Founded in 1899, 'Vogelbescherming Nederland' is one of the oldest nature protection organisations in the Netherlands. It is the Dutch partner of BirdLife International, a worldwide partnership of conservation organisations that seeks to conserve all wild bird species and their habitats. BirdLife International has national partners in more than 60 countries and is represented in 110 countries. It aims to prevent the extinction of wild bird species, to enhance the conservation status of all bird species, to conserve crucial sites and habitats for birds worldwide. Activities include research, advocacy, managing species, sites and habitats, education and enlisting public support.

An essential precondition to conserve biodiversity on earth is preserving the richness in bird species under natural living conditions. 'Vogelbescherming Nederland' bases its priorities on three aspects: 1) legal protection of birds and their habitats; 2) drafting and implementation of conservation plans for threatened species; and 3) conservation of important bird areas (with special attention for wetlands).

EcoMare is a private foundation which aims to contribute to the conservation and, if possible, recovery of nature and human related culture in the Wadden Sea area and the North Sea through the provision of information and educational services. The centre is situated in a 70 hectare-large dune park and consists of a visitor’s centre and a museum with an extensive exposition, a seal and bird rehabilitation centre, a fieldwork centre and an information centre. EcoMare has no formal relationships with organisations in the South, yet occasionally people from nature conservation organisations; scientific institutes and governments visit EcoMare to exchange information.

The Foundation's objective is to promote harmony within people, between individual people, and between people and their environment. More specifically, it wishes to contribute to an increased consciousness of our human responsibility to conserve and nurture our natural environment and - more generally- to foster a society worthy of human dignity. To this end, the Foundation initiates and/or participates in projects that promote reflection, education and concrete action.

The activities of the foundation are twofold: firstly training and education, and secondly consciousness raising by initiating new projects, sometimes in co-creation with other organisations. Here the Foundation focuses mainly on consciousness raising by means of concrete environmentally friendly initiatives e.g. in the fields of biological agriculture and a durable society.

FoE Netherlands is a national organisation with about hundred local groups. Founded in 1971, it has approximately 70,000 members. A separate, affiliated youth organisation (JMA) has several thousand partners.

In the Netherlands, FoE Netherlands informs the public, initiates campaigns that put pressure on government and industry, organises courses, provides a question-answer service on environmental issues by telephone and has a documentation centre and a library. FoE Netherlands has various specialised sections that focus on waste products, energy and greenhouse effects, air pollution, agriculture, forests, environment and the South. Some of the themes are: waste prevention, sustainable Europe, ozone layer, air traffic, pesticides, EU agricultural policies, forest issues, trade relations and debt relations. One of the activities of Foe Netherlands is 'Earth ALARM', in which people are given the opportunity to write, individually or in groups, letters to alert authorities and companies in areas threatened by environmental disasters.

Internationally, it collaborates with environmental organisations in various countries on issues like the conservation of tropical forests and the degradation of the ozone layer.

Foe Netherlands has also been successful in actions against Dutch companies damaging the environment abroad. One of its campaigns is concerned with the adverse effects of the liberalisation of the world market and the role of the WTO.

GAP started in 1990 as an initiative of a group of environmentalists looking for ways in which ordinary people in the industrialised countries can contribute to meeting the major environmental goals recommended by international commissions and research groups. It operates in fifteen countries as a decentralised action programme. It aims at translating global environmental goals into measurable household, workplace and community actions. GAP provides skills and support to enable people to fulfil those actions at the individual and local level, collects the results, and feeds them back to everyone involved in the programme and to the media. Its principal activity is the so-called EcoTeam Programme in which individuals work together to bring their own households into a better environmental balance.

GAP Netherlands is part of a growing international network of sister organisations that all develop and implement programmes based on empowerment and (local) sustainable development.

'Aktie Strohalm' was founded in 1970 as one of the first Dutch NGOs actively committed to the cause of a socially, environmentally and culturally sustainable society. Strohalm develops innovative projects to tackle the underlying economic causes of environmental degradation and social problems such as poverty, long-term unemployment and consumerism. Through projects in practice it wants to demonstrate that change is possible. The focus is on issues like interest, money circulation, taxation principles and the social organisation of economies because they represent mechanisms that influence how the economy functions. Aktie Strohalm believes that by constructively challenging the economic dynamics of the world positive social change, environmental harmony and better opportunities for human progress can be achieved.

Aktie Strohalm promotes projects on interest-free or barter economies and runs a flight-tax campaign. Furthermore Strohalm's research group gathers information on Financial Micro-Initiatives (FMIs): innovative, and often local, financial systems (examples of such systems are barter and exchange systems, interest-free banks, credit unions, Grameen type micro credit schemes, etc.). The training department provides training and consultancy on FMIs and project development in this field.

IVN is a private society of volunteers and professionals. It was founded in 1960 in order to spread the notion of environmental protection and to promote environmental awareness by organising a wide range of educational activities. In some 180 local branches over 16.000 volunteers are involved in educational work on nature and the environment. Annually, these local branches organise hundreds of activities. To an increasing extent, IVN local groups participate in policy partnerships with for instance municipalities and water boards.

IVN develops methods, training programmes, projects and materials to support professional workers, government bodies, volunteers and others working in the field of nature and environmental education. The IVN develops and publishes a wide range of environmental educational books, brochures and posters. A well-equipped Information- and Documentation centre supports and advises all volunteers and professionals involved in environmental education.

The Society is a national environmental organisation that lobbies the government on a broad range of environmental issues. Another major function is to provide services and information to environmental action groups. Affiliated to the Society are all twelve provincial environmental organisations. Points of focus are: juridical and administrative affairs, national and international (primarily European Union) environmental policies and legislation. 'Natuur en Milieu' works on five topics: nature, agriculture and water; climate and energy; urban environment; industry and environment; and transport and mobility.

The Foundation is an independent environmental NGO to protect the North Sea.

It searches for alternative solutions and seeks dialogue with decision makers. The Foundation tries to influence the policies towards the marine environment, of the private sector, politicians and user groups (such as fishermen and ship owners). Other activities include direct action, campaigning and public awareness raising.

The Dutch Organization for Renewable Energy focuses on two fields of action, namely promoting the use of renewable energy applications in the Netherlands and supporting people who use those applications. ODE performs many activities in order to stimulate the use of renewable energy and promote energy saving. The organisation addresses private investors and private co-operatives, because the Dutch experience shows that support for renewable energy can grow through the active involvement of a large number of people in RE projects. ODE initiates and supports renewable energy groups at the local level, that develop projects on wind energy, thermal and solar systems.

Probos (‘Pro-forest Foundation’) is an independent non-profit organisation, which primary task is to collect, analyse and summarize vital (market) information, so that the social debate on sustainable forest management will be based on reliable facts and figures. Another aim is to promote innovations in forest management and the use of forest products and services. Probos works on this mission by conducting projects started by itself or in assignment of third parties, using its extensive expertise and network. Probos’ main fields of expertise are: sustainable forest management, afforestation, biomass production and procurement, timber market and specialised ICT services (forest data).

The 12 Provincial Environmental Federations are independent NGOs that support local environmental organisations, promote environmentally friendly initiatives, lobby government and play a supportive role in environmental education. The national coordinating secretariat is based at the Dutch Society for Nature and Environment (SNM).

Reinwater is a national environmental organisation that aims to improve the quality of international river water by means of research, legal action and environmental education. It seeks publicity and provides the public with information on this issue. Particular emphasis is placed on water pollution caused by diffuse sources (agriculture, construction, consumers, shipping, transport). The Foundation has expertise on international environmental legislation and publishes educational material.

Natuurmonumenten is a nature conservation organisation with more than 820,000 members. The aim of Natuurmonumenten is the conservation and management of natural areas, valuable landscapes and (historic) art monuments in these areas. In order to do this, the association acquires land that is threatened. The organisation also works for the conservation and recovery of nature in non-built up areas and towards clean air, soil, water and the reduction of noise pollution. Furthermore it aims to promote the relationship between human activity and individual responsibility for the conservation of nature and the environment.

The Small Earth is an environmental educational centre which focuses on agriculture, organically grown food, energy saving and renewable energy sources, and the interrelation of these issues. By promoting global standards for food, soil, energy and raw material consumption, Small Earth seeks to further develop a standard of living, which is friendly to both people and the environment. Programme activities include: (1) visitors centre and ecological demonstration area (2) presentations on ecological building and construction, food, energy, biological cultivation. (3) courses and excursions on the above mentioned issues, and (4) publication of quarterlies, books, brochures and posters.

Visitors are welcome to see the Centre's grounds and demonstrations. Discussion and explanation can be arranged upon appointment. People from abroad regularly visit the Centre to view its practical work and to discuss environmental policies and related issues.

The Centre Women and Environment is an educational service centre for women on the environment. The foundation aims to make a contribution to a sustainable society by supporting women who are or want to be active in this field, by organising training and by means of the nationwide network Women and Sustainability.

The central belief is that women can have a valuable input on policy discussions around sustainability. They are involved in the issues of livelihood, liveable cities, health and security, now and in the future. For this reason it is important that women are well represented in the arenas where decision-making processes take place and where policy is formulated. VeM stimulates women to extend and improve their skills in these arenas, by organising courses on how to function in governing bodies, and on improving debating and negotiation skills. Participation in the network facilitates the exchange of experience and knowledge amongst women. VeM works with women at local, regional and national level.

The Wadden Society aims to promote public interest in the wetland area known as the Wadden Sea and in the North Sea. The Wadden Society pursues the conservation and recovery of the natural, cultural and historical values of the Wadden area. It also tries to influence the policies of the authorities involved and of the private sector in the area, using means such as: publicity, consultation, information and advice, mobilisation and political pressure. The Wadden Society has extensive knowledge about the threats to this area (industrialisation, tourism, defence, resource exploitation, land reclamation, water pollution), on legal procedures for defending the Wadden Sea and on public participation. The Wadden Society chairs the International Wadden Sea Team of NGOs in Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands.

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