13 leather industry accelerated the reforestation trend. Due to the introduction of artificial fertilizer and competition from cheap Australian wool, sheep farming on wilderness areas was no longer economically viable. The communal usage of wilderness land that dated back to the Middle Ages also disappeared. At the end of the 19th century, virtually all woodland and residual wilderness land was privately owned. In the early 20th century the State, which had withdrawn entirely from woodland management in the 19th century, re-entered the scene. A national nature management authority, Staatsbosbeheer, was tasked with the construction and management of production woods. A private nature association, Natuurmonumenten, took responsibility for the purchase and management of special nature reserves. In the 1950s the price of wood started to fall due to mine closures. This roughly coincided with a sharp rise in wages. Many landed estates were thus deprived of their main source of income. The landed estates then received another blow when the growing influence of Europe led to more large-scale agriculture and therefore also land consolidation. Many owners of landed estates who specialized in small-scale agriculture saw their income from agriculture evaporate. They sold their estates to national estate management organizations such as Natuurmonumenten and their provincial offshoots. At the same time, nature increasingly came to be perceived as a collective good falling within the State’s financial responsibilities. Consequently, the State started to subsidize a growing share of the purchase and management of nature by estate management organizations and individuals. Since 2012 the State no longer makes any distinction in its approach to different owner groups. At present, almost half of the woodland is privately owned. Citizens owning small patches of land account for about 13% of all woodland. A further 32% is held by private owners of more than five hectares, which means that just over 45% of the woodland is in private hands. The remaining nature land is mainly in the hands of Staatsbosbeheer and estate management organizations. Figures on the private ownership of, for instance, heathland and high and low moorland are almost impossible to find. However, data from 2010 of the then Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality shows that about 95% of the total area of landed estates (125,000 hectares) lies within the National Ecological Network (NEN). Landed estate owners thus manage almost 20% of the total NEN. This share is slightly larger than that of e.g. Natuurmonumenten (about 100,000 hectares) and the provincial Land Boards (about 90,000 hectares). Public authorities and the nature sector are looking for new sources of income and alternative funding methods. This book also contains many examples illustrating that the nature sector is increasingly listening to ‘the customer’ and that citizens and businesses are willing to offer ideas and get involved. Lots of inspiring innovations result from this. Confidence is high that the market can compensate for a substantial portion of lost subsidies. Future Opportunities abound to earn money with woodland and nature and to fund their construction and management in alternative ways. Harvesting more timber for instance and a more intensive utilization of biomass can boost income. Opting for different species of trees and sustainable management methods can serve to reduce costs. The number of private landed estates can grow again. In the first place estate management organizations may need to sell their landed estates in order to absorb public spending cuts. Owners of existing landed estates as well as wealthy individuals who want to use their money in a positive way have displayed interest. One of the principal characteristics of successful landed estates is their multifunctionality. Particularly in times of austerity, the multifunctional estate model is gaining in popularity. An individual case-by-case approach from public authorities is necessary to facilitate this multifunctionality. They must learn to look at the net benefits of the Pagina 16
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