Approaches , possibilities and choices for a better dissemination of knowledge in Natura 2000 areas

Background and rationale In order to achieve an effective management of Natura 2000 areas communication between the different actors involved in the process is a key factor and a concrete and effective exchange of knowledge is needed. Until some time ago, nature protection often constituted an external, top-down intervention based on scientific knowledge, while local knowledge and practices were, at best, treated as complementary. But “nature is socially constructed ...Places are both socially and naturally made through both the actions of the residents and their local natures, and ... by combinations of externalised socio-natural-political forces and ideologies. ... Nature is socialised just as community is naturalized” (Marsden 2003, in Siebert et al. 2009). In the recent past, different paradigms of sustainable development disagreed over the forms and role of the knowledge required (Bruckmeier and Tovey 2008). Nature protection and resource management also refer to knowledge about social processes and dynamics, economic relations and communication: “Managerial” knowledge also is needed, because the social context must be addressed when we discuss knowledge in regard to biodiversity and nature protection. In any case, in past years there was a general consensus about the significance of “knowledge” for sustainable resource use and nature protection (Berkes and Folke 1998, Millar and Curtis 1999, Burgess et al. 2000, Curry and Winter 2000, Berkes 2002) and most of the specific knowledge about nature conservation was scientific knowledge and could be categorised into: 1. Reserve management types, 2. Agri-environmental projects, 3. Research and development projects, and 4. Community development activities