TY - JOUR

T1 - Achieving sustainable nitrogen management in mixed farming landscapes based on collaborative planning

AU - Christensen, Andreas Aa

AU - Andersen, Peter S.

AU - Kjeldsen, Chris

AU - Graversgaard, Morten

AU - Andersen, Erling

AU - Piil, Kristoffer

AU - Dalgaard, Tommy

AU - Olesen, Jørgen E.

AU - Vejre, Henrik

PY - 2021/2/2

Y1 - 2021/2/2

N2 - Regulation of nitrogen (N) loss from the agri-environment is a global challenge with dire consequences for food production and environmental management. This is also the case in Denmark where regulation largely relies on general measures for reducing N inputs. These measures have significantly reduced nitrogen emissions, but further reduction is needed to achieve sustainable low levels of N transport to freshwater and marine ecosystems in compliance with standards set by the EU Water Framework Directive. As an alternative to general regulation, we tested a watershedbased, collaborative planning approach, engaging stakeholders in solution identification. Six watersheds with substantial agricultural production were used as test areas. A collaborative planning process of two stakeholder workshops embedded within a scenario formulation process was executed. Stakeholder inputs about possible, desirable and sustainable futures were used to formulate scenarios, for which N reduction effects were calculated. Upon conclusion of this process, results were assessed using a structured evaluation method. Results indicate that the process we tested was successful in terms of (1) engaging relevant stakeholders, (2) providing relevant data, (3) achieving processual flexibility, (4) including local knowledge and (5) facilitating a creative and explorative process. On this basis, suggestions for improving collaborative planning processes are provided.

AB - Regulation of nitrogen (N) loss from the agri-environment is a global challenge with dire consequences for food production and environmental management. This is also the case in Denmark where regulation largely relies on general measures for reducing N inputs. These measures have significantly reduced nitrogen emissions, but further reduction is needed to achieve sustainable low levels of N transport to freshwater and marine ecosystems in compliance with standards set by the EU Water Framework Directive. As an alternative to general regulation, we tested a watershedbased, collaborative planning approach, engaging stakeholders in solution identification. Six watersheds with substantial agricultural production were used as test areas. A collaborative planning process of two stakeholder workshops embedded within a scenario formulation process was executed. Stakeholder inputs about possible, desirable and sustainable futures were used to formulate scenarios, for which N reduction effects were calculated. Upon conclusion of this process, results were assessed using a structured evaluation method. Results indicate that the process we tested was successful in terms of (1) engaging relevant stakeholders, (2) providing relevant data, (3) achieving processual flexibility, (4) including local knowledge and (5) facilitating a creative and explorative process. On this basis, suggestions for improving collaborative planning processes are provided.

KW - Agri-environment

KW - Agriculture

KW - Evaluation

KW - Landscape ecology

KW - Rural planning

KW - Watershed

U2 - 10.3390/su13042140

DO - 10.3390/su13042140

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85101634484

VL - 13

SP - 1

EP - 21

JO - Sustainability

JF - Sustainability

SN - 2071-1050

IS - 4

M1 - 2140

ER -