Most construction, renovation, demolition, or landscaping projects require an environmental permit to proceed. If protected species may be affected, an exemption under the Nature Conservation Act is often necessary. For spatial plans, project initiators must demonstrate that their activities will not negatively affect protected species or their habitats. When species or their habitats are involved, appropriate mitigation measures must be taken. We provide guidance on selecting the right temporary and permanent measures to protect species and their habitats.
Legislation:
Nature conservation in the Netherlands is regulated by the Nature Conservation Act and the Environment and Planning Act.
- Natura 2000 areas are strictly protected; projects near them require additional assessments.
- Species protection applies to many native plants and animals. Activities that disturb nests, roosts, breeding sites, or habitats often require an exemption.
Our ecological support includes:
- Conducting ecological surveys (quickscans and species-specific research) that provide the evidence for environmental permits and, if needed, exemption applications
- Drawing up plans with mitigation and compensation measures to minimize ecological impacts
- Supporting exemption applications, ensuring all documentation meets provincial and national requirements
- Providing ecological supervision during project execution, such as safely relocating animals from buildings before demolition