Regular agricultural land cannot be designated as nitrogen-sensitive nature. If that has happened, then it must be reversed, says Minister Schouten.
During the nitrogen debate on Thursday evening (10 December) in the House of Representatives, Schouten responded to questions from MPs Jaco Geurts of the CDA and Roelof Bisschop of the SGP about 'adding nature' to the Aerius model.
Agrifacts Foundation
The Agrifacts Foundation (STAF) raised this issue in mid-November because farmers noticed that their land in Aerius has been registered as nitrogen-sensitive nature. This concerns farmers with farmlands in Birds Directive areas, such as in the floodplains and in areas with a 'meadow bird package'. Because the lands are registered as nitrogen-sensitive, some farms have suddenly become peak-loaded in nitrogen regulations, according to the foundation.
All farmers report that the addition of nitrogen-sensitive nature on their land was done without their knowledge. Together with Mark Harbers, Member of Parliament for the VVD, Geurts has therefore submitted a motion that prescribes more transparency if the intention is to designate private land as nitrogen-sensitive nature. In any case, it is therefore not possible to do this with regular agricultural land, says the minister. That is why Geurts now assumes that the maps in Aerius will be adjusted as a result of this minister's statement.
Agricultural collectives nature management
According to Geurts, there has been a lot of unrest among collectives for agricultural nature management. If it is true that grassland with a meadow bird package has been designated as nitrogen-sensitive nature, then this will damage confidence in the government. The minister is not happy with that signal, as these collectives play an important role in improving nature. In the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the European Union, the role of these collectives will only increase, as sustainability and nature goals will be rewarded much more than they are now. Geurts: "It cannot be the case that the reward means that agricultural land with a nature management package loses the status of regular agricultural land."
The minister's promise that regular agricultural land cannot be regarded as nitrogen-sensitive nature does raise the question of what is meant by regular agricultural land. What about soil in floodplains, for example, Geurts wonders.
© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.
