Deputy Drenth gives openings to get out of nitrogen problems

Deputy Drenth gives openings to get out of nitrogen problems

More opportunities for farmers in the national landscape of Winterswijk

By Bernhard Harfsterkamp

WINTERSWIJK – Alderman Inge Klein Gunnewiek is pleased with the overtures Commissioner Peter Drenth gave during a conversation with representatives of agriculture and nature conservation to get out of the nitrogen problem. “He always sees opportunities for farmers in our cultural landscape.” It was clear from the conversation that the province wants to make room, also financially, for good maps of the region.

As a domain, seek solutions itself
The Waardevol Cultural Landscape Foundation (WCL) Winterswijk, in which all interest groups are represented, has been urging for some time to meet with the curator. The most important thing was to better understand the possibilities and opportunities for farmers and other entrepreneurs on the outskirts of Winterswijk. In addition, WCL has always indicated that the area is ready to meet nature and environmental goals in return. In this case, there must be room for your own approach. Alderman Klein Gunnewiek, who handled the conversation between the commissioner and CMT representatives, said in retrospect that Drenth had not yet become very concrete on Winterswijk’s task. “On the one hand at WCL we said we would like to know what it will be like for us now. But on the other hand we think it is very important to take a step forward and find solutions for the region. “

The ball should not get bigger
Drenth used the image of a nitrogen-filled balloon that shouldn’t get bigger. This means that the nitrogen space for all developments in Winterswijk and in the neighboring municipalities must come from the same balloon. If a farm grows, it can come at the expense of more housing or additional space for businesses. As a result, the mayor, aldermen and city council will sometimes have to make difficult choices. “We will have to think carefully about how we are going to do it,” said Alderman Klein Gunnewiek. “What’s strange is that we don’t see a nitrogen problem at the moment. It sounds odd when looking at the national issues, but at the moment we’re not having any issues with the plans for the houses and the location of Obelink on the Arrisveld and the move to Winterwarm. It has to do with the calculation models, which are used to determine if there will be an additional nitrogen load.

Much has already been done on the restoration of nature
The four Natura2000 areas in Winterswijk play an important role in these calculations, as the nitrogen load in these areas must be reduced. “The Commissioner said it was important that Natura 2000 areas be restored and that they will not disappear,” says the alderman. “We think it’s important too. These are beautiful spaces that we want to preserve. Drenth indicated that if these areas are doing well, something is possible in Winterswijk. Unlike other parts of the Netherlands, much has already been done to restore Natura 2000 areas. The measures in Wooldseveen and Willink Weust have been widely implemented. Much has already been done at the Korenburgerveen and the final phase is being worked out. Everything necessary has also been carried out in the Bekendelle. “Much has already been done to fight against the biggest problem, the desiccation of these areas,” explains the alderman. “But we will have to maintain it.”

The dehydration approach is important when it comes to nitrogen
“The national landscape is more than the four Natura 2000 zones”, observes the alderman at the same time. In the conversation, attention was also drawn to what has been called farmland. Klein Gunnewiek also cites the increasing dehydration of forests as a problem. MP Drenth believes that an integrated approach to desiccation, including the small-scale cultural landscape, in collaboration with the Water Board, is very important to tackle the nitrogen problem. From the conversation with the Commissioner it became clear that he considered an approach for the entire national landscape of Winterswijk to be important. “This includes the municipalities of Aalten and Oost Gelre. Together we have to come to a plan, ”says Klein Gunnewiek. That is why Alderman Ted Kok from the neighboring municipality of Aalten was the guest of the meeting. He is also chairman of the Achterhoek Nitrogen Working Group. “I have heard a lot of things that we can use to improve. Winterswijk is part of the Achterhoek. Ideas from WCL also land in our working group. Kok knows that the challenge for Winterswijk is the greatest, “but we are stronger if we do it together”. He too had understood from the commissioner that there was room for developments and that the area itself had to get to work.