The stakeholders themselves already have ideas for solving the problem, according to the letter: “We call on you to designate the free agricultural colonies of the Colonies of Benevolence as test area so that the sector, in close cooperation with the area-based extraordinary chair of Cultural Heritage and Participative Spatial Development (CEPRO), which is affiliated to Wageningen University, can be searched for sustainable solutions.”
Among the stakeholders are Rikus Jager, the mayor of the municipality of Westerveld and also chairman of the sounding board group, Stichting Weldelijk Oord, the Society of Benevolence, the Vereniging Agrarische Belangen Oorden en Parten and Landgoed de Eese. They have been involved in management for 1.5 years. The letter was sent to the ministry last week.
It is the second time in a short time that the alarm has been raised about the Unesco status. The new gas extraction plans in the area also cause concern.