News Nitrogen
'Assessing nature solely on deposition is bizarre'
When assessing the nitrogen sensitivity of nature, the government should not only look at the critical deposition value (KDW) of nature areas. In particular, it should also check whether nature is in a good state or can be brought about through things such as water level adjustment.
This is what the agricultural spokespersons for VVD and CDA, Thom van Campen and Derk Boswijk, said during a working visit to Eemland. In doing so, they responded to questions from farmers about outdated reports on the conservation status of natural areas. Many governments still use this as a benchmark for protecting vulnerable nature.
Transparent update process
These reports must be updated quickly and in a transparent manner, Boswijk and Van Campen agree with the farmers. Boswijk: "We also believe that there should be an approach per area, instead of a generic approach. We have to look at what an area needs and act on it. Enforcement based on the KDW alone, even if nature itself is in good condition is bizarre."
The two MPs were also united in their assessment of the PAS reporters, who are still awaiting clarity. They must be helped, partly because the government makes available nitrogen space to them. According to them, such a policy should also apply to companies that have innovated and have encountered problems precisely because of this. They also spoke out strongly against the maintenance of permits for PAS reporters by governments, because this category of farmers is in fact defenseless.
Animals Act
Among the farmers in Eemland there was also the question of what should be done with the Animals Act, which, at the request of the Party for the Animals, includes an amendment that seems to prohibit the commercial keeping of animals. Van Campen and Boswijk indicated that a solution to this problem may be found in the cabinet formation, although they are not allowed to say anything concrete about it.
Klaas van der Horst
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