Urban nature: the field and the paper, a comparative analysis between the perspectives of citizen scientist and the policies in the Netherlands
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2023-07-31
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en
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Abstract
Urban areas are gaining recognition as crucial arenas for biodiversity conservation. Yet, in the Netherlands, where a majority of the population resides in urban areas, the biodiversity present in these settings is overlooked by national policies and is discussed only with a narrow focus by a few policy programs and charters, such as the Nature-Inclusive Agenda 1.0.
This thesis suggests that this current policy deficiency can be transformed into an opportunity to integrate diverse perspectives on urban nature into future national policy, starting from those of nature volunteers operating in urban areas under the Monitoring Network of Urban Species (MUS) project. A comparative analysis grounded in qualitative and semi-quantitative methods is carried out to identify differences and similarities. The findings highlight that present national policy tools value urban nature virtually exclusively as a means to obtain other benefits, a monothematic perspective sharpened by the nitrogen crisis. Conversely, the nature volunteers of the MUS attribute to urban nature a broader set of values, stemming from its intrinsic value and the relationships they establish with it. Through detailed recommendations, policymakers are invited to enrich the perspective on urban nature of future policies, as this might sensibly influence their performance and public acceptance.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen