Provinces get more room to set buffer zones near nature

The cabinet has presented its detailed nitrogen plans, giving provinces more room to set nitrogen policy around fragile habitats. Provinces have until 1 September 2028 to submit their own plans or alternatives for the zones around nature areas. If a province submits no suitable plan, the national rules will apply in its zones.

Agriculture minister Jaimi van Essen (D66) presented the original package in June. It proposed zones of 500 metres around fragile habitats and 1,000 metres around fifteen areas, where farms would face stricter nitrogen rules than those outside. The cabinet adjusted the plans after talks with farmers' organisations LTO and NAJK.

The cabinet is also bringing forward a rise in the nitrogen level below which a project needs no nature permit (the rekenkundige ondergrens, or arithmetic lower limit). It now stands at 0.005 mol, so almost every project needs a permit. A higher limit would make building easier. The stocking cap (koeiennorm) is not being scrapped but postponed while the cabinet examines whether the legal targets can be met another way. If that fails, the cap will still apply.

The targets are 42 to 46% lower emissions in agriculture and 50% in mobility and industry by 2035, with a first assessment in 2028. The cabinet has set aside €9bn to support farmers in the zones.

"In June we chose the direction. Today we're setting out the route," Van Essen said. He said the plans are "not a watering down" of the June package. Opposition party PRO has backed the plans so far but warned they must not be watered down. BBB, together with JA21 and SGP, has made major changes to nitrogen policy a condition of backing the tax plans and budgets.