14 whole plan, rather than concentrating on individual aspects. Promising propositions are still regularly nipped in the bud because of policy objections to a specific aspect. Finally, nature boosts the economy. A recent KPMG study into the Utrechtse Heuvelrug produced the following findings: 17% of the jobs in the region are related to nature and nature-related activities generate an annual revenue of €82 million. House prices are 17% higher on average, which annually yields €2 million more in municipal property tax, tourist tax yields a further €115,000, and water boards annually save €680,000 on water treatment costs. We see a similar picture abroad. The reintroduction of the wolf in Yellowstone National park, for instance, has given the local economy an impulse of 35 million dollars per year. The wolf and the park benefit directly from this via the admission fees. The problem in both cases is that a substantial chunk of the extra revenue goes to entrepreneurs who contribute nothing to the maintenance of the nature reserve and visitor facilities. This book contains various solutions that can help to address this problem. Interviews This book draws on interviews with seventeen landed estate owners, various advisers, stewards, experts and scientists. Not one of the owners is gloomy about the future; they all see opportunities, even though the margins are often small. They speak frankly about objectives, methods, revenues and expenditures. With this transparent approach, they hope to build a new relationship with society, government, local residents and volunteers. Their sense of responsibility to past and future generations makes private nature managers cautious about big changes. But they are also entrepreneurs who dare to take risks. “Going with the times, but not with the fads,” is how the owners of the Vilsteren country estate sum up their policy. Not all spending cuts can be absorbed by alternative forms of funding. In the interviews various nature managers mention that when there is less money from the government available, their management need to put activities on a more modest footing. The effects of such adjustments in the management of biodiversity and recreational uses of Dutch nature areas will only become visible several years later. Revenue models and alternative funding methods For many centuries woodland, buildings, meadows and arable fields were the economic mainstays of landed estates. But timber, hunting and land rents are producing less and less revenue. New sources of income are emerging, such as recreation, new residential construction, ground lease, climate-related services, carbon offset, sand and gravel extraction, and funding and contributions from individuals and businesses. Landed estate owners are testing the viability of these new methods in practice. The interviews alongside numerous talks with experts, scientists and advisers, supplemented with professional literature, conferences and meetings, produced over one hundred revenue models and funding methods, as well as tips for government to promote a freer market in nature and landscape. All this knowledge and experience has resulted in a wealth of ideas for funding nature and landscape - and each idea is driven by passionate and committed people who make the difference between failure and success. Pagina 17
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