Brabant continues with nature restoration around Natura 2000

The Brabant provincial government had previously announced its commitment to achieving legal goals in the areas of nature, water, and climate, as well as a sustainable future for agriculture.

Deputy Hagar Roijackers (Nature, Environment and Rural Area Approach): “In recent years, we have realized many nature and water projects with our partners and worked on reducing the nitrogen blanket that harms our Brabant nature. In addition, we are constantly in dialogue with landowners and stakeholders about what is still possible and where changes are needed, for example in the areas of the area-specific approach (GGA). But unfortunately, we are not there yet. Our nature areas also suffer from water extraction and the use of crop protection products in the immediate vicinity of these areas. The time has now come to address this so that nature does not deteriorate further and can recover in the long term, and so that permit issuance can become possible again.”

Perspective for agricultural entrepreneurs: what is possible in transitional areas?

What is possible in these transitional areas? In practice, land use will mostly become more extensive. Grasslands and thus ground-bound (dairy) livestock farming are important to counteract drying out and reduce nutrient leaching. The province therefore wants to preserve and stimulate these in these areas. But the province also wants arable farming to remain possible, under certain conditions (such as organic cultivation) and where suitable within a restored water system.

To offer entrepreneurs perspective and arrive at a proportional approach, the province is investigating whether certain activities, such as the use of organic crop protection products or spot spraying near Natura 2000 areas, are good alternatives that do not cause negative effects on nature. In addition, the province wants to support entrepreneurs to adapt to the desired situation, for example through land consolidation.

Exploratory talks

In an exploratory round of talks, the province spoke with various partners. There is support for working towards more sustainable land use around Natura 2000 areas. However, there are different views on the route to get there. The agricultural sector clearly does not want a mandatory track. Meanwhile, interest groups from nature, municipalities, and water boards mostly endorse the value of a mandatory track – also in relation to reopening Brabant for permit issuance. All parties call for the possibility of customized solutions.

More clarity before summer 2026

Due to the urgency to achieve legal objectives in the areas of water and nature and the desire for more clarity for entrepreneurs, the province is now taking a step. For the part ‘Assessment of current activities and permit issuance’ in the Natura 2000 management plans, an update will be made before summer 2026 in one go. This applies to all 17 Natura 2000 areas for which the Province of North Brabant is the administrative lead. The province will also establish an enforcement approach that will provide insight into where supervision and enforcement will be prioritized.

This means the transitional area approach will become an integral part of the existing legally required Natura 2000 management plans per area. Entrepreneurs around Natura 2000 areas will thus have clarity about permit requirements for crop protection products and water extractions.
There will also remain room for high-productivity sustainable agriculture in Brabant, including food production. In these areas, the province encourages reducing the impact of chemical crop protection products, among other things through the Crop Protection Products Action Plan.

National funds urgently needed

At the end of 2024, the province announced it would develop policy for transitional areas. In the meantime, the outgoing Cabinet Schoof decided in the parliamentary letter “start package Netherlands off the lock” to start the approach regarding zoning/strip policy in the Veluwe (province of Gelderland) and De Peel (provinces of Limburg and North Brabant).
The Brabant problems around preventing deterioration in Natura 2000 areas are, however, bigger than De Peel alone and broader than just nitrogen deposition. The approach for transitional areas is therefore necessary, according to the province. It also emphasizes that help from the national government for financing this is indeed needed.

Reopening Brabant for permits

Brabant has expressed in the administrative agreement ‘Together we make Brabant’ the ambition to keep Brabant open for important economic and social developments.
At the moment, many permit procedures for, among others, housing, energy, mobility, and agriculture are stalled because nature is in poor condition. The province wants to make permit issuance possible again and take steps with partners to restore nature, water, and soil.

As a follow-up to the 2024 established Rural Area Approach Plan, the Brabant government has meanwhile also established the Water Framework Directive (WFD) impulse Brabant and the Brabant Nitrogen Development Approach (BOS 2.0). The Crop Protection Products Action Plan will also be published soon.