Exploring the Transformative Potential of Dutch Biodiversity Governance: Insights from Nature Conservation and Agriculture Domains

Abstract

In the face of unprecedented biodiversity loss and the continued failure of traditional approaches to biodiversity conservation, it has become increasingly clear that transformative change is necessary to address the global nature crisis. The concept of transformative governance has emerged as a key framework for understanding and facilitating this transformative change in biodiversity conservation. This thesis builds on the premise of transformative governance and presents findings from a descriptive qualitative research study.
By using operationalized approaches of transformative governance, this study aims to provide theory-informed insights into the transformative potential of Dutch biodiversity governance. The research methodology involved a comprehensive literature study and interviews to collect data necessary for evaluating the transformative potential, as well as identifying gaps and challenges that hinder its full realization.
The research findings reveal that the Dutch biodiversity governance exhibits transformative potential through the adoption of integrative, inclusive, adaptive, and informed practices. However, the full implementation of these approaches is hindered by challenges related to the integration of policy frameworks and policy practices. The prioritization of the short-term issues, such as the nitrogen crisis, takes precedence over long-term transformation goals, resulting in the adoption of tools and instruments that do not fully align with transformative objectives. Additionally, insufficient attention is given to economic factors in the agricultural context, and there is a lack of mechanisms to effectively translate collective efforts into widespread policy changes. These gaps and challenges collectively impede the adoption of transformative governance approaches. The study emphasizes the need to address these issues in order to fully unlock the transformative potential of Dutch biodiversity governance and effectively address biodiversity loss.

Date of Award	1 Jul 2023
Original language	English
Supervisor	Raoul Beunen (Examiner) & Jean Hugé (Co-assessor)