Division INTRODUCTION

Section 20, Subsection 1, of the Nature Conservation Act 1998^f1 stipulates that provincial executives may restrict access to protected nature reserves as defined under Section 10, Subsection 1; designated areas as defined under Section 10a, Subsection 1; other areas for which such a designation is under consideration as defined under Section 12, or parts of such areas in so far as is necessary for the conservation of the ecological value of said area.

Section 20, Subsection 2, of the Nature Conservation Act 1998 stipulates that the authority as defined in Subsection 1 rests with the Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality in agreement with another Minister in the event that the area as defined under Subsection 1, or a part thereof, is managed by or falls under the jurisdiction of that Minister or other Ministers.

The following decree is to be enacted in agreement with the Minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management. The Regional Affairs mandate^f2 in force at the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality stipulates that the Southern Regional Director for this ministry be authorised to take this decision on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.

It is necessary to restrict access to a number of areas within the Voordelta Natura 2000 area (hereinafter ‘Voordelta’) in order to protect the existing and future ecological value of the area. The basis for imposing such access restrictions can be found in the Voordelta Designation Decree (19 February 2008, ref. DRZO/2008-113) with regard to fulfilling Voordelta Natura 2000 objectives, as well as compensation obligations as incorporated into the Nature Conservation Act licence (17 April 2008, ref. DRZW/2008-1670) issued for the construction and presence of Maasvlakte 2. This is described in more detail in the general explanatory note accompanying this decree.

This decree specifically regulates restricted access to the areas detailed below. Specific exceptions to access restrictions detract in no way from any licensing requirements as defined under Section 19d of the Nature Conservation Act 1998, unless exceptions as defined under Section 19d, Subsection 2, of the Nature Conservation Act 1998 (projects or activities in accordance with the management plan) are applicable.