natuurdoelen

Natuurdoelen are formal targets for nature management and conservation that specify the desired future condition of ecosystems, habitats, species, and related natural values. They function as concrete statements that guide how land and water areas should be managed, restored, or used in order to protect biodiversity, ecosystem services, and landscape quality.

These objectives are developed by government bodies, nature organisations, landowners, and other stakeholders in a collaborative process. They are based on scientific knowledge, biodiversity policy, and local context, and are designed to be measurable and time-bound. Natuurdoelen typically include indicators or reference conditions, a defined geographic scope, and a planning horizon. They are intended to support decision-making, permit procedures, and funding allocations, and to provide a basis for monitoring and reporting on progress.

Natuurdoelen are often linked to broader policy frameworks, such as national nature policies and European directives related to nature protection and habitat conservation. They may be expressed for protected areas, nature reserves, landscapes of ecological importance, or broader ecological networks, with attention to ecological connectivity, habitat quality, and species viability. In practice, natuurdoelen are incorporated into management plans and restoration projects, and are periodically evaluated and adjusted based on monitoring results and changing circumstances.

The overall aim of natuurdoelen is to operationalize conservation ambitions into actionable steps, enabling transparent assessment of achievements and accountability for nature protection within a given region or country.