Matthijs G.C. Schouten

Crossing borders : review of concepts and approaches in research on greenspace, immigration and society in northwest European countries

Abstract Relations between greenspace, immigration and society are emerging issues in policy and science. However, up to now research has been fragmented and no overview of approaches exists. This review describes concepts and approaches in Northwest European research on immigrants’ recreational use and perceptions of nature, rural landscapes and urban parks and on societal aspects of migration and greenspace. We show that national research traditions vary considerably, reflecting national ‘contexts of reception’ and conceptualisations of immigrants. Links between outdoor recreation and perceptions of greenspace have not been properly researched and explanatory factors are only superficially touched upon. Borders seem difficult to cross: learning processes and cooperation of scholars across approaches and countries are scarce. Furthermore, current research often lacks an explicit theoretical framework. We argue that the concept of identity-in-context can form a good starting point to build an internationally relevant theoretical framework on the greenspace–immigration–society interface.

PRECIPITATION DETERMINES THE PERSISTENCE OF HOLLOW SPHAGNUM SPECIES ON HUMMOCKS

On raised bogs, the distribution of Sphagnum species is determined by their distance to the water table, but occasionally species are able to survive outside their niche. Hollow species that persist in hummock vegetation are assumed to profit from the higher water content of the surrounding hummock species, although the mechanism responsible is unclear. In this study, we elucidated the role of lateral hummock water transport (LHWT) and precipitation on the water content of hollow species occurring in hummocks. This was tested using a full factorial field transplantation experiment with cores of Sphagnum cuspidatum in a high and a low hummock. Treatments included direct precipitation (present or absent) and LHWT (present or absent). Fresh weights of the cores were measured at regular time intervals. Our results show a relatively large effect of precipitation on the water content in both the high and low hummock, whereas LHWT only seemed to be an important source of water in the high hummock, which was relatively dry. Furthermore, LHWT played an important role only after large precipitation events, suggesting that lateral water transport is indirectly affected by rain. This study shows that precipitation alone can explain the persistence of hollow species in high hummocks, whereas it was less important for hollow species in low hummocks. Our data suggest that the survival and potential expansion of hollow species in higher hummocks strongly depends on the intensity and frequency of rain events. Changes in precipitation patterns may result in a loss of Sphagnum diversity in hummocks.

Cultural echoes in Dutch immigrants’ and non-immigrants’ understandings and values of nature

Abstract Contemporary societies are rapidly changing demographically and culturally. This raises new challenges regarding support for and engagement in nature conservation. Our paper discusses differences and similarities between young adult non-immigrants and immigrants in how they understand and value nature, based on group interviews and a survey conducted among young adults of Turkish, Chinese and non-immigrant Dutch backgrounds. We show that how people perceive nature differs between ethnic groups, even though the immigrants included spent (most of) their youth in the Netherlands. Non-immigrants used most strict boundaries to qualify green areas as nature, while especially Chinese immigrants expressed a more inclusive idea of nature. Turkish immigrants articulated most often ecocentric and religious reasons to conserve nature, while Chinese immigrants stood out as mentioning most often anthropocentric reasons. Traditional cultural representations of nature partly seemed to echo in peoples perceptions of nature. Support for nature conservation was high among the respondents; however, this hardly translated into engagement in nature conservation.

Holocene comment and reply The disappearance of S. imbricatum from European raised bogs: a comment on McClymont et al

McClymont et al. (The Holocene 18 (2008) 991—1002) present data on several environmental proxies to explore the disappearance of Sphagnum imbricatum from a peat bog in northern England, Wales and Ireland, respectively. McClymont et al. used their results to argue that a combination of rapid water-table rise and increased aeolian nutrient input from surrounding (agricultural) areas may have caused the disappearance of S. imbricatum from European raised bogs. The paper contributes to a growing body of literature focusing on the ‘abrupt’ decline of S. imbricatum (S. austinii) AD 1000—1700. From the literature it becomes apparent that determining the exact mechanism for the decline of S. imbricatum (S. austinii) is difficult. Hence, many potential mechanisms have been suggested, amongst which increased wetness, increased interspecific competition, local burning and increased nutrient input are just a few examples. Although we do not comment on the quality of the science, there are a few things to be considered in order to get a complete picture.

Holocene comment and reply

McClymont et al. (The Holocene 18 (2008) 991—1002) present data on several environmental proxies to explore the disappearance of Sphagnum imbricatum from a peat bog in northern England, Wales and Ireland, respectively. McClymont et al. used their results to argue that a combination of rapid water-table rise and increased aeolian nutrient input from surrounding (agricultural) areas may have caused the disappearance of S. imbricatum from European raised bogs. The paper contributes to a growing body of literature focusing on the ‘abrupt’ decline of S. imbricatum (S. austinii) AD 1000—1700. From the literature it becomes apparent that determining the exact mechanism for the decline of S. imbricatum (S. austinii) is difficult. Hence, many potential mechanisms have been suggested, amongst which increased wetness, increased interspecific competition, local burning and increased nutrient input are just a few examples. Although we do not comment on the quality of the science, there are a few things to be considered in order to get a complete picture.

Race/Ethnicity in Visual Imagery of Dutch Nature Conservation Organizations

ABSTRACT Nature conservation organizations in various Western countries, including the Netherlands, have noted that racial/ethnic minorities compared to Whites are “underparticipating” in recreation in natural areas and in nature conservation practices. Previous research trying to explain (under-)participation by racial/ethnic minorities in outdoor recreation and nature conservation mainly focused on characteristics of racial/ethnic groups. This study argues that nature conservation organizations themselves—although in all likelihood unintentionally—may play a role in participation of racial/ethnic minorities as well, through their promotional material. A content analysis of 22,974 pictures in magazines and on websites of four large Dutch nature conservation organizations shows that only 3.8% of the depicted people were non-White. Our results indicate that visual imagery of nature conservation organizations, at least in the Netherlands, (re)produces an image of outdoor recreation and nature conservation as being activities almost exclusively performed by Whites.