Koggenland simplifies home insulation with new wildlife protection plan
Residents of Koggenland can soon insulate their homes more easily without individual ecological surveys. The municipality is mapping protected species like bats and swifts to create a unified permit system, reducing costs and bureaucracy for homeowners.
| Key Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Municipality | Koggenland |
| Survey Period | March – September 2026 |
| Protected Species | House sparrows, common swifts, bats |
| Survey Method | Observations from public roads, rear paths, and nighttime monitoring |
| Consultancy Firm | Vonk Ecologie |
| Goal | Single Environmental Permit for home insulation across the municipality |
| Contact for Residents | Sandy Pauw (S.Pauw@Koggenland.nl, 06 25 69 72 22) |
The municipality of Koggenland is responsible for local environmental policy and urban development, including balancing housing improvements with wildlife protection. This initiative streamlines permit processes to support sustainable home upgrades while complying with national biodiversity regulations.
Read the full translated article below
Municipality commissions ecological survey of protected animal species
From March through September, the municipality will conduct ecological surveys in various neighborhoods in Koggenland. The survey will map where protected animal species reside. The results will be used to develop a Species Management Plan, which aims to make it easier for residents to insulate their homes in the future.
The Species Management Plan will document where protected species such as house sparrows, common swifts, and bats occur and how to account for them, for example, when insulating homes. By mapping this information across the entire area, the municipality can apply for a single joint Environmental Permit from the province. This means residents will no longer need to commission their own ecological surveys when insulating their homes.
For the survey, the municipality has engaged ecological consultancy Vonk Ecologie. During the survey period, researchers will walk or cycle through various neighborhoods. They will wear recognizable orange or yellow reflective vests and carry equipment such as binoculars, flashlights, and bat detectors to observe bats. The researchers will examine facades, roofs, and gutters of homes, always from public roads and sometimes from rear paths.
Nighttime survey
The researchers will visit neighborhoods multiple times between March and September. Part of the survey will take place in the evening and at night, as some species, such as bats, are primarily active during these times.
Residents with questions about the survey or who notice anything unusual can contact Sandy Pauw of the Sustainability Team via S.Pauw@Koggenland.nl or 06 25 69 72 22. More information is also available at koggenland.nl.