Biocultural diversity in the Netherlands: from ecologically noble savages towards biocultural creatives

Abstract

Biocultural diversity is usually associated with traditional ways in which local or indigenous people interact with the natural environment. This chapter deals with biocultural diversity practices in a highly modernised society, the Netherlands. It introduces the concept of ‘biocultural creatives’: groups of people who, driven by an engagement with society and nature, create new cultural models and practices for interaction with biodiversity. Biocultural creativity aims to reconnect people with nature and is sought for in this chapter within the domains of recreation (use of nature) and financial support and volunteer activities (nature protection). Within recreational practices, creativity is found in the application or rejection of technology and the world of fantasy or contemplation; within financial support, creativity is found in traditional economic instruments applied to the world of nature conservation; and within volunteer work, creativity is found through the modernisation of traditional volunteer activities and new styles of citizen governance in the planning, design and management of conservation areas and landscapes. We conclude that although none of the biocultural creative initiatives have been adopted by large groups of Dutch citizens, they are important to the conservation of biodiversity because they re-create a constant awareness of the cultural roots of nature conservation and remind us that these roots link up to the dynamics in society and because they enrich our cultural connectedness with the natural environment. Therefore, we encourage policy-makers and nature managers to see biocultural diversity as an opportunity for the emergence of new perspectives and ideas, which can be meaningful for nature conservation. We also recommend researchers to do further studies into the dynamic and creative aspects of biodiversity that we touch upon in this chapter.

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