Farmers’ organization LTO Noord is critical of parts of the government’s leaked nitrogen plans. The proposed zones around nature reserves in particular raise questions for the LTO.
According to reports from the NOS, the government wants to establish a zone around twenty nature reserves where nitrogen emissions must be reduced, including in the Veluwe. LTO chairman Dirk Bruins wonders how they will work out in practice.
“If you look at those kilometers around nature reserves, if you are no longer allowed to practice agriculture there, then there will be little agriculture left. Especially in a province like Overijssel. There is a real interrelationship between agriculture and nature.”
If the rule means that agriculture is no longer allowed in that kilometer, he says, these would be ‘very far-reaching plans’.
The nitrogen lock
Bruins is cautiously positive about one of the plans. For example, NOS reports that the government wants to significantly increase the lower limit for nitrogen. Now that limit is so low that almost every project requires a nature permit.
As a result, many plans have been stalled, from housing construction to expanding farms. The so-called nitrogen lock.
If that limit increases, smaller projects will no longer have to apply for a permit. That would make it a lot easier to build something.
Bruins is positive about this possible increase. “We have also advocated for that. That limit is now so low that no matter what you do, you will exceed it. What you see now is that everything is locked. Raising the arithmetic lower limit so that it is realistic would help.”
Wait and see
At the same time, he emphasizes that LTO can only make a final judgment once the complete package is known. “We continue to listen carefully and indicate what we consider important, we now have to wait and see what the government will do.”
The plans will be officially presented next Friday.