Relief at National Parks and Nature Education IVN, because the announced cut of almost 24 million euros is canceled. A majority of the House of Representatives supported an amendment to reverse the plans from the Spring Memorandum PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB.
“Since the announced cuts, we noticed that the support for the national parks was overwhelming,” says Mathijs ter Bork, director of IVN Natuur Education Noord. “Through the app I tried to follow the mood this afternoon. It was not entirely clear in advance, but it seemed to be all right. What perhaps the most says is the joy I saw in our network.”
The amendment of Marieke Koekkoek (Volt) for reversing the cutbacks shows that six million Dutch visit a national park annually and that the ‘National Park’ quality mark yields 70 million in extra economic value every year. “The parks are not a secluded nature reserves. They are social, economic and ecological nodes that build a future in which nature, agriculture, living and recreation are in balance.”
The cuts had been disastrous for the three Drenthe National Parks Drentsche Aa, Drents-Friese Wold and Dwingelderveld. The financing would also stop for the organization of Ter Bork, which is responsible for, among other things, the education of children and information provision in and around the parks.
But in recent weeks Ter Bork saw how many people had a big heart for the national parks. “Many people have climbed into the pen. MPs were approached and we have tapped our network from our organization. We have felt broad support and broad enthusiasm.”
Many worlds come together at the national parks. “We sit around the table with parties from agriculture, nature, recreation and education. Our goal is to properly convey the joint story to the visitors or the nature lover. That would have completely disappeared,” explains Ter Bork.
“There are sometimes disagreements, but we always keep talking to the parties.” The importance is great for Drenthe, because a large part of the province consists of national parks. “The entire western border region is approximately National Park. And for the local economy, the parks are also of great importance.”
Ter Bork is happy that the parks can continue with the policy that was deployed last year. “We just continued our work. The day of the National Park has just been, we are busy with projects related to climate adaptation. In the meantime, a lot of others were playing, placing information boards, conversations with hosts of the landscape. Fortunately, that can continue to do that.”