Chapter 12
Cross-cutting Perspective on Nature
Hans Bressers and Ulf Stein
12.1 Introduction
In this chapter, we delve into the nature perspective in order to supply cross-cutting
insights to the interlinkages between nature and drought. These interlinkages are not
just found in the two regions that have chosen this perspective as the subject of their
pilots, but are also to some extent relevant in the other four areas. For the purposes
of this chapter, the term nature is applied as a broad proxy for several nature-related
concepts. Most generally, nature here refers to areas designated for nature conservation. This includes nature areas under explicit protection. This concept of nature
also extends to natural elements within conservation areas, including river and
catchment systems, the diversity of species present and/or threatened, and ecosystems and their ecosystem services. In addition, implicit to this framing of nature is
the policy context that extends across nature conservation and land use management
measures. This includes sustainable land use policies and practices.
12.2 Drought and Water Scarcity Problems Related
to Nature
To understand the relationship between nature and water scarcity and drought
problems, we turn our attention to five case studies to illuminate key points. We
introduce the areas and their specific relationship to nature and ways in which
drought is already impacting natural areas and their ability to cope. The policy
H. Bressers (&)
University of Twente, P.O Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
e-mail: hans.bressers@utwente.nl
U. Stein
Ecologic Institute, Berlin, Germany
© The Author(s) 2016
H. Bressers et al. (eds.), Governance for Drought Resilience,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-29671-5_12
231
Cross-cutting Perspective on Nature
Hans Bressers and Ulf Stein
12.1 Introduction
In this chapter, we delve into the nature perspective in order to supply cross-cutting
insights to the interlinkages between nature and drought. These interlinkages are not
just found in the two regions that have chosen this perspective as the subject of their
pilots, but are also to some extent relevant in the other four areas. For the purposes
of this chapter, the term nature is applied as a broad proxy for several nature-related
concepts. Most generally, nature here refers to areas designated for nature conservation. This includes nature areas under explicit protection. This concept of nature
also extends to natural elements within conservation areas, including river and
catchment systems, the diversity of species present and/or threatened, and ecosystems and their ecosystem services. In addition, implicit to this framing of nature is
the policy context that extends across nature conservation and land use management
measures. This includes sustainable land use policies and practices.
12.2 Drought and Water Scarcity Problems Related
to Nature
To understand the relationship between nature and water scarcity and drought
problems, we turn our attention to five case studies to illuminate key points. We
introduce the areas and their specific relationship to nature and ways in which
drought is already impacting natural areas and their ability to cope. The policy
H. Bressers (&)
University of Twente, P.O Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
e-mail: hans.bressers@utwente.nl
U. Stein
Ecologic Institute, Berlin, Germany
© The Author(s) 2016
H. Bressers et al. (eds.), Governance for Drought Resilience,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-29671-5_12
231