Collaboration at a catchment level, a prerequisite for the implementation of the European Community Water Framework Directive?

Abstract: The thesis studies one method, focus group discussions, for public participation in the starting of implementing the European Community Water Framework Directive at a catchment level. Focus group discussions can be used as a method for bringing relevant stakeholder-groups into the discussion and evaluation of different possible solutions to problems of managing local waters in order to lower nutrient emissions and stop eutrophication. Of special interest in the study is the participants’ development of collaboration and collaborative learning in the focus groups. Also of interest is their change in attitudes during the focus group process and their will to participate in similar settings. The thesis assesses the results of three questionnaires responded by focus group participants in a study carried out by the Swedish Water Management Research Programme, VASTRA. The participants represent stakeholders in Rönne å catchment in Skåne, and also the results from ten focus group discussions with the same participants.