“We have spoken to you several times to draw attention to our concerns. These concerns have now been confirmed by our own research. A number of parties from your States have regularly not taken our concerns seriously. Recently, when you had the opportunity to implement spatial measures you voted against by the majority. As a province, you could have researched the spraying data a long time ago and had analyzes carried out in consultation with scientists. I blame you.”
Words in the Provincial Council of speaker Joke Kolthoff, on behalf of residents of the North Lheeder Es in Lhee, who fight against the use of pesticides in lily cultivation. The residents of the es have requested the spraying data of the fields in front of their door for 2021 and 2022 from the province via the Open Government Act (Woo). And from this they draw the conclusion that much more plant protection products are used per hectare of lily cultivation than the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) calculates.
“CBS speaks of 114 kilos of crop protection products, of which 31 kilos are pesticides and the rest paraffin oils. 83.5 kilos of pesticides have been sprayed on our es, which is two and a half times as much. It is the first time that local residents have been able to gain insight into data that have such a major impact on our immediate living environment, including the Dwingelderveld nature reserve.”
The residents of the North Lheeder Es have now entered into a legal battle with the province. Kolthoff: “In September 2021, we asked the provincial government via an enforcement request to enforce on the basis of the precautionary principle. The Habitats Directive is based on a strict precautionary principle in which uncertainties must lead to permission not being granted. Based on the precautionary principle, risky resources may not be applied when there are doubts about the effects on people, biodiversity and Natura 2000 sites.”