12-13 December 2007, the Netherlands

On 12 and 13 December 2007, ECNC’s Croatian and Macedonian partners in the project ‘Communicating nature conservation in Croatia and Macedonia’ visited the Netherlands for a programme that included a mini-seminar and site visits. The project, funded by the Norwegian Government, is now in its third phase. The first two project phases included basic and advanced in-country training courses on communication and stakeholder involvement including selected pilot sites in both countries.

This study visit aimed to provide more insights into the role of stakeholders in the management of nature areas in the Netherlands. The participants also saw how communication and stakeholder involvement are taken up in the management of Natura 2000 areas in Europe and in Dutch nature areas.

ECNC’s Executive Director, Mr Rob Wolters, and Project Coordinator, Ms Aysegul Cil, welcomed the participants. The mini-seminar started with a presentation by Ms Catherine O’Neill of Eurosite on Eurosite’s experiences and the lessons learned in the Natura 2000 Networking Programme. Mr Jac Hendriks, Senior Officer for Rural Development of the State Forestry Agency in Tilburg, gave an analysis of the management planning process in the Province of Noord-Brabant. Participants Mrs Robertina Brajanoska (Macedonian Ministry of Environment), Mr Goce Anastasoski (Mavrovo National Park), Mr Kristijan Civic and Mr Goran Krivanek (both of the Croatian State Institute for Nature Protection) shared their experiences and views during the discussion part of the seminar.

On 13 December, the site visit commenced in the Biesbosch National Park with a meeting with the Park Manager, Mr Dirk Feij, about the management of the nature areas and Natura 2000 Reserve covering about 9,000 ha and the development of new nature in the surroundings of the National Park (‘Living rivers’) and the role of stakeholders. The second part of the visit took the participants to the Loonse en Drunense Duinen National Park, where they were welcomed by Mr Frans Kapteijns, Park Manager, and an employee of Natuurmonumenten. They were informed about the management of this nature reserve, covering about 3,500 ha, and the role of stakeholders (agricultural management of nature and landscape, green-blue services, regional products). The field visit to the dunes was found quite interesting because it showed a type of nature in the Netherlands and also illustrated the management aspects of visitor activities aimed at balancing the needs of nature and man.  

At the end of the two days, the participants felt that their visit had been extremely valuable in strengthening their skills in the planning process for the nature parks in Croatia and in developing management plans for the Macedonian national parks.

More information: Aysegul Cil, Programme Manager – Nature and Society; cil@ecnc.org