New nature, new economy

Sometimes it is a pity that not all directors read the studies of Triple E well. Where, for example, ‘Head and Tail’ (Kop en Munt) and ‘Your home is your castle’ (Eigen haard is goud waard) have provided an impulse for the regional economy by expanding the Weerribben national park with the Wieden, or a new look at the value of cultural heritage, the recommendation that was made in this book to build the connection zone to between Oostvaardersplassen and Veluwe has not been adopted. In addition to the ecological benefits, there were of course economic benefits. Surprisingly, not only in recreation and tourism, but also major social savings in terms of subsidies that are widely given to agriculture and that could be stopped if the connecting zone was established. Nature turned out to be cheaper for society. This would also have broken the dogma of ‘expensive nature’. In 2019 we can unfortunately conclude that this would have been highly desirable.