Oude Diep (NL)
The Oude Diep is a 7.085 Hectare catchment area located in the north-east of The Netherlands. Rooted in a program of high priority water governance, the Oude Diep has been heavily and effectively governed in a top-down manner for many years. Area managers have significant resources at their disposal and can achieve their set goals and objectives. Consequently, they have little incentive to engage stakeholders or to develop new co-governance methods. We interpret this as an opportunity to add value by increasing participation and collaboration across the governance spectrum and by introducing new co-governance methods.Project timescale: 2017-2019
Pilot location: Province of Drenthe, The Netherlands
Lead beneficiary: Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen
Who else is involved: Prolander; Gemeente Hoogeveen; Waterschap Drents Overijsselse Delta (WDOD); INDYMO
Further details about the project:
By adopting an ecosystem services approach, we aim to build capacity for delivering improved sustainable management strategies, at the same time as providing additional social, economic and environmental benefits not currently being realised. Examples of these additional benefits are increased community cohesion, tourism and natural habitat quality.
Our specific objectives in the Oude Diep are to develop participation and collaboration incentives for stakeholders across the governance spectrum, and subsequently to facilitate a process of increasing participation and collaboration across the governance spectrum.
To develop incentives, we will conduct research on behavioral change related to water co-governance. This means we will search for answers to questions such as; What is in it for me or my organisation?
To facilitate a process of increasing participation and collaboration we will conduct research on tools, training and online platforms. This means we will search for answers to questions such as; What tools can I use to monitor or measure a parameter? How do I use the tools? How do I share the information? How do I see the impact of my efforts?
After conducting the research, we will select and implement new tools and training and integrate them into an online platform. We plan to realise a self-sustaining and continually upscaling toolbox by the end of the pilot project in 2019.
For more information, please contact:
Dr. ir. Floris Boogaard
Michael Bosscher