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Opportunities and Barriers for Water Co-Governance—A Critical Analysis of Seven Cases of Diffuse Water Pollution from Agriculture in Europe, Australia and North America

Author

Listed:
  • Morten Graversgaard

    (Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Blichers Alle 20, 8830-DK Tjele, Denmark)

  • Beatrice Hedelin

    (Centre for Climate and Safety, Faculty of Health, Science and Technology, Karlstad University, Karlstad 651 88, Sweden)

  • Laurence Smith

    (Centre for Development, Environment and Policy, SOAS University of London, London WC1H 0XG, UK)

  • Flemming Gertz

    (SEGES, Landbrug & Fødevarer F.M.B.A., Agro Food Park 15, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark)

  • Anker Lajer Højberg

    (Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), 1350 Copenhagen C, Denmark)

  • John Langford

    (Department of Infrastructure Engineering, the University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia)

  • Grit Martinez

    (Ecologic Institute, 10717 Berlin, Germany)

  • Erik Mostert

    (Department of Water Management, Delft University of Technology, Stevinweg 1, 2628 CN Delft, The Netherlands)

  • Emilia Ptak

    (Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Blichers Alle 20, 8830-DK Tjele, Denmark)

  • Heidi Peterson

    (Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, Falcon Heights, MN 55108, USA
    International Plant Nutrition Institute, Stillwater, MN 55082, USA)

  • Nico Stelljes

    (Ecologic Institute, 10717 Berlin, Germany)

  • Cors Van den Brink

    (Royal Haskoning DHV, P.O. Box 8064, NL-9702 KB Groningen, The Netherlands
    Faculty of Spatial Sciences, Groningen University, Landleven 1, 9747 AD Groningen, The Netherlands)

  • Jens Christian Refsgaard

    (Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), 1350 Copenhagen C, Denmark)

Abstract

Diffuse Water Pollution from Agriculture (DWPA) and its governance has received increased attention as a policy concern across the globe. Mitigation of DWPA is a complex problem that requires a mix of policy instruments and a multi-agency, broad societal response. In this paper, opportunities and barriers for developing co-governance, defined as collaborative societal involvement in the functions of government, and its suitability for mitigation of DWPA are reviewed using seven case studies in Europe (Poland, Denmark, Sweden, The Netherlands and UK), Australia (Murray-Darling Basin) and North America (State of Minnesota). An analytical framework for assessing opportunities and barriers of co-governance was developed and applied in this review. Results indicated that five key issues constitute both opportunities and barriers, and include: (i) pressure for change; (ii) connected governance structures and allocation of resources and funding; (iii) leadership and establishment of partnerships through capacity building; (iv) use and co-production of knowledge; and (v) time commitment to develop water co-governance.

Suggested Citation

  • Morten Graversgaard & Beatrice Hedelin & Laurence Smith & Flemming Gertz & Anker Lajer Højberg & John Langford & Grit Martinez & Erik Mostert & Emilia Ptak & Heidi Peterson & Nico Stelljes & Cors Van , 2018. "Opportunities and Barriers for Water Co-Governance—A Critical Analysis of Seven Cases of Diffuse Water Pollution from Agriculture in Europe, Australia and North America," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-39, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:5:p:1634-:d:147872
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    2. Ning Zhang & Zichen Wang & Hongkai Ru & Haiyang Li, 2021. "Study on the Spatio–Temporal Evolution of China’s Smart Water Co-Governance in G–E–P Mode," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-25, November.
    3. Beatrice Hedelin & Johanna Alkan-Olsson & Larry Greenberg, 2023. "Collaboration Adrift: Factors for Anchoring into Governance Systems, Distilled from a Study of Three Regulated Rivers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-22, March.
    4. Guanyi Yu & Chunliang Xiu & Changsong Zhao & Zhengliang Ding, 2018. "Strategic Cross-Border Water Pollution in Songliao Basin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-19, December.
    5. Andreas Aa. Christensen & Peter S. Andersen & Chris Kjeldsen & Morten Graversgaard & Erling Andersen & Kristoffer Piil & Tommy Dalgaard & Jørgen E. Olesen & Henrik Vejre, 2021. "Achieving Sustainable Nitrogen Management in Mixed Farming Landscapes Based on Collaborative Planning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-21, February.
    6. Meng Meng, 2024. "Construction of Ecological Water Resources Management Leadership Model Based on Multi-Agent Collaboration," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 38(15), pages 5809-5822, December.
    7. Diana Yaritza Dorado-Guerra & Javier Paredes-Arquiola & Miguel Ángel Pérez-Martín & Harold Tafur Hermann, 2021. "Integrated Surface-Groundwater Modelling of Nitrate Concentration in Mediterranean Rivers, the Júcar River Basin District, Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-21, November.

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