Netherlands - Overview

Status and Trends of Biodiversity

Overview

In the Netherlands, the steady dwindling of natural areas that had been ongoing since 1900 has recently halted. Among all vertebrates, plants and some major groups of invertebrates, 29% of the species are, to some extent, threatened with extinction at a national level. Threats to wildlife include the pressure of the European fisheries on the stocks, which has resulted in a marked decline in the catch of large fish... More »

Number and Extent of Protected Areas

About 475,000 ha (approximately 12 % of total land surface) are under the protection of the Nature Conservation Act and Natura 2000. The National Ecological Network applies to about 750,000 ha in total.

Percentage of Forest Cover

About 80% of national forests is protected through the national ecological network (NEN); about 50% of the NEN consists of forests.

National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan

Major features of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

The national strategy is integrated into several national government policy papers and programmes. The main ones are:

1. Policy paper ”Nature for People, People for Nature” (2000) Important instruments in this policy paper are: Flora and Fauna Act. This Act regulates protection of plant and animal species living in the wild... More »

Implementation of the Convention

Measures Taken to Achieve the 2010 Target

Site protection is addressed in the revised Nature Conservation Act. Protection of the Natura 2000 areas is already in place, and the acquisition and management of the National Ecological Network will be completed by 2018. With respect to invasive alien species, 10 species management plans will be executed starting in 2006... More »

Initiatives in Protected Areas

The Dutch nature policy aims to increase the extent of natural and semi-natural areas from approximately 450,000 ha in 1990 to 750,000 ha in 2018, by implementing the National Ecological Network. Until now, an extension of approximately 66,000 ha has been realized. Within a European context, the Netherlands has committed itself to select appropriate sites for the Natura 2000 network in 2005 and for marine sites in 2008... More »

Initiatives for Article 8(j)

The Netherlands supports the full involvement of indigenous people and local communities in all biodiversity-related policies as a prerequisite for conservation and sustainable management of biological diversity.

National Contacts

Full details of national contacts »

Convention on Biological Diversity

Ms. Miranda Meijster	CBD Primary NFP, SBSTTA NFP
Mr. van Himbergen John	Resource Mobilization FP
Ms. Léontine J.R. Crisson	ICNP ABS NFP, ABS Competent National Authorities
Mr. Bert Visser	ICNP ABS NFP
Dr. Peter C. van Welzen	GTI NFP
Mr. Rob J.J. Hendriks	CHM NFP
Ms. Hilde Visser	Protected Areas NFP
Mr. Dick Bal	GSPC NFP

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

Ms. Inge Van der Leij	Cartagena Protocol Primary NFP
Dr. Marco Gielkens	BCH NFP