The cabinet’s plans are damaging the Dutch natural environment and some species of plant and animal will disappear, according to a still confidential report by a government think-tank which is in the hands of the Volkskrant.

The Netherlands Environment Assessment Agency says there will be ‘irreparable damage’ if the government continues its proposed policies and EU targets will not be met.
Junior environment minister Henk Bleker has said the strategy agreed with provincial governments to develop and preserve natural habitats is in line with EU regulations.
Spending cuts
The agreement, first announced in September, involves transferring responsibility for natural habitats to the provincial authorities in return for €100m in extra funding. This in effect means millions of euros will be shaved off government spending, the Volkskrant says.
From 2014, the 12 provinces are to take responsibility for the establishment of a nationwide grid of national parks and protected areas, known as the EHS.
The plan also covers a smaller area – 600,000 hectares instead of the 728,000 hectares first mooted. This will reduce biodiversity still further, the agency says, pointing out the Netherlands already fails to meet EU guidelines on habitats.
The provinces still have to agree to the transfer of responsibilities but are expected to agree, the paper says.
New reserve
At the same time, the development of what is likely to become the Netherlands’ biggest nature reserve is set to get a final go-ahead from the cabinet, even though it was earlier scheduled to be shelved.
The project – part of the EHS scheme – involves linking the Oostervaardersplassen reserve in Flevoland with the Hosterwold reserve in Zeewolde. The area of land required to connect the two sites covers 1,800 hectares and the final reserve will be the size of the Wadden Sea island of Texel.