Working with fauna management
Do you work in fauna management? For example, as a hunter, landowner, or groundskeeper? Then you must follow the fauna management plan (faunabeheerplan) of your province. This plan states, among other things, which measures you can take if animals cause damage or nuisance. Or if a group of animals becomes too large.
Find out more or arrange now
at your municipality, province, or water authority
What is fauna management?
Fauna management includes:
- controlling animals that cause damage and nuisance
- ensuring that certain groups of wild animals do not grow too large (population management)
Every province has at least 1 fauna management unit (faunabeheereenheid, in Dutch) which is responsible for ensuring good wildlife management. A fauna management unit is a collaboration of:
- hunters' organisations
- landowners
- groundskeepers
- agricultural and horticultural organisations
- nature conservation and animal protection organisations
The fauna management unit determines the approach to fauna management in their area of operation. They then draw up a fauna management plan for different animal species.
What is a fauna management plan?
Each fauna management unit draws up fauna management plans for different animal species in their area of operation (in Dutch). In a fauna management plan, you state:
- how many animals there are of the species
- whether their numbers are increasing or decreasing
- whether the species causes damage and, if so, what kind of damage
- what measures you will take to prevent or control this damage
- what you will do if these measures do not work
The province must approve the fauna management plan. The plan is usually valid for 6 years. You can find the plan published on the website of your province's fauna management unit (in Dutch).
Environment permit for killing or capturing animals
Managing fauna effectively means it is sometimes necessary to capture or kill wild animals. A fauna management unit needs an environment and planning permit (omgevingsvergunning) from the province to do this. Sometimes there are also exemptions. Do you work on fauna management as a hunter, landowner, or groundskeeper? Then you can use the permits and exemptions of the fauna management unit. This is only possible if you are a member of a hunters’ association. Ask your fauna management unit what conditions you must comply with.
Sometimes you can apply for an environment and planning permit yourself to capture or kill an animal species. For example, if there is no fauna management plan for a species.
Check if you need an environment and planning permit and apply
Do you want to know if you need an environment and planning permit? Go to the Environment and Planning Portal (in Dutch) to check if you need an environment and planning permit. In the Environment and Planning Portal you can see which rules apply in your municipality, province, or regional water authority. You can then use the Environment and Planning Portal to apply online for an environment and planning permit or submit a notification.