The Good Conversation (het goede gesprek) in the Dutch subsidy scheme for nature conservation
About this good practice
The practice is carried out as part of the Dutch National Subsidy Scheme for nature conservation. Through this subsidy scheme owners of nature areas can get a subsidy in exchange for the execution of nature conservation and maintenance of the Dutch Nature Network.
As part of the subsidy it is also an obligation to monitor the quality of the natural area. For the monitoring and quality assessment a universal monitorings programme is set in the Netherlands.
On the basis of the monitoring results and the subsequent quality assessment the province of Fryslân organises ‘The Good conversation’ (het Goede Gesprek) with the above mentioned nature conservation organisations.
In this good conversation the quality assessment of the nature types is discussed and actions are discussed and agreed upon to improve the quality of the nature areas these actions can be categorised in the following types:
• optimising the current nature management
• changing/improving the design of an terrain
• solving cross-regional bottlenecks
• changing the nature types on the Nature Conservation Plan
One of the results from the Good Conversations is that we select areas which we collectively want to develop into forest (thereby increasing the amount of forests) and also that we agree upon actions to be taken in existing forest to revitalise and improve the current quality. Subsequently we also have a direct link through the good conversation to funds and resources for financing these actions.
Resources needed
The subsequent organisation of the Good Conversation costs a small amount of time of several (8) experts from the province. (e.g. 3 hours per assessment area).
For the coördination of the action list that are following from the good conversation one person needs tob e half-time involved
Evidence of success
As an organisation we have just started to use the Good Conversation thereby creating a level playing field discussion on ‘what’ to do with our existing forests and other nature types.
Currently we have held two Good Conversation which resulted in the identification of at least two areas for the development of new forest areas (10 hectares) and many revitalization projects. If we continue on this tempo we will realize our goals for development of new forests and our goals for revitalization.
Potential for learning or transfer
The Dutch subsidiy scheme for nature conservation can be very usefull for other regions to learn from as a possible toolbox for the organization of nature conservation that should be executed through other parties or on other parties private grounds.
Through the subsidiy scheme as a goverment we can realize our policy goals on other parties terrains thereby creating a win-win situation.
The method is completely described and also approved by the E.U. commision as a toolbox for supporting local terrain owners in the execution of nature conservation through subsidies.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
