Environment protection areas in the Netherlands, 2002
In 2002, approximately 1 million hectares of the Netherlands were designated as environment protection areas. Environment protection areas are areas where the quality of one or more environmental aspects require special protection.
Size of environment protection areas
Approximately 1 million hectares of the Netherlands have been designated environment protection areas by provincial authorities (situation as at 1 January 2002). Environment protection areas are areas where the quality of one or more environmental aspects require special protection.
Changes compared to 1995
Compared to 1995, there have been a number of changes (see also Schotten et al., 2003):
- In the province of Groningen, soil protection areas are now also included in environment protection areas.
- The province of North Brabant does not have any environment protection areas (integrated or otherwise), but it does have sectoral areas, such as noise abatement zones, areas designated under the nature protection act and water protection areas.
- In the province of Gelderland, the environment protection areas were replaced in 1997 by environmental action areas. Here, the province means "areas with valuable nature and a relatively high environmental burden. The aim in these areas is to accelerate the improvement of the environmental and aquatic conditions for nature. The regulations for these action areas are not stricter." (Schotten et al, 2003).
What are environment protection areas?
Under the Environmental Management Act, provincial authorities can designate areas where the quality of one or more environmental aspects requires special protection. The Environmental Management Act contains regulations indicating what is allowed and forbidden in these areas.
Most environment protection areas (approximately 610 areas) are 'sectoral environment protection areas'. These are areas where the nature, soil and groundwater are protected. More and more provincial authorities have started to designate integral environment protection areas where several aspects are protected (IPO, 2002).
The files used as a basis for the map date from 1997 for Drenthe and Gelderland to 2001 for Overijssel and Zeeland.
What are the differences between environment protection areas and areas covered by the Subsidy Scheme for Area-Based Policy (SGB)?
The provincial authorities have designated 78 areas which qualify for national subsidies under the Subsidy Scheme for Area-Based Policy (Subsidieregeling Gebiedsgericht Beleid: SGB). They are areas where there are linked, multiple problems in the areas of agriculture, nature, landscape, recreation, cultural history, water and the environment.
Environment protection areas have no direct relationship with SGB areas. The environment protection areas are set up as a basis for the implementation of regulations. Subsidies are available for SGB areas for projects aimed at resolving problems.
Problems in environment protection areas can sometimes also be solved via specific projects. If an environment protection area is also a designated SGB area, the costs can be covered in part through the SGB scheme.
