Socializing ecology in heavily used areas and the role of NGO’s: The cases of the Wadden Sea and the city of Groningen

The management of so-called ‘multifunctional’ natural areas is not just a matter of policy-makers and scientists but also of Non Governmental Organizations. For example, the international Wadden Sea region, the Wadden Sea, the Frisian Islands and parts of the main land, includes many nature reserves but also cities, industrial areas, oil exploitation sites, fishery grounds, and agricultural regions. How to combine the different aims and how to come to a scientifically and socially sound kind of ecological management regime? Two tendencies stimulate a more important role for NGO’s here. In the first place, NGO’s do not only focus on interests and alternative visions anymore, but they also develop new knowledge-based social and technical practices. Furthermore, there is a growing willingness to participate in research activities, from agenda setting to assessment and implementation of scientific knowledge. Secondly, current insights in ecosystem management emphasize that science has to be linked to policy and practices. This so-called policy-related science needs to be embedded in an interactive process and structure between its societal application and its development. NGO’s can play a role as co-producer of science, as an intermediate or so-called boundary organization, connecting science and society. However, critics fear a loss of independency and quality of scientific knowledge. Our main question is: what role do NGO’s play in policy and practices in the Wadden Sea area with respect to interests, visions and practices and how do they relate these to knowledge development? We will present a model for the inclusion of NGO’s in this context. We will put our examples from the activities of the international Wadden Sea Forum, the Dutch Wadden Council and the Groningen Green City Council, regarding standard setting for industrial development and the management of exotic species.