Adapting Dutch nature conservation to climate change: How practitioners frame problems and solutions

Abstract

Climate change is expected to have profound effects on nature’s various organisation levels from genetics to biome shifts, manifold vulnerable species and ecosystems may not be able to adapt to altering climatic circumstances. The adaptation of nature conservation therefore is of critical importance; yet Dutch nature conservation lacks a strategy and structural climate change adaptation. Neither is it known how practitioners in regional Dutch nature conservation, who will be responsible for climate adaptation, comprehend the issue and its urgency. This research’s purpose is to contribute to the understanding how practitioners in regional Dutch nature conservation view climate adaptation and what this means in the context of adapting Dutch nature conservation to climate change. Frame analysis was performed to accomplish this aim, Entman’s frame approach providing focus and structure. Content analysis facilitated the examination of practitioners’ frames and their identification of problems, causes, solutions and responsibilities regarding nature related adaptation until 2050.