Gelderland scraps nitrogen-sensitive soil

The Province of Gelderland has removed 2.000 hectares of agricultural land from the maps showing the nitrogen-sensitive nature in the Natura 2000 areas. This concerns land in the Gelderland part of the Rhine Branches Natura 2000 area. Further research is needed for about 2.200 hectares in the same area.  

The changed maps will be used when updating the Aerius calculation program in October 2021, the Province of Gelderland announced today (Wednesday 9 June). The province is investigating the status of the areas, after questions from the Provincial Council and the House of Representatives. To this end plays research by the Agrifacts Foundation an important role in this as well. The province manages the maps on which nitrogen-sensitive nature is indicated. These maps are used in Aerius to calculate whether there are nitrogen effects on nitrogen-sensitive nature, and whether a permit is therefore required. 

Fieldwork
In recent months, the Province of Gelderland has been able to partially determine, based on an analysis of geographical information files, that there is no nitrogen-sensitive habitat. The parcels concerned can be found on the website of the province around 1 July. An external agency has been hired for 2.200 hectares to conduct further research in the field this summer. The provincial authorities will include the results of this in the assessment of permit applications once the research and the maps are ready. The adjustment in Aerius will follow for these areas in 2022, according to Gelderland.

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