The National Ecological network (NEN) is about halfway towards completion. The acquisition of land for nature reserves and nature conservation areas is proceeding according to schedule. The ultimate goal of the NEN policy, however, is to create a network of natural habitats of sufficient ecological quality. In these terms, there is a wide gap between the present and the desired situation.

Improvements in spatial connectivity and environmental conditions necessary

When the NEN is fully completed in 2018, more than half of it will consist of large areas of connected nature areas (greater than 2000 hectares in size). These ‘new’ landscape units will have been created by extending and linking up existing areas through land acquisition, landscape works and management of adjoining and intervening areas of land. When fully completed, about 20% of the NEN will consist of patchworks of nature fragments and habitats. For these patchworks to function as larger ecosystem units, land use, and hydrological and environmental conditions will often have to be improved. In many areas this will present a considerable challenge.

In the large areas of connected nature areas much remains to be done to improve the environmental conditions, relocating remaining enclaves of farming activity, for example. Given the importance of these areas for nature conservation, the appropriate approach would be to return these enclaves to nature through a strict land use planning policy backed by powers of compulsory purchase. About a quarter of all the ecosystems/habitats within the NEN are in areas less than 2000 hectares in size without links to the larger areas. Some of these areas are ‘hotspots’ of great significance for biodiversity.

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