STAF: Province creates peak nitrogen load rates itself

The Province of Gelderland creates peak loads itself by adding new nature to livestock farms. The province has opted for nitrogen-sensitive nature, so that this nature counts for the nitrogen policy. As a result, these livestock farms are now known as major peak loaders. This is what the AgriFacts Foundation (STAF) reports after an investigation.

According to STAF, this could have been prevented with a simple action for many companies. If Gelderland had maintained a distance of 100 meters from these companies for its nature development, the peak load would have been reduced by half. At 250 meters that is 65%, the organization reports.

The new nature has now been marked closely against the livestock farms and has also been given the destination of nitrogen-sensitive nature. According to STAF, the province has already registered this on the habitat map in the Aerius Purchase Calculator, with the result that the livestock farms are now rolling out of the program as a significant peak loader. According to STAF, the national government uses the Purchase Calculator to determine which companies are peak-loaders and are eligible for purchase.

Not visible to the public
Gelderland established the update plan for new nature areas to be realised, in 2017. Search areas have been designated for a total of 7.300 hectares, in order to eventually be able to realize 5.300 hectares of new nature. The province has already marked these search areas in Aerius and counting, STAF argues in a statement, already contribute to the nitrogen policy. The foundation notes that these new areas cannot be seen in the so-called Aerius Monitor, the tool that the government has made available to the public. 

STAF notes that, especially in the Rhine tributaries, numerous search areas for nitrogen-sensitive nature have been drawn up, totaling an estimated 5.000 hectares. These areas are regularly almost signed against companies, the organization reports in a statement. The nitrogen-sensitive nature and part of the company lie in the same hexagon. "Aerius Aankoopcalculator calculates an enormous peak load for these companies. If the province had kept a distance of 100 meters from these companies for its nature development, the peak load was half less. At 250 meters that is 65%," concludes STAF.

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