12 December 2007, Dordrecht, the Netherlands

In the afternoon of 12 December 2007, local and regional stakeholders from the southwestern provinces of the Netherlands gathered in Dordrecht. They discussed local biodiversity initiatives and shared experience and examples of good practice. The concrete and informal character of the workshop was very much appreciated and stimulated active participation.

The project ‘Biodiversity works in the region’ which ECNC coordinates for the Netherlands Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, aims to further the creation of an information network for local and regional authorities as a support to reach the 2010 target. It stimulates the target groups to take action, collects best practice projects in an online register, organizes a contest for successful projects and stimulates an active network of partners.

The workshop was chaired by Mr Wim van Gelder, former Queen’s Commissioner in the Province of Zeeland, the Netherlands, and Vice-Chairman of NatureNet Europe. In his opening speech he stressed the importance of local and regional action regarding the 2010 target, and the many chances biodiversity offers for local sustainable social and economic development. He also underlined the need to continue communicating about nature and its important role for society, if any progress is to be made.

During workshops on the themes ‘communication and awareness’, ‘financing biodiversity’ and ‘biodiversity projects in urban areas’, participants were able to express positive as well as negative experiences. This resulted in a collection of valuable practical information and it made clear that a lot of work is already being done. However, the participants also expressed their continued need for support, advice and cooperation.

These preliminary results will be combined with those to be obtained from three future workshops that will be held in the first half of 2008. This will result in an online overview of exemplary, innovative and inspiring biodiversity projects, and give a better insight into the needs for support and information of the relevant stakeholders active in the field of biodiversity.

For further information, contact Mark Snethlage, projectmanager ECNC.