Implementatie van de Natuurherstelverordening: hóe dan?

Summary

In August 2024, the EU Nature Restoration Law (NRL) came into force, obliging member states, including the Netherlands, to implement it. This article explores
four potential strategies for NRL implementation. The first is a top-down regulatory approach, relying on legal enforcement, but it faces challenges in Dutch political and social contexts. The second, a bottom-up territorial approach, emphasizes local
stakeholder involvement and regional customization, but its effectiveness is limited by financing issues and gradual impact. The third, a horizontal supply chain approach, focuses on voluntary agreements and incentives among agri-food chain actors but lacks sufficient market momentum. The authors propose a fourth strategy: smart regulation. This integrative approach combines elements of the other three
strategies, using a mix of regulatory, communicative, and economic instruments across multiple governance levels. Smart regulation emphasizes alignment with
ongoing regional projects, public-private financing, and sectoral agreements. The Danish example, involving a broad agricultural pact and CO₂ taxation, illustrates how integrated governance can support ambitious restoration goals. The authors argue that only a blended, adaptive strategy can make the NRL effective in the Dutch context.