Agriculture is responsible for almost half of all nitrogen in Drenthe, also a lot from abroad

“The discussion with nitrogen from Germany is always a very complicated one,” says Henk Jumelet, the provincial administrator who is responsible for nitrogen. “But I am not about Germany, but I am allowed to be about Drenthe. So let’s stick to Drenthe. I see that the legislation is also being addressed in Germany and the requirements are becoming stricter. We do indeed see that there is a difference. I can’t explain it either to one farmer on one side of the border to another farmer on the other side of the border. And vice versa. But I do have to deal with reality. The Dutch court makes rulings. Then we have to do with Dutch law,” said Jumelet.

The fact that foreign countries are the biggest cause of nitrogen in Bargerveen also has another consequence. “The cabinet’s nitrogen targets are achievable in a number of nature reserves. We can restore nature there and put it in order. But we already know that this is not possible in a number of other areas,” says Jumelet. The Bargerveen is an example of this.

In addition, Bargeveen is struggling with the biggest nitrogen problem in Drenthe. For 94 percent of the area, there is more than twice the amount of nitrogen that is permitted. In some places in the area it is even four times more than the norm.

The Fochteloërveen is also aware of this problem. For only 1 percent of the entire nature reserve, the nitrogen standard has not been exceeded. In about 60 percent of the area, the limit is exceeded by more than twice.

On the other hand, the problems in the Elper river basin seem to be less than expected, where the nitrogen is in order in 60 percent of the nature reserve.

Nevertheless, there are indeed nitrogen problems for the Elper basin. Lime swamp is in danger of disappearing. Only 0.1 hectare of this endangered swamp now remains.

For example, in every nitrogen-sensitive nature reserve, the consequences of the nitrogen content can already be seen. Plants and animals are disappearing, sand drifts are becoming dense, characteristic elements of the areas are changing to grass and forests are aging faster. In addition, these consequences also lead to other consequences. The aging of a forest means that less light enters a forest, which means that some plants grow less well.

Measures are being taken in the nature reserves to counteract the consequences. In many places, for example, more intensive management of nature takes place, mowing or use of sheep herds, ditches are filled in or made shallower and more turf is used.

There are two exceptions. For Norgerholt and Mantingerbos, doing nothing is best. Both areas are ancient forests, where nature is allowed to take its own course. Measures to combat the effects of nitrogen in the area have the opposite effect, experts warn.

A possible solution to the nitrogen problem, in addition to reducing nitrogen emissions, is to create buffer zones near nature reserves. “For example, if you have a heath area that is sensitive to nitrogen, you can create a buffer zone around it. For example, a barrier of trees,” explains Fred Prak, spokesperson for Natuurmonumenten.

Trees absorb more nitrogen. Nitrogen moves through the air, just like dust, for example. And tall trees catch a lot of wind. Or in this case nitrogen. “This prevents the nitrogen from ending up on the sensitive heathland.”

This summer, farmers protested at waste processor Attero and last month the highest administrative court in the Netherlands canceled the exemption for the construction sector, which means that from now on nitrogen emissions in construction must be calculated.

Both components, waste processing and construction, have hardly any impact in terms of nitrogen. Of all nitrogen that falls in the twelve areas of Drenthe, 0.4 percent is accounted for by waste processing. The industry is a fraction of the nitrogen that falls in the province. It is less than 2 percent: 1.65. The construction sector is responsible for 0.04 percent. Tools used for construction produce more nitrogen: 0.51 percent.

With 47.3 percent, agriculture is therefore the largest source of nitrogen. And that is mainly due to the use of manure and nitrogen from cow sheds, both of which account for 17.4 percent of the total nitrogen. As you can see in the overview below: