The province of Noord-Holland is set to reject a controversial government plan to transfer control of nature management to the 12 provincial governments, according to regional broadcasters.

RTV Noord-Holland reports most parties represented in the provincial council think the government is not giving them enough money to carry out the work and will vote against. The vote is due to take place later on Monday.
Last week, Noord-Brabant also said no to the scheme. According to Trouw, Flevoland and Groningen are also opposed.
This weekend, prominent VVD politician Ed Nijpels also slammed environment minister Henk Bleker’s plans and called on the provinces to reject them. The VVD is part of the minority government.
Dark day
Bleker’s proposals are a ‘dark day in the history of the protection of nature’, Nijpels told a television talk show on Sunday. The minister is treating respected organisations like natural heritage group Natuurmonumenten as if they are criminals, Nijpels said.
Bleker and the 12 provincial councils reached agreement about the transfer of responsibility for nature management in September, after nearly a year of talks.
The agreement involves giving the provinces direct responsibility for the establishment of a nationwide grid of national parks and protected areas, known as the EHS with a budget of €100m a year to manage the project.
Cost-cutting
According to newspaper Trouw, by shifting control to the provinces, national government has been able to shave €600m from its accounts.
Last month, a government think-tank said the cabinet’s plans are damaging the Dutch natural environment and some species of plant and animal will disappear.
The Netherlands Environment Assessment Agency said in a confidential report there will be ‘irreparable damage’ if the government continues its proposed policies and EU targets will not be met.
In February, Bleker said he is removing several names from the 166 Dutch sites earmarked as special nature areas in the European Union’s Natura 2000 scheme because they had little ecological interest.