News Nitrogen plan
Nitrogen approach cabinet: major intervention in livestock
In many parts of the Netherlands, nitrogen emissions must be reduced by 70%. This concerns 131 areas close to vulnerable nature, NOS reports. This means that not all farmers can continue with their business, according to the nitrogen plans that the cabinet today brought out. LTO Nederland calls the plans an 'unrealistic clear cut.'
Agractie has already announced earlier today (June 10) a national day of action against the nitrogen plans announced on Wednesday 22 June. The National Program for Rural Areas states per area how much nitrogen emissions must be reduced by 2030 to give nature a chance to recover. In some it is 12%, but there are also 131 where it is very significant. They are spread all over the country, within a kilometer of a protected Natura 2000 area. The government has made €24,3 billion available for the approach, on top of existing resources (€7 billion).
After the Council of Ministers, Minister Christianne van der Wal of Nature and Nitrogen will present the National Program for Rural Areas, including the guiding goals for each area. This with the aim of achieving a nitrogen reduction of 2030% by 50. In conjunction, agriculture minister Henk Staghouwer (ChristenUnie) outlines the perspective of permanent farmers (more on that later).
The provinces must make clear before 1 July 2023 how they intend to achieve the goals. The area-oriented approach must show whether enough farmers in the areas where the cabinet wants it are prepared to stop. "The moment that gradually, regardless of what the goals are, the goals are not in sight, the provinces know that I will intervene," said Minister Van der Wal on Tuesday during question time in the House. She also said: We do not order the provinces to reduce an x percentage of the livestock. We provide guidelines for each area, depending on the quality of the area, for nitrogen, for the Water Framework Directive and for climate. These targets, which must inevitably be established by July 1, 2023, will result in a reduction in livestock numbers. But it's not an end in itself."
Especially dictations from above
LTO Nederland responded quickly to the cabinet plans. "The cabinet's proposals represent an unrealistic clear-cut. Of the countryside, of farmers and horticulturists, but also of nature. Despite a few empathetic words, we mainly see dictates from above, against the agreements in the coalition agreement. That will not work, " says Sjaak van der Tak, chairman of LTO Netherlands in the statement "The cabinet relies on calculations and gets stuck in a legal morass of unworkable standards. The responsibility is shifted to the provinces. The impasse that arises helps nature moreover, not. That is such a shame, especially because broadly supported, realistic proposals have been made by farmers, nature and business organizations.With room for nuance, innovation and a democratic process from the bottom up. If this continues to be felt by the government's route farmers and horticulturists little hope."
The Ministry of Nature and Nitrogen has illustrated the targets per area in the following map.
(MORE LATER)
Linda van Eekeres
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