The results of an investigation of the perception values of the Dutch Wadden Sea area has recently been made available. The study was carried out in 1996-97 by the Staring Centrum, a research institute of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries and commissioned by the Dutch Wadden Society. The goals were to trace the attitudes and preferences of relevant target group segments with regard to the qualities of the Wadden Sea area (emotional involvement, which qualities are conceived and how they are to be dealt with) with the aim to apply such knowledge in public information and education.

The investigation was initiated with a pre investigation among representatives of municipalities and nature, landscape and tourism organizations. The main part entailed in depth interviews with 20 residents and visitors on two of the islands and 5 residents of coastal municipalities (the qualitative investigation) and a questionnaire inquiry of about 1,000 residents and visitors (the quantitative investigation).

The investigation is the first comprehensive investigation in the whole Wadden Sea area on how do people (society) perceive the Wadden Sea area, what are the most important attitudes or preferences to be experienced in the area and what are acceptable and non acceptable developments. Important questions resulting from such an investigation are, e. g., whether the current protection regime, which is based primarily on protecting the natural values of the area, needs to be expanded or revised, are people committed to the conservation objectives and do we need to revise communication strategies?

An important conclusion is that emotions play an important role in the perception of the Wadden Sea area, in terms of freedom and independence, both for man and for nature. Those perception qualities are extremely vulnerable - the erection of high obstacles e.g. reduces the visional quality substantially - and therefore needs to be protected, as well. The area is vulnerable to future developments and activities. Adaption to the existing situation is, therefore, important to ensure that the experience of dynamic and complexity continues.

Another important conclusion is that the values of the Wadden Sea area are perceived universally. The combination of natural and cultural landscape values, including both the totality and the differences, contributes to perceiving an additional value. The whole spectrum, therefore, needs to be protected. A remarkable conclusion of the investigation is that the capacity to absorb tourists has been reached. More tourists will be on the expense of those qualities which can be maintained by the current level. It is, however, also noted in the report that the residents on the islands are more tolerant towards new developments because they depend financially, or sense to be financially dependent, on such developments.

Important conclusions and recommendations which need to be carefully considered in terms of policy and communication strategies! One should not forget, however, that there is often a discrepancy between what is perceived and what is, or becomes reality. The report gives unintentionally a good example of such interpretation problems. Two (!) German respondents made a comparison between the Dutch and German islands and defined the specific Dutch qualities. It is not surprising that the German islands were much worse off, but is that an objective statement of the situation or a subjective description of the impressions of the respondents?

The latter is probably more the case, since otherwise they would never have visited the Dutch islands in the first place. Although the report stresses that such statements can only be used as signal, it uses them on several occasions throughout the report to confirm the conclusions e.g. that the limit of tourist development has been reached. But how is that perceived in Germany? A good reason to carry out such investigations in Germany and Denmark, as well.

In spite of the disturbing use of such interviews it is a good and interesting investigation which needs to be considered on the level of policy. The report will be followed by further investigations in 1998 which will have the chief objective of enabling the application of the conclusions of the report in public information and education.

The Report and the Summary Report can be ordered at the DLO-Staring Centrum, Postbus 125, NL - 67000 AC Wageningen, Tel. +31 (0)317 - 474200, E-mail: postkamer@sc.dlo.nl

or at the Waddenvereniging, Postbus 90, NL - 8860 AB Harlingen, Tel. +31 (0)517 - 415541, E-mail: lvbv@noord.bart.nl

J. A. Enemark, CWSS, Wilhelmshaven