Nature management organisations: nature areas and access to them
The Netherlands has a total of some 550 000 hectares of nature areas; most of this is open to the public.
| Nature area managers, size of their property and access | ||
| Manager | Area | Access |
| hectares | % | |
| State Forest Service | 201.335 | 87% |
| Society for the Preservation of Nature Reserves in the Netherlands | 84.329 | 93% |
| Provincial Nature Conservation Societies | 87.604 | 83% |
| Ministry of Defence | 17.500 | 80% |
| Municipalities | 43.153 | Almost all |
| Private forest/woodland and estate owners | 123.500 | To a large extent |
| Source: various | Alterra/NC/Nov02 | |
Size: current situation
Besides public organisations (including the State Forest Service, the Ministry of Defence, municipalities) and private organisations (including the Society for the Preservation of Nature Reserves in the Netherlands, the 12 provincial Landschappen (Provincial Nature Conservation Societies), there are also a large number of private landowners (including owners of country estates) whose property includes nature areas. The largest management body is Staatsbosbeheer (the State Forest Service), followed by the Provincial Nature Conservation Societies (taken together) and Natuurmonumenten (the Society for the Preservation of Nature Reserves in the Netherlands). The Ministry of Defence also manages a large number of nature areas.
Access to nature areas: current situation
Most nature areas are open to the public. The State Forest Service has provided access to 87% of its nature areas. Another 10% can be "enjoyed at a certain distance". The objective of the Service is to provide access to 90% of the nature areas that it manages; it wishes to keep only the most vulnerable closed to the public. The Society for the Preservation of Nature Reserves in the Netherlands aims to maximise access and prevent disturbance of vulnerable areas by means of a zoning system. The Provincial Nature Conservation Societies also aim to maximise access, with only vulnerable areas being subject to certain access restrictions or only accessible under supervision.
Technical note
The information on the areas managed by the State Forest Service, the Society for the Preservation of Nature Reserves in the Netherlands and the Provincial Nature Conservation Societies was provided by those organisations early in 2001. The information on municipalities is based on the 2000 Annual Report of the Bosschap (the forestry industry board); only areas larger than 5 hectares are included. The Bosschap states that areas of more than 5 hectares amount in total to more than 53 500 hectares. There are another 70 000 hectares made up of areas smaller than 5 hectares. The statistics given for municipalities and private parties refer exclusively to forest/woodland. No information is available on access to these areas but it is obvious that most of them are open to the public.
References
- Bosschap (2001). Jaarverslag 2000 '2000 op hoofdlijnen'. Bosschap. Zeist.
- Kuiper, L.C. (ed.) (1999). Nederlands bos in beeld. Stichting ProBos. Zeist.
