Back to basics on the nitrogen issue
How can we really solve the nitrogen problem?
The nitrogen issue has been a major concern in the Netherlands for years. But how can we identify potential solutions that are both scientifically sound and practically feasible?
On Tuesday 13 October, KIVI is organising the symposium:
“From the Habitats Directive to Targeted Nature Conservation”
This symposium is organised by the KIVI Rotterdam Chapter and the academic departments TME (Technology, Society and Economics), FT (Philosophy and Technology) and DT (Sustainable Technology).
The symposium will take place in the KIVI building at Prinsessegracht 23 in The Hague and will run from 1.00 pm to 9.00 pm (including a light meal). A second symposium will follow on November, in which the topic will be explored in greater depth from different perspectives.
It is no coincidence that engineers are organising this symposium. Engineers bridge the gap between science and practice. They translate scientific insights into technically feasible and effective solutions, based on verifiable facts. It is precisely when dealing with complex societal issues such as the nitrogen problem that this combination of analysis, facts and solution-oriented thinking is indispensable.
The moderator for the day is Simon Rozendaal, BEng. He is an author, science journalist and chemist.
Provisional programme
| Time | Section | Speaker |
| 12.00 | Reception | |
| 13.00 | Opening | Chair |
| 13.20 | How do we conduct a scientifically fruitful dialogue today? | Moderator |
| 13.30 | 1. OBJECTIVE – What is the aim of the Habitats Directive? What does a ‘favourable conservation status’ mean, at what level does it apply, and what role does Natura 2000 play in this? | |
| 13.50 | 2. From the Habitats Directive to the Dutch assessment system: How have the HR objectives been translated into Natura 2000, habitat profiles and, ultimately, the NDA system? What is the rationale behind the NDA? | |
| 14.10 | Discussion: are we talking about the same objective? What is the European mandate, how has it been implemented in the Netherlands, and where is there agreement or a difference of opinion on this matter? | Moderator |
| 14.30 | Break | |
| 14.50 | 3. What picture do the NDAs and the E.A.’s assessments paint of the state and development of N2000 areas? To present the findings of current assessment practice as key input for the remainder of the symposium. | |
| 15.20 | 4. From OBSERVATION to DIAGNOSIS, ACTION and EVALUATION – How do we build a case? This is where the originally separate components are brought together. | |
| 16.00 | 5a. DIAGNOSIS – When is nitrogen the cause of an ecological problem? General scientific knowledge and the available tools. | |
| 16.30 | 5b. DIAGNOSIS – What role can the KDW play in the diagnosis? How is the KDW determined, what uncertainties are associated with it, and what can and cannot we conclude from an exceedance? | |
| 16.50 | 5c. DIAGNOSIS – What does nature itself tell us? Using field observations and historical vegetation surveys, we will demonstrate how the condition and development of nature reserves can be interpreted and how potential causes of problems can be identified. | |
| 17.10 | Scientific dialogue – When has nitrogen been sufficiently proven to be the cause? Can different scientific approaches arrive at the same diagnosis? Where is there agreement? Where do differences arise: in observations, models, causality, uncertainty or interpretation? This is explicitly not a ‘for and against’ dialogue on nitrogen | Moderator |
| 17.40 | Break: Sandwiches and drinks | |
| 18.30 | 6. ACTION and EVALUATION – From diagnosis to nature conservation. If a cause has been made sufficiently plausible, what action follows from this? What can a site manager actually do? And how do you prevent the action from being decided upon before the diagnosis has been made? How do we then determine whether the action has had the expected effect? | |
| 19.00 | Film – Nature does not adhere to nature policy Nature conservation managers will demonstrate, drawing on their own areas, how nature, policy and management relate to one another in practice. Their experiences provide additional input for the joint assessment. | |
| 19.30 | 7. THE ASSESSMENT – Where do we stand after today? OBJECTIVE → OBSERVATION → DIAGNOSIS → ACTION → EVALUATION For each step: what are we sufficiently certain about, where is there agreement, where do views differ and why? | Moderator |
| 20.20 | Laying the foundations for Symposium 2: Documenting the findings. Fostering dialogue, distinguishing between: | Chair |
| 20.40 | Preview of Symposium 2 and closing remarks | Chair |
| 20.50 | Drinks and networking | |
| 21.30 | End |
First part of three days of debates
The KIVI and a group of engineers from Wageningen aim to break the trend towards polarisation through a series of symposia to be organised. They intend to do this by, at the very least, listening respectfully to other viewpoints and working together to define how specific measures can lead to a Netherlands where many people collaborate to solve the shared problem.
In this first symposium, the emphasis is on ‘What are we actually talking about?’ and ‘What do we actually want?’.
What we aim to do in this symposium – using the construction of a house as a metaphor – is to go back to the foundations, lay them bare and describe them: what are the building blocks? We will then work together, floor by floor, to rebuild them into a well-designed house.
Detailed invitationWhy not sign up for the follow-up sessions as well?
| 2 November 2026 | February 2027 |
| Link to the event to follow | Link to event to follow |