Agrarian nature conservation organisations: management contracts

Agrarian nature conservation organisations frequently enter into contracts with the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality but also with a considerable number of other bodies.

Current situation

The main agrarian nature management scheme is the Management Programme run by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (Ministery of LNV). Subsidies are also available from the provinces, municipalities, water boards etc.

In 2001, 71% of the agrarian nature conservation organisations entered into contracts for nature or landscape management with one or more financiers. A total of 61% of the associations have entered into contracts within the framework of the Management Programme (see figure). This involved collective meadow bird packages (35% of the associations), other meadow bird packages (9%), botanical grassland packages (27%), landscape packages (24%) and arable land packages (21%). Arable land packages mainly involve field margins. A large number of contracts were also concluded with provinces and municipalities. Provinces provide funding mainly for landscape maintenance work and the construction of ponds; municipalities provide funding for verge management and the maintenance of landscape elements.

In 96% of the area where agrarian nature conservation organisations are active, it is possible for farmers to qualify for funding for agrarian nature management and landscape management. A number of associations have not however entered into contracts within the framework of the Management Programme. This may be because in 2000 the budget for agrarian nature management was insufficient to cover all the applications submitted.

Technical note

The data are from a survey of agrarian nature conservation organisations carried out early in 2001. The questionnaire was sent to all known agrarian nature conservation organisations (total: 110). The Boermarken in Drenthe - long-standing partnerships between farmers who manage communal land - were not included in the survey. The response was 68%, but in some cases respondents did not answer all the questions. Absolute numbers therefore need to be interpreted with caution. The primary significance of the results is that they enable comparisons to be made.

References

• Oerlemans, N., J. A. Guldemond en E. van Well (2001). Agrarische natuurverenigingen in opkomst. Een eerste verkenning naar natuurbeheeractiviteiten van agrarische natuurverenigingen. Planbureau-werk in uitvoering. Intern werkdocument 2001/12 Natuurplanbureau. Wageningen.
• For more information about the Ministry of LNV see: www.minlnv.nl/international