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Hamm J, Holmes G, Martin-Ortega J. The importance of equity in payments to encourage coexistence with large mammals. Conserv Biol 2023:e14207. [PMID: 37855163 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Large mammals often impose significant costs such as livestock depredation or crop foraging on rural communities, and this can lead to the retaliatory killing of threatened wildlife populations. One conservation approach-payments to encourage coexistence (PEC)-aims to reduce these costs through financial mechanisms, such as compensation, insurance, revenue sharing, and conservation performance payments. Little is known about the equitability of PEC, however, despite its moral and instrumental importance, prevalence as a conservation approach, and the fact that other financial tools for conservation are often inequitable. We used examples from the literature to examine the capability of PEC-as currently perceived and implemented-to be inequitable. We recommend improving the equitability of current and future schemes through the cooperative design of schemes that promote compensatory equity and greater consideration of conservation performance payments and by changing the international model for funding PEC to reduce global coexistence inequalities. New and existing programs must address issues of equitability across scales to ensure that conservation efforts are not undermined by diminished social legitimacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Hamm
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - George Holmes
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Julia Martin-Ortega
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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Ferré M, Martin-Ortega J, Di Gregorio M, Dallimer M. How do information flows affect impact from environmental research? - An analysis of a science-policy network. J Environ Manage 2022; 321:115828. [PMID: 35977434 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Evidence of the impact arising from environmental research is increasingly demanded. Exchanges between science providers and actors that use scientific knowledge to address environmental problems are recognized as a key component of the mechanisms through which impact occurs. Yet, the role of interactions between science and policy actors in delivering and shaping research impact is not well established. We aim to better understand how transfer of science in a science-policy network generates impact. Our approach relies on an exploratory social network analysis (SNA), applied to a network of organisations working on land and water management in a catchment in the UK. We analyse flows of scientific information across these organisations and how those contribute to impact, which we conceptualized as change in organisations at three levels: increased awareness, operational change and strategic change. We find that organisations occupying central positions in the network facilitate the transfer of science and influence the level of change achieved. We also find that the effectiveness of the flows of information and impact delivery depends on boundary organisations, in particular public regulatory bodies, that connect agents with others. Moreover, intended change reported by science providers does not often transform directly into change as reported by the receivers of the information. We conclude that both exchanges between researchers and research users and the role of boundary organisations are key to impact delivery and making change possible. This is valuable for understanding where improvements to information flows between organisations might enhance impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Ferré
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK; UMR Innovation, French Agricultural Research Center for International Development (Cirad), Montpellier, F-34398, France
| | - Julia Martin-Ortega
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
| | - Monica Di Gregorio
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Martin Dallimer
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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Martin-Ortega J, Rothwell SA, Anderson A, Okumah M, Lyon C, Sherry E, Johnston C, Withers PJ, Doody DG. Are stakeholders ready to transform phosphorus use in food systems? A transdisciplinary study in a livestock intensive system. Environ Sci Policy 2022; 131:177-187. [PMID: 35505912 PMCID: PMC8895547 DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2022.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Food systems worldwide are vulnerable to Phosphorus (P) supply disruptions and price fluctuations. Current P use is also highly inefficient, generating large surpluses and pollution. Global food security and aquatic ecosystems are in jeopardy if transformative action is not taken. This paper pivots from earlier (predominantly conceptual) work to develop and analyse a P transdisciplinary scenario process, assessing stakeholders potential for transformative thinking in P use in the food system. Northern Ireland, a highly livestock-intensive system, was used as case study for illustrating such process. The stakeholder engagement takes a normative stance in that it sets the explicit premise that the food system needs to be transformed and asks stakeholders to engage in a dialogue on how that transformation can be achieved. A Substance Flow Analysis of P flows and stocks was employed to construct visions for alternative futures and stimulate stakeholder discussions on system responses. These were analysed for their transformative potential using a triple-loop social learning framework. For the most part, stakeholder responses remained transitional or incremental, rather than being fundamentally transformative. The process did unveil some deeper levers that could be acted upon to move the system further along the spectrum of transformational change (e.g. changes in food markets, creation of new P markets, destocking, new types of land production and radical land use changes), providing clues of what an aspirational system could look like. Replicated and adapted elsewhere, this process can serve as diagnostics of current stakeholders thinking and potential, as well as for the identification of those deeper levers, opening up avenues to work upon for global scale transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Martin-Ortega
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
- Correspondence to: University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, LS2 9JT Leeds, United Kingdom.
| | - Shane A. Rothwell
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Aine Anderson
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 5AG, United Kingdom
| | - Murat Okumah
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Lyon
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Erin Sherry
- Sustainable Agri-food Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Johnston
- Sustainable Agri-food Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Paul J.A. Withers
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Donnacha G. Doody
- Sustainable Agri-food Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, United Kingdom
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Okumah M, Chapman PJ, Martin-Ortega J, Novo P, Ferré M, Jones S, Pearson P, Froggatt T. Do awareness-focussed approaches to mitigating diffuse pollution work? A case study using behavioural and water quality evidence. J Environ Manage 2021; 287:112242. [PMID: 33711664 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Efforts to tackle diffuse water pollution from agriculture are increasingly focusing on improving farmers' awareness under the expectation that this would contribute to adoption of best management practices (BMPs) and, in turn, result in water quality improvements. To date, however, no study has explored the full awareness-behaviour-water quality pathway; with previous studies having mostly addressed the awareness-behaviour link relying on disciplinary approaches. Using an interdisciplinary approach, we investigate whether awareness-focussed approaches to mitigating diffuse water pollution from agriculture indeed result in water quality improvement, addressing the pathway in full. We worked with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water (a water and waste utility company in the UK) on a pesticide pollution intervention programme, referred to as "weed wiper trial". The main goal of the trial was to raise farmers' awareness regarding pesticide management practices and to promote uptake of BMPs to tackle the rising concentrations of the pesticide MCPA (2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid) in raw water in three catchments in Wales. Using factorial analysis of variance, we analysed MCPA concentrations from 2006 to 2019 in the three targeted catchments and in three control catchments. This was followed by semi-structured in-depth interviews with institutional stakeholders and farmers with varying degrees of exposure to the weed wiper trial. Results show that MCPA concentration for both targeted and control catchments had reduced after the implementation of the weed wiper trial. However, the decline was significantly larger (F(1) = 6.551, p < 0.05, n = 3077, Partial eta-squared (ηp2) = 0.002) for the targeted catchments (mean = 45.2%) compared to the control catchments (mean = 10.9%). Results from the stakeholder interviews indicate that improved awareness contributed to changes in farmers' behaviour and that these can be related to the water quality improvements reflected by the decline in MCPA concentration. Alongside awareness, other psychosocial, economic, agronomic factors, catchment and weather conditions also influenced farmer's ability to implement BMPs and thus overall water quality improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murat Okumah
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, England, UK.
| | - Pippa J Chapman
- School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, England, UK
| | - Julia Martin-Ortega
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, England, UK
| | - Paula Novo
- Rural Economy, Environment and Society Department, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, Scotland, UK
| | - Marie Ferré
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, England, UK
| | - Sarah Jones
- Water Services Science, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, Pentwyn Road, Nelson, Treharris, CF46 6LY, UK
| | - Phillippa Pearson
- Water Services Science, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, Pentwyn Road, Nelson, Treharris, CF46 6LY, UK
| | - Tara Froggatt
- Water Services Science, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, Pentwyn Road, Nelson, Treharris, CF46 6LY, UK
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Reed M, Ferré M, Martin-Ortega J, Blanche R, Lawford-Rolfe R, Dallimer M, Holden J. Evaluating impact from research: A methodological framework. Research Policy 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2020.104147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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Withers PJA, Forber KG, Lyon C, Rothwell S, Doody DG, Jarvie HP, Martin-Ortega J, Jacobs B, Cordell D, Patton M, Camargo-Valero MA, Cassidy R. Towards resolving the phosphorus chaos created by food systems. Ambio 2020; 49:1076-1089. [PMID: 31542888 PMCID: PMC7067724 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-019-01255-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Revised: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/31/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The chaotic distribution and dispersal of phosphorus (P) used in food systems (defined here as disorderly disruptions to the P cycle) is harming our environment beyond acceptable limits. An analysis of P stores and flows across Europe in 2005 showed that high fertiliser P inputs relative to productive outputs was driving low system P efficiency (38 % overall). Regional P imbalance (P surplus) and system P losses were highly correlated to total system P inputs and animal densities, causing unnecessary P accumulation in soils and rivers. Reducing regional P surpluses to zero increased system P efficiency (+ 16 %) and decreased total P losses by 35 %, but required a reduction in system P inputs of ca. 40 %, largely as fertiliser. We discuss transdisciplinary and transformative solutions that tackle the P chaos by collective stakeholder actions across the entire food value chain. Lowering system P demand and better regional governance of P resources appear necessary for more efficient and sustainable food systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J. A. Withers
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ UK
| | - Kirsty G. Forber
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ UK
| | - Christopher Lyon
- Sustainability Research Institute, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9TJ UK
| | - Shane Rothwell
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ UK
| | | | - Helen P. Jarvie
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB UK
| | | | - Brent Jacobs
- Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia
| | - Dana Cordell
- Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia
| | - Myles Patton
- Agri-Food and Bioscience Institute, Belfast, BT9 5BX UK
| | - Miller A. Camargo-Valero
- BioResource Systems Research Group, School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT UK
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Lyon C, Cordell D, Jacobs B, Martin-Ortega J, Marshall R, Camargo-Valero MA, Sherry E. Five pillars for stakeholder analyses in sustainability transformations: The global case of phosphorus. Environ Sci Policy 2020; 107:80-89. [PMID: 32362787 PMCID: PMC7171702 DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2020.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Phosphorus is a critical agricultural nutrient and a major pollutant in waterbodies due to inefficient use. In the form of rock phosphate it is a finite global commodity vulnerable to price shocks and sourcing challenges. Transforming toward sustainable phosphorus management involves local to global stakeholders. Conventional readings of stakeholders may not reflect system complexity leaving it difficult to see stakeholder roles in transformations. We attempt to remedy this issue with a novel stakeholder analysis method based on five qualitative pillars: stakeholder agency, system roles, power and influence, alignment to the problem, and transformational potential. We argue that our approach suits case studies of individual stakeholders, stakeholder groups, and organisations with relationships to sustainability challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Lyon
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT UK
| | - Dana Cordell
- Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Brent Jacobs
- Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Julia Martin-Ortega
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT UK
| | - Rachel Marshall
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ UK
| | | | - Erin Sherry
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, BT9 5PQ, UK
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Reitzel K, Bennett WW, Berger N, Brownlie WJ, Bruun S, Christensen ML, Cordell D, van Dijk K, Egemose S, Eigner H, Glud RN, Grönfors O, Hermann L, Houot S, Hupfer M, Jacobs B, Korving L, Kjærgaard C, Liimatainen H, Van Loosdrecht MCM, Macintosh KA, Magid J, Maia F, Martin-Ortega J, McGrath J, Meulepas R, Murry M, Neset TS, Neumann G, Nielsen UG, Nielsen PH, O'Flaherty V, Qu H, Santner J, Seufert V, Spears B, Stringer LC, Stutter M, Verburg PH, Wilfert P, Williams PN, Metson GS. New Training to Meet the Global Phosphorus Challenge. Environ Sci Technol 2019; 53:8479-8481. [PMID: 31283194 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b03519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kasper Reitzel
- University of Southern Denmark , Department of Biology , Campusvej 55 , 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - William W Bennett
- University of Southern Denmark , Department of Biology , Campusvej 55 , 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Nils Berger
- EuroChem Agro GmbH , Reichskanzler-Müller-Str. 23 , 68165 Mannheim , Germany
| | - Will J Brownlie
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology in Edinburgh , Penicuik , Midlothian , Scotland, U.K. EH26 0QB
| | - Sander Bruun
- University of Copenhagen , Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences , Thorvaldsensvej 40 , 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Morten L Christensen
- Aalborg University , Department of Chemistry and Bioscience , Frederiks Bajers Vej 7H , 9220 Aalborg , Denmark
| | - Dana Cordell
- University of Technology Sydney , Institute for Sustainable Futures , PO Box 123 Broadway New South Wales 2007 , Australia
| | - Kimo van Dijk
- European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform , 8 Avenue du Dirgeable , 1170 Bruxelles , Belgium
| | - Sara Egemose
- University of Southern Denmark , Department of Biology , Campusvej 55 , 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Herbert Eigner
- AGRANA Research & Innovation Center GmbH , Josef Reitherstraße 21-23 , 3430 Tulln an der Donau , Austria
| | - Ronnie N Glud
- University of Southern Denmark , Department of Biology , Campusvej 55 , 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Outi Grönfors
- Kemira Oyj , R&D and Technology EMEA, Water treatment , Luoteisrinne 2 , FI-02270 Espoo , Finland
| | - Ludwig Hermann
- Proman Management GmbH , Weingartenstrasse 92 , 2214 Auersthal , Austria
| | - Sabine Houot
- French National Institute for Agricultural Research , INRA UMR, ECOSYS, Route de la Ferme , F-78850 Thiverval-Grignon , France
| | - Michael Hupfer
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries , Department of Chemical Analytics and Biogeochemistry , Müggelseedamm 301 , 12587 Berlin , Germany
| | - Brent Jacobs
- University of Technology Sydney , Institute for Sustainable Futures , PO Box 123 Broadway New South Wales 2007 , Australia
| | - Leon Korving
- Wetsus , European centre of excellence for sustainable water technology , Oostergoweg 9 , 8911 MA Leeuwarden , The Netherlands
| | - Charlotte Kjærgaard
- SEGES , Danish Agriculture & Food Council F.m.b.A. Nature and Environment , Agro Food Park 15 , 8200 Aarhus , Denmark
| | - Henrikki Liimatainen
- University of Oulu , Fiber and Particle Engineering , Erkki Koiso-Kanttilankatu , Oulu 90014 , Finland
| | - Mark C M Van Loosdrecht
- Delft University of Technology , Department of Biotechnology , Van der Maasweg 9 , 2629 HZ Delft , The Netherlands
| | - Katrina A Macintosh
- The Queen's University of Belfast , School of Biological Sciences and the Institute for Global Food Security , 19 Chlorine Gardens , Belfast , BT9 5DL , Northern Ireland
| | - Jakob Magid
- University of Copenhagen , Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences , Thorvaldsensvej 40 , 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Frederico Maia
- Smallmatek, Lda , Rua dos Canhas , 3810-075 Aveiro , Portugal
| | - Julia Martin-Ortega
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment , University of Leeds , LS2 9JT Leeds , UK
| | - John McGrath
- The Queen's University of Belfast , School of Biological Sciences and the Institute for Global Food Security , 19 Chlorine Gardens , Belfast , BT9 5DL , Northern Ireland
| | - Roel Meulepas
- Wetsus , European centre of excellence for sustainable water technology , Oostergoweg 9 , 8911 MA Leeuwarden , The Netherlands
| | - Michael Murry
- NVP energy ltd , Galway Technology Center , Mervue Business Park , Mervue, Galway , Irland
| | - Tina-Simone Neset
- Linköping University , Department of Thematic Studies-Environmental Change , SE-58183 Linköping , Sweden
| | - Günter Neumann
- University of Hohenheim , Institute of Crop Science (340h) , Fruwirthstr. 20 , 70593 Stuttgart Germany
| | - Ulla G Nielsen
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy , University of Southern Denmark , Campusvej 55 , 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Per H Nielsen
- Aalborg University , Department of Chemistry and Bioscience , Frederiks Bajers Vej 7H , 9220 Aalborg , Denmark
| | - Vincent O'Flaherty
- National University of Ireland Galway , University Road , Galway , Ireland H91 TK33
| | - Haiyan Qu
- University of Southern Denmark , Department of Chemical engineering, Biotechnology- and Environmental Technology , Campusvej 55 , 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Jakob Santner
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna , Institute of Agronomy , Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 24 , 3430 Tulln an der Donau , Vienna , Austria
| | - Verena Seufert
- VU University Amsterdam, Institute for Environmental Studies , De Boelelaan 1087 , 1081 HV Amsterdam , The Netherlands
| | - Bryan Spears
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology in Edinburgh , Penicuik , Midlothian , Scotland, U.K. EH26 0QB
| | - Lindsay C Stringer
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment , University of Leeds , LS2 9JT Leeds , UK
| | - Marc Stutter
- The James Hutton Institute , Environmental and Biochemical Sciences Group , Aberdeen , AB15 8QH , Scotland, U.K
| | - Peter H Verburg
- VU University Amsterdam, Institute for Environmental Studies , De Boelelaan 1087 , 1081 HV Amsterdam , The Netherlands
| | - Philipp Wilfert
- IPP-Kiel , Rendsburger Landstraße 196-198 , D-24113 Kiel , Germany
| | - Paul N Williams
- The Queen's University of Belfast , School of Biological Sciences and the Institute for Global Food Security , 19 Chlorine Gardens , Belfast , BT9 5DL , Northern Ireland
| | - Geneviève S Metson
- Linköping University , Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology , Fysikhuset, Rum 3D.306 SE-58183 Linköping , Sweden
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Martin-Ortega J, Glenk K, Byg A. How to make complexity look simple? Conveying ecosystems restoration complexity for socio-economic research and public engagement. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0181686. [PMID: 28753629 PMCID: PMC5533344 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 07/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecosystems degradation represents one of the major global challenges at the present time, threating people’s livelihoods and well-being worldwide. Ecosystem restoration therefore seems no longer an option, but an imperative. Restoration challenges are such that a dialogue has begun on the need to re-shape restoration as a science. A critical aspect of that reshaping process is the acceptance that restoration science and practice needs to be coupled with socio-economic research and public engagement. This inescapably means conveying complex ecosystem’s information in a way that is accessible to the wider public. In this paper we take up this challenge with the ultimate aim of contributing to making a step change in science’s contribution to ecosystems restoration practice. Using peatlands as a paradigmatically complex ecosystem, we put in place a transdisciplinary process to articulate a description of the processes and outcomes of restoration that can be understood widely by the public. We provide evidence of the usefulness of the process and tools in addressing four key challenges relevant to restoration of any complex ecosystem: (1) how to represent restoration outcomes; (2) how to establish a restoration reference; (3) how to cope with varying restoration time-lags and (4) how to define spatial units for restoration. This evidence includes the way the process resulted in the creation of materials that are now being used by restoration practitioners for communication with the public and in other research contexts. Our main contribution is of an epistemological nature: while ecosystem services-based approaches have enhanced the integration of academic disciplines and non-specialist knowledge, this has so far only followed one direction (from the biophysical underpinning to the description of ecosystem services and their appreciation by the public). We propose that it is the mix of approaches and epistemological directions (including from the public to the biophysical parameters) what will make a definitive contribution to restoration practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Martin-Ortega
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds. Leeds, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Klaus Glenk
- Land Economy Unit, Scottish Rural College. Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Anja Byg
- Social, Economical and Geographical Sciences Group, The James Hutton Institute. Aberdeen, United Kingdom
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Balana BB, Jackson-Blake L, Martin-Ortega J, Dunn S. Integrated cost-effectiveness analysis of agri-environmental measures for water quality. J Environ Manage 2015; 161:163-172. [PMID: 26172106 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.06.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2014] [Revised: 05/16/2015] [Accepted: 06/19/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents an application of integrated methodological approach for identifying cost-effective combinations of agri-environmental measures to achieve water quality targets. The methodological approach involves linking hydro-chemical modelling with economic costs of mitigation measures. The utility of the approach was explored for the River Dee catchment in North East Scotland, examining the cost-effectiveness of mitigation measures for nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) pollutants. In-stream nitrate concentration was modelled using the STREAM-N and phosphorus using INCA-P model. Both models were first run for baseline conditions and then their effectiveness for changes in land management was simulated. Costs were based on farm income foregone, capital and operational expenditures. The costs and effects data were integrated using 'Risk Solver Platform' optimization in excel to produce the most cost-effective combination of measures by which target nutrient reductions could be attained at a minimum economic cost. The analysis identified different combination of measures as most cost-effective for the two pollutants. An important aspect of this paper is integration of model-based effectiveness estimates with economic cost of measures for cost-effectiveness analysis of land and water management options. The methodological approach developed is not limited to the two pollutants and the selected agri-environmental measures considered in the paper; the approach can be adapted to the cost-effectiveness analysis of any catchment-scale environmental management options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bedru B Balana
- International Water Management Institute (IWMI), West Africa Office, PMB CT112, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana.
| | | | | | - Sarah Dunn
- The James Hutton Institute, Criagiebuckler, AB15 8QH Aberdeen, UK
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11
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Martin-Ortega J, Brouwer R, Ojea E, Berbel J. Benefit transfer and spatial heterogeneity of preferences for water quality improvements. J Environ Manage 2012; 106:22-29. [PMID: 22562008 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.03.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2011] [Revised: 02/17/2012] [Accepted: 03/13/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The improvement in the water quality resulting from the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive is expected to generate substantial non-market benefits. A wide spread estimation of these benefits across Europe will require the application of benefit transfer. We use a spatially explicit valuation design to account for the spatial heterogeneity of preferences to help generate lower transfer errors. A map-based choice experiment is applied in the Guadalquivir River Basin (Spain), accounting simultaneously for the spatial distribution of water quality improvements and beneficiaries. Our results show that accounting for the spatial heterogeneity of preferences generally produces lower transfer errors.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Martin-Ortega
- The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, United Kingdom.
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Vinten AJA, Martin-Ortega J, Glenk K, Booth P, Balana BB, MacLeod M, Lago M, Moran D, Jones M. Application of the WFD cost proportionality principle to diffuse pollution mitigation: a case study for Scottish Lochs. J Environ Manage 2012; 97:28-37. [PMID: 22325580 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2011.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2010] [Revised: 07/05/2011] [Accepted: 10/11/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The Water Framework Directive (WFD) aims to deliver good ecological status (GES) for Europe's waters. It prescribes the use of economic principles, such as derogation from GES on grounds of disproportionate costs of mitigation. This paper proposes an application of the proportionality principle to mitigation of phosphorus (P) pollution of 544 Scottish lochs at national and local water body scales. P loading estimates were derived from a national diffuse pollution screening tool. For 293 of these lochs (31% of the loch area), GES already occurred. Mitigation cost-effectiveness was assessed using combined mitigation cost curves for managed grassland, rough grazing, arable land, sewage and septic tank sources. These provided sufficient mitigation (92% of national P load) for GES to be achieved on another 31% of loch area at annualised cost of £2.09 m/y. Mitigation of the residual P loading preventing other lochs achieving GES was considered by using a "mop-up" cost of £200/kg P (assumed cost effectiveness of removal of P directly from lochs), leading to a total cost of £189 m/y. Lochs were ranked by mitigation costs per loch area to give a national scale marginal mitigation cost curve. A published choice experiment valuation of WFD targets for Scottish lochs was used to estimate marginal benefits at national scale and combined with the marginal cost curve. This gave proportionate costs of £5.7 m/y leading to GES in 72% of loch area. Using national mean marginal benefits with a scheme to estimate changes in individual loch value with P loading gave proportionate costs of £25.6 m/y leading to GES in 77% of loch area (491 lochs).
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Affiliation(s)
- A J A Vinten
- The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK.
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Martin-Ortega J, Brouwer R, Aiking H. Application of a value-based equivalency method to assess environmental damage compensation under the European Environmental Liability Directive. J Environ Manage 2011; 92:1461-70. [PMID: 21310523 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2010.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2010] [Revised: 12/06/2010] [Accepted: 12/07/2010] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The Environmental Liability Directive (ELD) establishes a framework of liability based on the 'polluter-pays' principle to prevent and remedy environmental damage. The ELD requires the testing of appropriate equivalency methods to assess the scale of compensatory measures needed to offset damage. The aim of this paper is to contribute to fill the existing knowledge gap on the application of the value equivalency approach for damage compensation in this context. We analyze the toxic spill damaging the Doñana National Park (Spain) in 1998. The welfare losses associated with the resource damage are estimated using non-market valuation and compared to the value of the compensatory measures taken after the accident. Our results show that the in-kind compensation may have been insufficient to offset the welfare losses. We conclude that a more comprehensive knowledge of the human welfare effects caused by environmental damage is of substantial importance to determine compensatory remediation, as insufficient information in this respect can lead to erroneous decisions causing loss to society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Martin-Ortega
- Institute for Environmental Studies, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Martin-Ortega J, Berbel J. Using multi-criteria analysis to explore non-market monetary values of water quality changes in the context of the Water Framework Directive. Sci Total Environ 2010; 408:3990-3997. [PMID: 20435337 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.03.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2009] [Revised: 03/14/2010] [Accepted: 03/30/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The EU Water Framework Directive represents a major change in the management of water resources and sets ambitious ecological objectives for all European waters. In the Directive, the economic assessment of the non-market environmental benefits of water quality improvements plays a crucial role. Studies valuing these benefits are now appearing in the literature, applying stated preference valuation techniques. However, these techniques are often criticized for providing only narrow mono-criterion information to the decision-making process. The research presented here builds on a recent line of investigation that combines monetary stated preference tools, in this case a choice experiment, with multi-criteria analysis, in this case the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). We argue that the AHP can contribute to a better understanding and interpretation of the choice experiment results by exploring the criteria involved in respondents' trade-off between the attributes. The AHP provides relevant insights for the application of use-based water quality ladders in the valuation of environmental benefits in the context of the WFD. Results also show the importance of the spatial dimension of preferences for water quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Martin-Ortega
- University of Córdoba, Department of Agricultural Economics, 14017 Cordoba, Spain.
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