Exploring the feasibility of setting up community allotments on abandoned agricultural land: A place, people, policy approach

Agricultural land abandonment is a key driver of land use change in Europe. At the same time, urban land cover is expanding rapidly, often resulting in increasingly limited public access to green spaces. Within this context, this exploratory study sought to explore the feasibility of siting community allotment gardens on abandoned agricultural land within the small island state of Malta. Such an initiative could serve a dual purpose, i.e., limiting degradation of abandoned land on the one hand, and providing increased opportunities for community interaction with nature, on the other. Feasibility was explored in three steps, focusing on place, people, and policy, respectively. First, land within the peri-urban regions of three municipalities was identified and evaluated for suitability on the basis of specific criteria adapted for the local context. Second, interviews were employed to explore the views of members of the public and of other relevant stakeholders, and to identify potential coalitions of support. Finally, existing legal and policy frameworks for land-use planning were evaluated to determine the extent to which they are able to accommodate such land repurposing. Results showed that suitable land is available within all three municipalities considered. Furthermore, there is clear public support for the establishment of such allotments, as well as moderate interest by respondents in participating actively through rental of plots. However, institutional barriers in the policy sphere would need to be addressed. Key recommendations include the creation of a dedicated allotments policy, empowerment of local government authorities, and establishment of collaborative partnerships between governmental and non-governmental actors. Successful implementation of such a project would also require better streamlining of land ownership data and an ability to ensure security of tenure.