FLEVOLAND PROVINCE INTEGRATES NATURE DATA IN SPATIAL PLANNING PROCESS

Flevoland is the first province to connect to the Netherlands National Flora & Fauna Databank (NDFF), giving the provincial authorities a greater awareness of protected species and their habitats. This ensures that the spatial planning process now takes account of these species at an early stage. And helps to determine the locations best suited for managed conservation.

Flevoland’s nature data is still stored in the provincial Groenloket (environmental unit), an internet-based system that provides access to data on legislation, regulation and research for the benefit of other authorities. With the launch of its Geopolis digital access point, the Province of Flevoland leads the way in the integration of provincial planning in an accessible format, and in accounting for implemented policies in GIS systems. This innovative methodology means other authorities, as well as citizens, can access geo-information faster and more easily.

The Gegevensautoriteit Natuur (Dutch Nature Data Authority) is working on national coverage for the NDFF, with pilots including Stadsgewest Haaglanden, Natuurmonumenten, Natuurbank Limburg and The Dept. of Public Works. The pilot running with the Province of Flevoland is designed to result in the nature information of the Groenloket being included in the NDFF. Over the coming months, the technology required to transfer information from the NDFF to the Province of Flevoland’s data systems is to be developed. In the meantime, the Province will be studying the benefits of this nature information and the possible applications within Geopolis.

The advantage of this for the Province of Flevoland is that it provides access to a vast amount of reliable and up-to-date nature information that can be incorporated in spatial planning processes, highway management, permit applications and nature policies. This will result in the available nature information playing a greater role in the Province’s operating procedures. Flevoland is the first province with an interface between the NDFF and the provincial Groenloket. This pioneering position will serve as a spur to other provinces and to other authorities in the region.

On the 10th of October 2008, Mrs A. Bliek, the Province of Flevoland’s Conservation representative, and Mr J. van Groenendael, from Gegevensautoriteit Natuur (GaN), signed a cooperative agreement aimed at creating a link between the Province’s data network and the GaN’s National Flora & Fauna Databank (the NDFF).
For more information, please contact:
Alfred Boom, GaN’s Commercial Relations Manager, on: +31 (0)6 4813 1191
Merijn van Leeuwen, the Province of Flevoland’s Conservation Policy Officer, on: +31 (0)6 4103 8552

Background information. The Province’s nature data is currently stored in a separate database that is not linked to the Province’s geographical information systems and is not available to other users. Moreover, the Province does not have access to all the data currently stored in the NDFF. This limited access is regulated by bilateral agreements. The interfaced databases enable the Province to access, at any time, all the available and up-to-date information provided by contributors to the NDFF. This means the Province only has to negotiate one agreement, namely with the GaN. The quality of the information is guaranteed by the GaN. Concurrently, the Province also makes its own data available via the NDFF. The quality of this information is also monitored by the GaN.