A ruling by the Council of State about a goat farm in Borger could have significant consequences for other companies that emit relatively little nitrogen. The case was heard last Thursday.
The goat farmer from Borger is appealing to the Council of State for the preservation of his company. Opposite the farmer is the environmental club Mobilization for the Environment (MOB), which wants to close livestock farming. Despite the fact that the company hardly emits any nitrogen in the Drouwenerzand nature reserve. MOB recognizes this, but continues anyway.
The province of Drenthe acknowledges that the Drouwenerzand is overloaded with nitrogen, but points out that the goat farmer’s contribution is limited: just over 0.6 mol per hectare per year. According to the provincial government, ending these emissions will hardly benefit nature, while the consequences for entrepreneurs are major.
“His company should close,” the province stated during the hearing. That is why Drenthe has chosen to make the interests of the entrepreneur outweigh the limited effect on nature.
The province pointed out that MOB has requested revocation of the permit and also an interim injunction. According to the province, if this is granted, it means that the company must close immediately.
The goat farmer himself was present in the courtroom, together with his son and daughter. “These are my business successors,” he told the judge.
The goat farmer’s lawyer states that removing the small amount of emissions does nothing for nature in the Drouwenerzand. He stated that removing these limited emissions will have no noticeable effect on nature in the Drouwenerzand.
MOB countered that a permit is not necessary if there is no effect on a nature reserve. According to the organization, the permit can therefore be revoked without any problems.
The Council of State will make its decision in a few weeks. The case could have major consequences for so-called small nitrogen emitters.
According to MOB, approximately 80 percent of emitters in the Netherlands produce less than 0.5 mol of nitrogen per hectare per year. “If you are not allowed to do anything about it, the nitrogen problem is unsolvable,” said a spokesperson for the organization.
