In WP4, an assessment is made to comprehensively assess and integrate the institutional arrangements for land and water governance required in each of the selected catchment systems to manage the trade-off and synergies in N and P management and adaption to climate change. The work in WP4 is strongly linked to WP1. WP4 will provide practical recommendations to strengthen governance arrangements and improve the application of policy instruments, that will be used in the discussion with PSWG in WP1 to develop harmonised approaches.
Description of work
This work package will examine and make recommendations to address the current lack of integration of governance models to reduce N and P emissions in catchments, and with governance models to mitigate climate change. Building on the governance analysis carried out in the EU Horizon 2020 project Fairway (https://www.fairway-project.eu/) and WaterProtect (https://water-protect.eu/en), the institutional arrangements for land and water governance required in each of the selected catchments will be comprehensively assessed in order to manage the trade-offs and synergies in N and P management required to comply with EU Farm to Fork and Green Deal policies and adaption to climate change. The analyses of catchment governance arrangements will identify how uses of land, water and related resources are currently managed, and will consider requirements for effective and integrated governance of N and P in catchments in the future and in relation to those required to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Task 4.1. Undertake comprehensive baseline institutional analyses for each catchment. Lead: LU
In this task a conceptual/analytical governance framework will be applied to examine the broad institutional arrangements currently operating in each catchment. This framework will be focused on six key institutional aspects a) context - the economic, physical and political environment b) legitimation – legislation and statutes, government policies and financial arrangements pertaining to land and water resources c) functions – the powers, duties and responsibilities of agencies and key actors d) structures – organizational relationships and internal arrangements e) processes and mechanisms for decision making and implementation and f) organizational cultures and participant attitudes. Evidence will be gathered from analysis of legislation and policy statements, annual reports, plans, internal documents and semi-structured interviews with representatives for agencies and resource groups. A protocol of topics and questions will be developed by LAN as a guide for use by the research teams in each catchment to ensure completeness and consistency in evidence collation. LU to lead and co-ordinate. Institutional analysis in individual study areas undertaken by WR, VMM, AFBI and LU teams.
Task 4.2. Identify specific governance arrangements for managing N and P emissions. Lead: LU
Building on the evidence from Task 4.1, we will identify the specific policy instruments currently used in each catchment to manage the use and loss of N and P according to three main categories: a) regulations and standards, b) financial incentives and penalties, and c) advisory codes, good practice guidelines and support services. The identified policy instruments will then be evaluated in Task 4.3. LU to lead and co-ordinate. Data collection and analysis pertaining to individual study areas undertaken by WR, VMM, AFBI and LU teams.
Task 4.3. Evaluation of effectiveness of governance arrangements Lead: LU
Each policy instrument identified from Task 4.2 will be evaluated on the basis of three criteria - effectiveness, efficiency and equity/fairness in the context of the trade-offs and synergies in N and P management and adaption to climate change. A mix of quantitative and qualitative evidence will be gathered through a series of individual interviews with resource managers and stakeholders in each catchment, using a common interview protocol. Findings from each catchment will be collated, cross-checked and validated through a focus group of experts selected from each catchment. From this expert evaluation and based on the three criteria, each instrument will be numerically scored to assess their suitability for the integrated management of N and P. Supplementary text will be included alongside each score to provide a clear justification and explanation. LU to lead and co-ordinate. Evaluations of instruments pertaining to individual study areas undertaken by WR, VMM, AFBI and LU teams.
Task 4.4. Options to integrate governance arrangements to manage synergies and tradeoffs in N and P use. Lead: LU
Drawing on the combined outcomes from the first three tasks, task 4.4 will identify ways to strengthen and improve the individual policy instruments to ensure the trade-offs and synergies in N and P management are identified and addressed. This will include consideration of changes that need to occur in existing policy instruments to facilitate integrated N and P management in a bio-circular economy and future IPPC climate change scenarios. This will be achieved via consultation with the NW Policy Group and catchment stakeholder group identified in WP1. LU to lead. WR, VMM, AFBI and LU teams to contribute to development of proposals.
Task 4.5. Recommendations to strengthen governance arrangements. Lead: LU
In this task, a series of recommendations will be developed to strengthen future institutional policy towards reducing N and P emissions through the integrated management of N and P, within the context of broader management changes required to combat climate change and the development of a sustainable bioeconomy. Draft recommendations will be distributed to the NW Policy Group for feedback and adjustment to ensure that the suggestions are feasible and implementable, including options to harmonise governance arrangement across NW Europe. LU to lead and co-ordinate. WR, VMM, AFBI and LU teams responsible for refining and finalizing recommendations.
