The research has focused on physical characteristics, in order to understand the (lack of) bottom-up coherence of networks at the border. Next to physical networks also non-physical networks have been found in the area. Some of the non-physical networks do not show a direct (visible) connection with physical characteristics in the landscape. Examples of such non-physical networks are rules and regulations, but also management, politics and strategy, of which often only resulting effects can be determined.
The difference in legal networks in the Witte Veen can be seen by looking at hunting laws (in Germany one is allowed to hunt, in the Netherlands not), or property law (e.g. privately owned roads). Often such rules and regulations are not area specific, but are the same for a municipality or a larger region. Nevertheless they also influence the micro and nano border, as can be found through complaints of farmers about the nuisance of wild animals in the Netherlands, or difficulties as experienced by a long distance route
when planning a route across a privately owned natural area. Next to differences in rules and laws,
disjunctures can also be found in management, politics and strategy. In order to further understand these disjunctures figure 24 (Liqua, n.d.) is introduced. In this figure one can see two heads as introduced by Latour
37 The Dutch natural area is habitat Nature 2000, whereas the German natural area is both habitat and bird sanctuary. 38 This also includes the management of water around the natural areas. The different approaches of Waterschap
Vechtstromen and Kreis Borken in the management of the Hegebeek can lead to clear disjunctures in the flow of the water across the border; natural flow on one side and a canalised flow on the other.
(1987)39. Such opposite opinions have been observed in management and strategy of the Witte Veen as well. The summarised disjunctures can be found next to figure 25. These contrasting opinions supported the understanding that the Witte Veen existed in fact of not one but two natural areas.
Witte Veen (NL) – Witte Venn (D)
• Important and endangered species must be protected • Support for nature is needed
to protect it
• The natural area is
protected, by Nature 2000 habitat status
• One can only protect what one has
• Nature must be protected against invasive tourism • The natural area is protected,
by Nature 2000 bird and habitat status
The national border can be seen as a thick red line creating disjunctures in management. On both sides of the border different contradictory opinions exist. These opinions don't cross the border, they are part of their own networks of thoughts and beliefs. Contact between managing organisations is often established, but does not seem to lead to a mix or agreement in principles or opinions. Disjunctures in management strategy and politics can be seen when looking at prior discussed networks such as hiking and biking, maps, nature or water. Even though sometimes cross-border connections are used to reach agreements, the weak connection between the networks allows execution of agreements to be omitted40. The organisations managing the area are also part of different networks; Kreis Borken is a governmental institution in Germany, Natuurmonumenten is a public association in the Netherlands. Many of the organisations managing the Witte Veen are also influenced by politics. The Dutch water board is e.g. elected by public vote every few years, and local initiatives of managers have to keep in mind the wishes of the local people (e.g.
communicated through the local council). When looking at such a council it has however been said that the perspective of politicians is often inland in stead of looking for opportunities across the border41. Euregio is the main designated organisation to overcome local disjunctures, it is however not a cross-border governing organisation; it acts if and when its members desire it, demanding some level of cross-border interest from local politicians. The national border acts as a fracture between the political organisations on both sides of the border. Such organisations have been built from municipalities to provinces and states, and all of their outer borders are located in the same place: the national border. The design of the political systems is quite different across the border, and the division of tasks and responsibilities is as a result dissimilar. Thus even though the
municipality of Haaksbergen is part of other networks42, all of these networks have the same border
39 In the original article the heads were used to explain differences between approaches towards science. It was used to show how science can have two faces and although these faces were talking about the same thing, they held opposite opinions.
40 An example of such an agreement is the case of the Hegebeek, located to the north of the Witte Veen, which is at the moment mostly comparable to brooks in Germany. The plan is however to make it more like the Dinkel (i.e. more natural and stippling). This plan is supported by the Dutch “kaderrichtlijn water”. On the German side such
perspective towards the management of water seems to be much less important. Cross-border agreements have been reached, but have not been executed.
41 In my interview with Rouwenhorst it became clear that politicians don't only stand with their backs to the national border, but also to smaller inland borders (e.g. the border with another municipalities, another region, another province, or any other border). This can be overcome by borders from different institutions such as the water boards and the provinces not overlapping.
42 It is part of Regio Twente, of Provincie Overijssel, partially part of Waterschap Vechtstromen and Waterschap
in common. This results in a thick national border, leaving cross-border connections very weak or sometimes even absent.