Nature protection and biodiversity - Drivers and pressures (Netherlands)

The decrease in biodiversity in the Netherlands over the past century is mainly caused by the transition to intensive, large-scale agriculture. Agricultural land was optimised by lowering water tables and by the use of fertilisers and pesticides. Low-production, small-size parcels were enlarged and improved, leaving less room for natural elements alongside them. Extension of productive agricultural land led to loss of natural habitat loss and ecosystems. The reduction in nature areas resulted in increasing fragmentation of ecosystems.

Intensive livestock farming, especially of pigs and cattle, led to high emissions of ammonia and phosphorus (Figure 9, 10). Atmospheric nitrogen deposition on terrestrial ecosystems and the input of nitrogen and phosphorus in water made habitats and species that depend on nutrient-poor or wet conditions decrease even more.

In addition, building activities, such as roads and urban expansions, also led to habitat loss and a fragmentation of nature areas. Species with large home ranges, for example, otters and pine martens, find it difficult to survive in fragmented ecosystems. In aquatic ecosystems, migrating fish need access to the entire water system, but are hindered by dams that are used to regulate these water systems.

Figure 9. Environmental pressures are decreasing in the Netherlands, although the targets have not been reached. SEBI indicator 9. Source: PBL, 2009.

Figure 10. Agricultural nitrogen and phosphate surplus decreased over the past decades in the Netherlands. However, the nitrogen surplus has been stabilising over the past years. SEBI indicator 19/20. Source: Van Veen et al., 2008.