Nature Conservation Against All? Aquatic Macrophyte De-Weeding – Cut or Conserve? A Stakeholder Analysis

Vasco Brummer; Sandra Roth; Markus Röhl; Carsten Herbes

doi:10.3097/LO.201754

Authors

Vasco Brummer Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Umwelt Nürtingen-Geislingen, Institute for International Research on Sustainable Management and Renewable Energy (ISR), Neckarsteige 6-10, 72622 Nürtingen, Germany https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3541-6375
Sandra Roth Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Umwelt Nürtingen-Geislingen, Institut für Landschaft und Umwelt (ILU), Neckarsteige 6-10, 72622 Nürtingen, Germany
Markus Röhl Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Umwelt Nürtingen-Geislingen, Institut für Landschaft und Umwelt (ILU), Neckarsteige 6-10, 72622 Nürtingen, Germany
Carsten Herbes Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Umwelt Nürtingen-Geislingen, Institute for International Research on Sustainable Management and Renewable Energy (ISR), Neckarsteige 6-10, 72622 Nürtingen, Germany

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.201754

Keywords:

aquatic biomass, stakeholder analysis, communication, economic use versus conservation, management, nuisance, society, nature, economy

Abstract

De-weeding of streams and lakes occurs in Germany on a widespread level, mostly to ensure water runoff and to provide flood protection. But de-weeding also affects a range of stakeholders, who have their own reasons to support or oppose it. For the list of stakeholders identified, see chapter 4. As part of a project analysing the feasibility of using water plant biomass as a substrate for biogas production, we conducted a multi-method stakeholder analysis to evaluate stakeholders’ opinions about de-weeding. The results show a preference of all stakeholders, except those identifying with nature conservation, for aquatic de-weeding. Our findings also point to a lack of communication between stakeholders, resulting in biased opinions of the stakeholders against other stakeholders and starting points for conflict.

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