Nature protection and biodiversity - National Responses (Netherlands)

In 1990, the Dutch Government established the National Ecological Network to protect and expand nature areas and to reduce fragmentation. Due to this governmental policy, farmland was bought and converted to nature, leading to an increase in nature areas in the Netherlands (Figure 11). In addition, agro-environmental schemes where implemented as part of the National Ecological Network to protect biodiversity in the agricultural landscape. To diminish ecosystem fragmentation, a number of government interventions were made. First, nature areas were expanded, creating space for species requiring extended home ranges and creating connections between nature areas. Second, the construction of so-called wildlife crossings (ecoducts) were established, over and under infrastructure, allowing animals to cross these areas safely. Badgers, for example, increased in number and distribution area because of these measures. Third, fish passes in water systems are built to provide access for migrating fish to a larger part of streams.

Environmental pressure on nature areas decreased over the past decades through government interventions, although target levels have not been reached (Figure 9). The reduction in eutrophication of freshwater and marine ecosystems is mainly achieved by improved household and industrial wastewater treatment. Reduction in nitrogen emissions from farms and traffic and a reduced surplus of nitrogen and phosphorus applied to farmland (Figure 10) helped to decrease nitrogen deposition in nature areas. Groundwater tables could only be raised in a limited number of nature areas, thus, only part of the wet habitats could be recovered.

References

• Elands, B.H.M. & C.S.A. van Koppen. (2007) Public awareness and participation. Report 53.12, Statutory Research Tasks Unit for Nature and the Environment. Wageningen, the Netherlands.
• PBL. 2009. Natuurbalans 2009 (State of the Nature 2009). PBL publication 500402017, Planbureau voor de Leefomgeving, Bilthoven, the Netherlands. Report: http://www.mnp.nl/bibliotheek/rapporten/500402017.pdf; English summary: http://www.pbl.nl/images/Nature_Balance_2009_-_Summary_tcm61-44828.pdf
• Van Swaaij C. 2009. Trendanalyse doelsoorten dagvlinders ten bate van de Natuurbalans 2009. Rapport VS2009.011, Vlinderstichting, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
• Van Veen M.P., B.J.E. ten Brink, L.C. Braat and Th.C.P. Melman. 2008. Halting biodiversity loss in the Netherlands: evaluation of progress. Planbureau voor de Leefomgeving, Bilthoven, The Netherlands. http://www.rivm.nl/bibliotheek/digitaaldepot/HaltingBiodiversityLossInTheNetherlands.pdf
• Van der Weijden, W.J., R. Leewis & P. Bol. (2007) Indicatoren voor het invasieproces van exotische organismen in Nederland. Report 53.6, Statutory Research Tasks Unit for Nature and the Environment. Wageningen, the Netherlands.