Biodiversity is the Government’s Responsibility
Biodiversity is under enormous pressure, but politics has different priorities. There is no realization that, with the extinction of all types of insects, birds and other animals, our own habitats will disappear as well. This is an imminent challenge that demands a serious political change of direction.
In 1958, as part of the Great Leap Forward program, Mao Zedong called on the people to slaughter and send the sparrows out. After all, these “capitalist animals” will consume an immense amount of food. Mass devastation has been a great achievement. Two years later, the country experienced a major migrating locust epidemic that resulted in many crop failures. In addition to drought, poor weather, erosion and the misuse of poisons and pesticides, the Great Chinese Famine destroyed millions of people.
This tragic chapter in the modern history of China is a warning. It warns against ignoring the relevance of nature to our human existence. If we do not take the value of biodiversity very seriously in this intensive agricultural region, we will face unexpected consequences.
Also in this region, the sparrow, once the most common bird species in the Netherlands, has now landed on the Red List of Bird Protection. It is correct that no birds’ nests are plundered here in order to permanently kill the animals, but our petrified living environment and the use of toxic agents are definitely not an invitation to the resident chirping garden.
Of course, it’s not just about the sparrow. Far too many birds, mammals, amphibians and plants are in rapid decline. The numbers are out and should shock not just nature lovers, but any right-minded citizen of this world.
Nitrogen Approach Program
The new government should not make it a secret that it has other goals, such as strengthening the economic environment for multinationals. It does not matter if these commercial practices are at the detriment of the environment, ecology or nature in general, as long as the chimney smokes and profits rise. The Nitrogen Approach Program, recently condemned by the European Court of Justice, is typical: agricultural scaling up in the guise of nitrogen reduction.
Knowing that the greenest government ever shouts out more than it does, scientific associations, nature federations and the agro-chain itself have joined forces.
Agricultural vision
It was a matter of politics. We support the fact that both the VVD and the CDA have put nature – including growth and urban greening – on the agenda. We also expect to look at Minister Carola Schouten’s new agricultural vision, which advocates circular agriculture without strong pesticides and fertilizers, but does embrace organic pesticides such as ‘organic pest control’ and also natural fertilizers it is safe because it doesn’t contain dangerous chemicals that can harm the nature . It should be remembered that there is no focus on optimizing natural values.
The conservation and improvement of biodiversity in the Netherlands cannot rely exclusively on the willingness of a few nature organizations and initiatives. Serious politically supported intervention is required. Then politics would dare to give priority to a nature-including and balanced economy, or the sparrow will have flown for good!