequences.

The relationship between environmental stress and the effects on nature is complex


The precise causes of changes in plant and animal populations are often impossible to determine without specific research. This research is often lacking. In many cases, changes in nature are the result of a complex of factors. Some factors also work indirectly (for example: desiccation of peat results in eutrophication). Alternatively, cause and effect are often separate in time and space (for example: desiccation in one area can result later in less seepage in another). This means that the causes of changes in nature are often described as 'probable' or 'presumed'.

Nature policy


Dutch nature policy was set out again in 2000 in the paper 'Natuur voor mensen, mensen voor natuur' (Nature for people, people for nature) (LNV, 2000). There is a clear extension of the nature policy in this document. Alongside objectives relating to the conservation, restoration and development of nature and landscape, it also formulates aims for the socio-economic significance of nature and landscape, such as use functions and the amount of available nature per inhabitant.

1. Area policy


The development of the National Ecological Network (Ecologische Hoofdstructuur (EHS)) is central to Dutch nature policy. The objective is to establish a high-quality linked network of nature areas in the Netherlands that will ultimately cover an area of 750,000 hectares. An additional aim is to establish more links between large and small nature areas, which are often isolated from each other. An overall picture of the EHS can be found in the Structure Plan for Green Space (LNV, 1995).

The paper 'Natuur voor mensen, mensen voor natuur' (Nature for people, people for nature) (LNV, 2000) adds robust linkage zones to the EHS policy. These constitute a supplementary instrument for the establishment of a linked network of nature areas that will function adequately. To achieve this, the government has added reserve land to existing nature areas, and agricultural land is being developed into natural landscape. The government is also entering into management agreements, mainly with farmers, in an attempt to establish management practices that will benefit both nature and landscape.
Within the EHS, it is possible to distinguish areas covered by special policy. For example, the Netherlands has national parks that are part of the EHS, and areas of exception ecological value that are covered by the Nature Conservation Act. There are also areas covered by the Birds Directive, while preparations are currently in progress for the designation of areas covered by the European Habitats Directive. However, there are also national parks that are not included in the EHS.
Given the international significance for nature of Dutch water areas and areas abounding in water, there is special policy for nature in and around water. Many of these areas are designated under the Bird and Habitat Directives. The water areas and areas abounding in water in the Netherlands fulfil not only a function for nature and landscape, but also numerous economic functions. The coordination of the nature policy and policy for the other functions is of vital importance. Policies are in place for the large rivers (for example, the 'Space for the river' policy), the regionally managed waters (opportunities for nature and water detention), and the North Sea and Wadden Sea (use and protection).

2. Green space policy


Green space includes more than just nature areas. Characteristically, functions such as housing, agriculture, nature and landscape underlying are interwoven in both national and urban areas. The degree to which justice is done to these functions depends very much on spatial policy.
Green space is the subject of a range of policy papers from central government: 'Natuur voor mensen, mensen voor natuur' (LNV, 2000), the Structure Plan for Green Space 2 (LNV, 2001), the Fifth National Policy Document on Spatial Planning (VROM, 2001a) and the Fourth National Environmental Policy Plan (VROM, 2001b). One of the objectives is to introduce more green areas around towns and cities (for example, the green network in the Randstad conurbation) and to establish a high-quality rural area.

3. Species policy


On the international level, a lot of importance is attached to maintaining biodiversity. This is seen in agreements such as the Bern Convention (1979) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992), but also in European directives such as the Birds Directive (1981) and Habitats Directive (1992). The Netherlands has subscribed to these conventions and is bound by the European directives. The Flora and Fauna Act (2002) implements the European Habitats Directive, and constitutes the statutory basis for the species policy in the Netherlands. In order to fulfil the resulting commitments, amendments to the Nature Conservation Act are also in the pipeline. The Habitats Directive and the resulting species policy in the Netherlands also open up the possibility of providing protection for flora and fauna outside protected nature areas - in multifunctional rural areas.

References


  • RIVM, CBS and Stichting DLO (2002). Nature Compendium 2002. RIVM, Statistics Netherlands and Stichting DLO (2000). Bilthoven, Voorburg/Heerlen, Wageningen.
  • RIVM and Stichting DLO (2002). Natuurverkenning 2, 2000-2030. Kluwer, Alphen aan de Rijn.
  • RIVM and Stichting DLO (2002). Natuurbalans 2002. Kluwer, Alphen aan den Rijn.
  • LNV (2000). Natuur voor mensen, mensen voor natuur. Nota natuur, bos en landschap in de 21e eeuw. Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, The Hague.
  • LNV (2001). Structuurschema groene ruimte 2: samen werken aan groen Nederland. Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, The Hague.
  • VROM (2001a). Ruimte maken, ruimte delen. Vijfde Nota over de Ruimtelijke ordening 2000/2020. Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, The Hague.
  • VROM (2001b). National Environmental Policy Plan 4. Working on sustainability: Where there's a will there's a world. Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, The Hague.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium
This page was last changed on November 25, 2005  (version 01).