Opinions about the creation of nature areas and nature conservation

Nature conservation enjoys a great deal of public support in the Netherlands. People consider that it is more important to protect existing nature areas than to develop new ones.

Current situation

Most of the Dutch population (93%) consider nature conservation to be important. More than 75% are also in favour of creating new nature areas. Support for nature conservation has declined somewhat compared to 1997.

Young people, farmers, nature management volunteers, birdwatchers and immigrants consider it more important to protect existing nature areas than to create new ones. Nature management volunteers and birdwatchers, in particular, consider nature conservation and the creation of new nature areas to be important. The lowest level of support for creating new nature areas is found among farmers.

Technical note

The information presented is based on a representative survey of the Dutch population carried out in 1997 and 2001 to determine the level of support for nature and nature policy. The information on the opinions of individual groups is taken from the survey carried out in 2001.

References

• Boer, T.A. en R. Schulting (2001). Zorg(en) voor natuur. Draagvlak voor natuur en natuurbeleid in 2001. Rapport 453 Alterra. Wageningen.
• Buijs, A.E. en C.M. Volker (1997). Publiek draagvlak voor natuur en natuurbeleid. Rapport 546 Staring Centrum. Wageningen.