Learning from the past; changing perspectives on river management in the Netherlands

• Published in: Environmental science & policy Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 13 - 22
• Main Authors: Offermans, Astrid, Cörvers, Ron
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 2012
• Subjects: Dynamic tests; Environment; Environmental policy; environmental science; issues and policy; Monitoring; Natural environment; Netherlands; Perception; Perspectives on water; Policies; Policy making; Rivers; Robustness; Science policy; scientists; Social factors; Social support; society; Strategic management; Strategy; Sustainability; Sustainable water management; Uncertainty; water analysis; Water management; Netherlands; Sustainable water management; Perspectives on water; Social support
• ISSN: 1462-9011; 1873-6416
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2011.10.003

► Sustainable water management is able to cope with uncertainties in the physical-, socio-economic- and social environment. ► To increase insight into social uncertainties and their effects on support for policies we use the Perspectives method. ► Historical analysis provides policy and scientific lessons for changing perspectives and public support for strategies.
Sustainable water management strategies are able to cope with uncertainties in our natural environment and societal domain. Uncertainties in the societal domain reflect different and changing perceptions in policy and society on how water should be managed and which objectives should be preferred. Changing perceptions may lead to a loss of social support for policy strategies, forcing policy makers to take adapting measures quickly or to cancel plans. To explore the social robustness of water management strategies and to identify under what circumstances those strategies gain or loose social support, we use the Perspectives method. Resulting from our historical analysis of water management in the Netherlands as from 1900, we present insight in the dynamic nature of perspectives. These insights may be beneficial for scientists and policy makers. Closely monitoring of perspective change and anticipation on growing undercurrents, developments and conceivable events, helps us to increase the social robustness of water management strategies.