With approximately 250,000 ha around the country, Staatsbosbeheer – commissioned by the Dutch government – manages a considerable share of the nature reserves in the Netherlands.

Mission

Working towards a sustainable living environment for man, plant and animal is central to Staatsbosbeheer’s mission. As a social organisation Staatsbosbeheer is there for and on behalf of society. We cooperate actively with Dutch citizens and the organisations and institutions that represent them.

Objectives

• maintaining, restoring and developing woodland, natural heritage, landscape and cultural-historical values at Staatsbosbeheer’s sites;
• promoting outdoor-recreation at as many Staatsbosbeheer sites as possible;
• contributing to the production of environmentally-friendly, renewable raw materials such as timber.

Control

Staatsbosbeheer is an independent administrative body whose principal is the ministry of Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkwaliteit (LNV) [Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality]. Since Staatsbosbeheer’s independence, annual agreements have been made with the ministry which list the objectives and the price at which these are to be realised. Staatsbosbeheer annually reports to the Ministry of LNV and to the parliament in the so-called Verslag Doelrealisatie [Objective Realisation Report] on the results achieved.

Assessment

Every year, some ten percent of Staatsbosbeheer managed sites are assessed using internal quality audits. These audits are carried out by a team and according to a well-defined method. The reliability of the internal assessment is, among other things, guaranteed by external audits whereby independent experts assess Staatsbosbeheer’s management.

Socialisation

Besides site management, agreements were also made with LNV with regard to products and services in the field of information, education and socialisation. In order to bring about contact with those that use nature reserves, Staatsbosbeheer stimulates cooperation with users in the form of user groups. There are well over fifty of these. The Advisory Council operates at a national level. This council was founded in 1999 and has a broad social base.