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 • • • • • • •

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