The nuisance on the grounds of the Society of Welfare sometimes gets out of hand, notes director Minne Wiersma. Since the outbreak of the corona pandemic, the fuse has shortened, and that requires enforcement. Boas could be hired with subsidies, but that scheme is ending.
Together with other nature organizations, Wiersma hopes that the province will once again allocate money to increase capacity. “Around 98 percent of people adhere to the rules, but 1 to 2 percent do not,” he says.
The Society of Benevolence has been helped out with an annual encore of 40,000 euros. Until recently, one or two boas worked on a voluntary basis for the organization, which focuses on preserving and developing the ideas of colony founder Johannes van den Bosch.
The behavior of visitors has meanwhile led to the need for full-fledged, paid supervisors to maintain order on the grounds of the Society of Welfare. The subsidy can be used to pay the enforcers.
Wiersma: “Some have something about them like: the rules apply to everyone, just not to me”, he emphasizes the necessity of the supervisors.
In addition to ignoring the rules, people seem to see nature reserves more often as a kind of dumping ground. Drugs and household and garden waste are left behind, and the costs of the clean-up work are borne by the site managers.
“People’s mentality is changing,” Wiersma continues. “A small minority spoils it for the rest. And then not only does addressing the offenders help, but fines are also necessary in certain situations.”
Wiersma hopes not only to have access to extra money for the boas next year, but also after that. “Because I don’t think it will stop soon. The nuisance has increased, really increased,” he concludes.
A supervisor explained a few years what curses he gets thrown at his head: