Download National Park The Biesbosch

National Park The Biesbosch
Short introduction of the NP The Biesbosch
Martin Mols
Secretary executive
National Parks in the Netherlands
Our most beautiful
nature areas are
conserved and
preserved thanks to
20 national parks.
They are perfect areas
for education,
information and
research of our
natural environment.
Situation
On the border between the
provinces of Noord Brabant
and Zuid Holland
Delta area of Maas (Meuse)
and Rijn (Rhine)
One of the last remaining
areas in Europe with
freshwater tides
Situation
History
1958
First Territory, by State Forest Service
1980
Wetland Ramsarconvention
1994
Establishing National Park
1996
Special Protected Area according EU Birds
Directive
1997
Hotspot on the Forestmap of WWF,
Europarlement
1998
Proposal to EU Habitat Directive
Characteristics - nature
A total of 9000 hectares :
•Rivers and creaks (4000 ha)
•Marshy woodland (2100 ha)
•Rough reedlands (1700 ha)
•Grasslands (1100)
300 species of plants (41 very rare species)
232 species of birds (128 breeding)
42 species of fish
26 species of mammals (beaverpopulation of 120 ind.)
Characteristics - recreation
500.000 visitors
2 visitors centre
1 museum
several boat companies with touring
boats and boats for hiring
Horeca and tourist accommodation in
surrounding city’s of Werkendam,
Drimmelen and Dordrecht
Administrative bodies connected
with the Biesbosch
3 ministries
2 provincial authorities
2 water boards
2 nature and recreation authorities
3 municipalities
1 State Forest Service
The Biesbosch National Park consultative
body with 15 members (incl. the independent
chairperson and secretary)
Organisational structure of the
Biesbosch National Park
Consultative body (Administrative Board)
Agenda Committee (Executive Board)
Users' Council
Several working groups
•
Information and Education
•
Nature management and research
•
Platform integral safety
Various temporary project groups
Volunteers
5 unions,
ca. 150 persons working in the NP
Programmes
Management and Organisational Plan 10 years
(New plan established in 2004)
Plan of Action
(Long-range) annual programmes
(annual budget = approximately € 500.000)
Implementation projects
ecological development
“zoning” of nature and recreation
communication and education
Principal objective
The development of the existing natural and ecological
assets as a fresh water tidal region combined with
nature-oriented recreational use,
while maintaining the cultural-historical assets
and enabling increased awareness of these assets.
Environmental, Recreational and
Information & Educational Objectives
restoration of the fresh water tidal system
self-regulation (process)
restoration of the quality of the environment and water
environmental development (increase in the nature reserve area)
joint recreational use, increasing awareness of the assets
encouragement of nature-related recreation
support management and organisation
encourage interest in and insight into nature
increase awareness and involvement of residents and visitors
Bottle-necks / problems
•
•
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•
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Complexity of the Organisational structure
Lack of manpower
A decrease in awareness and involvement of residents,
visitors and administrative bodies
Tension between environmental development - joint
recreational use
The quality of the environment and water
Regulation, supervision and maintenance
Implementation project “Room for the River” (national
safety program against high water discharge)
Major developments
geografic
• Project “Room for the River” (national safety program against
high water discharge)
• “Strategic Green Project Isle of Dordrecht” (to increase
multifunctional use –nature, recreation, toerism, water regulation,
agriculture)
demographic
• increase of senior citizens
• greater demand of luxurious activities
Solutions
• A new development plan for recreation and toerism for
‘the large Biesbosch’
• Improve the co-operation between regional partners in
and outside the National Park