In Drenthe we have a large number of nature reserves that have a protected status, such as National Parks, Natura 2000 areas and a Geopark.
Wonderful to walk through on a beautiful day, but what is what and what is the difference? This question was asked to the editors of Kijk het uit!. We looked for the differences between the designations of the nature reserves and tried to find out why those differences exist.
A National Park is an area that has the highest protection status in the Netherlands because of its special natural values. National Parks are intended to preserve and develop both nature and the landscape. They often form a contiguous area of nature, where nature can take its course and where recreation is possible in a responsible manner.
National Parks can be designated by the government, and management is often in the hands of organizations such as Staatsbosbeheer or a local foundation. In Drenthe we find the Dwingelderveld National Park, the largest contiguous nature reserve in the province. The Dwingelderveld is an example of a National Park, with extensive heathlands, peat swamps and forests. It is an area where nature restoration is underway, for example by restoring the original heathlands.
In addition to the Dwingelderveld, Drenthe also has the Drentsche Aa National Park and the Drents-Friese Wold National Park.
Natura 2000 is a network of protected natural areas in the European Union, set up to preserve biodiversity in Europe. The network is based on two important directives: the Habitats Directive, which regulates the protection of natural habitats and wild animals, and the Birds Directive, which aims to protect bird species.
Natura 2000 areas are often also National Parks, but they are specifically designated because of their value for nature on a European scale. Drenthe has fourteen Natura 2000 areas: the Bargerveen, the Drentsche Aa, the Drents-Friese Wold, the Drouwenerzand, the Dwingelderveld, the Elperstroom, the Fochteloërveen, the Holtingerveld, the Leekstermeer, the Mantingerbos, the Mantingerzand, the Norgerholt, the Witterveld and the Zuidlaardermeer.
A Geopark has a different focus than a National Park or Natura 2000 area. Geoparks are areas recognized worldwide for their geological significance. The main purpose of a Geopark is to protect and promote geological heritage. These could be unique rock formations, fossils or special geological processes.
So it’s actually about special things that are in the ground, and not about animals that live there or trees and plants that grow there. Geoparks can often also contain natural values, but the emphasis is on the geological aspect of the landscape. UNESCO decides whether something is a Geopark or not.
Drenthe has one Geopark: Geopark de Hondsrug. This Geopark runs from Emmen to Groningen and is famous for its moraines and the traces of the last ice age. Visitors can visit the burial mounds here, which were built thousands of years ago by the early inhabitants, but also see the influence of the Ice Age on the landscape.
Although National Parks, Natura 2000 areas and Geoparks all have protected status, there are important differences between these areas:
The aim of a National Park is to preserve nature and the landscape, with room for recreation and nature experience. In the Netherlands it is designated by the government.
Natura 2000: This is a European network of protected natural areas, with an emphasis on the conservation of biodiversity, vulnerable species and habitats. Several areas in Drenthe fall under Natura 2000, with the protection of water birds and swamp flora.
Geoparks focus on the protection and education of geological heritage, such as the processes that have shaped the landscape. Geopark de Hondsrug is the only Geopark in Drenthe. Geoparks are designated by UNESCO.
National Parks, Natura 2000 areas and Geoparks all play an important role in the conservation of nature and landscape, although they differ in their focus. National Parks focus on nature conservation and recreation, Natura 2000 on the protection of biodiversity, and Geoparks on the preservation of geological heritage. In Drenthe we encounter all three, and some areas are both a National Park and a Natura 2000 area.
Now that you know exactly what is what, and for what purpose, you can enjoy the beautiful nature that our province has to offer with peace of mind. And if you have any other questions in the meantime, just send them in! We are happy to find the answers for you.