Project
Herstelstrategieën voor stikstofgevoelige natuur
Within the framework of the Birds and Habitat Directive, the National government has the statutory duty to achieve a favorable conservation status of European protected habitats and species.
The conservation status of many habitat types and species is unfavorable, partly as a result of a large nitrogen deposition level in the Netherlands over the past decades.
Therefore, the task of the National government and provinces is to achieve the conservation objectives.
In view of the great urgency of the nitrogen problems in Dutch nature areas and the further implementation of the new structural nitrogen approach, it is of great importance that effective restoration measures are taken for European protected habitats and species in- and outside the Natura 2000 network.
Restoration measures are aimed to mitigate the impact of nitrogen deposition on natural values. The Minister has also announced to have the objective to achieve 65% target reach for the Birds and Habitats directive (VHR) in 2027. Currently, the realisation of the VHR goals amounts ca. 55%.
In addition to a package of nitrogen reducing measures an acceleration and intensification of measures for nature conservation and restoration has been announced. This has been done for the realisation of the favorable state of conservation goals in Natura 2000 areas.
Restoration measures can not be repeatedly applied, therefore a significant reduction of nitrogen emission is absolutely necessary.
A long-term package of source measures has been announced within the framework of the structural nitrogen approach.
The aim is to bring nitrogen deposition below the critical deposition levels (KDW) on at least 50% of the hectares with nitrogen sensitive nature in Natura 2000 sites by 2030. Therefore, much work has to be done.
This project directly offers support with improvement of the target reach by describing effective nature restoration measures to mitigate the negative impact of the high nitrogen deposition levels in Dutch nature areas. These measures are defined and described per habitattype and per habitat of VHR-species.