Global issues- National Policies: Comparing wetland protection polies and perceptions in the Netherlands en the United States

Wetlands protection is a global goal that requires action on many levels of government, including National, State or Provincial, and municipal. Global plans and programs require a network of national and sub-national policy definition and enforcement. In the United States, for example, global and continental level strategies by necessity include conservation plans or programs as opposed to policies or laws. When National laws exist, state-level agencies or state branches of federal agencies permit and enforce rules. The Clean Water Act, a national policy, is for many states the only legislation in place to protect wetlands. However, some states have fortified this legislation by enacting additional state wetland protection programs. This paper compares the policies in place in the United States to those in the Netherlands. In addition to mapping current policy, this paper briefly highlights differences between the two countries regarding wetlands protection. This overview includes perceptions of wetlands, threats to wetlands, goals for wetland protection and variations in stakeholders. For example, wetlands in the United States are often threatened by land development, a trend exacerbated by urban sprawl. In the Netherlands, wetland areas often have a history of manipulation. Struggles occur when they are allowed to degrade into a more natural state. Understanding how perceptions differ in the two countries can inform future policy-making strategy, helping to create increasingly successful and effective policies.