Around the announced plans for nature restoration of the Wadden regions there has been great unrest in the Wadden Islands. The plans were designed remotely and presented to a select group of residents only late. People who have been connected to the Wadden for generations felt treated as an obstacle to government plans, rather than as a partner.
In a new essay on Social Issues late Socires-researcher David Oldenhof-Boks see how a centralist policy logic unintentionally turns allies of nature restoration into opponents. No one wins. Not the government, not the residents, not the Wadden.
His call: see involved citizens and local connections as cocreator. Give them a place at the table as planner, as partner in execution and supervision. This will take more time in the short term, but will provide solutions that are more sustainable, better supported, community-enhancing and will be cheaper in the long term.
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