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.
