From land purchase to nature management II: ex ante evaluation of a change in Netherlands' nature policy

Extra effort needed to achieve the desired result from the 'turnabout' of nature conservation policy

The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (MNP) has compared nature conservation by official nature conservation organisations, by private landowners and by farmers with respect to factors such as willingness to participate, ecological results and economic effects. MNP’s conclusion is that the 'turnabout' will simply not have the desired effect. Thus far, there is too little interest in private nature conservation. If the policy remains as it is, agricultural nature conservation will seldom achieve the conservation targets that are indeed met by official nature conservation organisations.

Private nature conservation does appear economically attractive for the participants, and participation could be improved with specific individual advice and support from the government. Agricultural nature conservation requires supplementary policy in relation to continuity and nature development options, and it also needs supplementary financial compensation. Considering that agricultural nature conservation is cheaper than management by official nature conservation organisations, there is potential to negotiate such changes.