Netherlands

Guidelines on management in animal grazed areas

Location: National level

Year established: 2006

Ownership: Staatsbosbeheer (National Forest Service), Natuurmonumenten

Background

In the Netherlands, increasingly wild and non domesticated animals, such as horses (e.g. Icelandic ponies), cattle (e.g. Scottish Highland cattle), sheeps and goats, are used as a means to manage nature areas. At present, there are about tenthousands of animals in about tenthousands ha’s of forest and nature areas. Often these areas are accessible to the public and mostly the use by people is without any problem. However, still a number of sad incidents have occurred, in which visitors were attacked by animals. This the reason why the 2 biggest nature organisations in the Netherlands (National Forest Service and Nature Monuments) have decided to elaborate joined guidelines on the management of areas, that are grazed by large animals. It has been mutually agreed upon that, in principle, these areas are public accessible, while risks are prevented as much as possible.

Description

Examples of management guidelines are:

• Information for the public; the public has to be warned for possible hazards as a result of direct contact with big animals and is requested to keep distance and not to alarm them.
• Restricted public access; in case of (possibly) aggressive grazing animals, access is only allowed under escort for an authorized person (e.g. local nature manager)
• A number of zoning-measures, for instance dogs on leash
• Guardianship and registration of incidents

What to avoid

The necessity of closing areas totally to eliminate risks, has to be avoided. This measure will minimalise the possibilities for people to visit and experience the nature areas. Better is to accept risks until a proven height. The public and animals have to be accompanied carefully in the way they have contact with each other.

Further contact

Staatsbosbeheer (National Forest Service)

J.A. (Jan) Blok

P.O. Box 1300

3970 BH Driebergen (NL)

Tel. 0031 306926343

E-mail: j.blok (at) staatsbosbeheer.nl

Website: www.staatsbosbeheer.nl