Knowledge Production for Resilient Landscapes: Experiences from Multi-Stakeholder Dialogues on Water, Food, Forests, and Landscapes

Anna Tengberg,Lotta Samuelson,Malin Gustafsson,Elin Weyler

doi:10.3390/f12010001

Anna Tengberg, Lotta Samuelson + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/f12010001

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Journal: Forests	Publication Date: Dec 22, 2020
Citations: 7	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Stockholm International Water Institute

Abstract

Landscape-wide approaches integrating agriculture, forestry, energy, and water are considered key to address complex environmental problems and to avoid trade-offs. The objective of this paper is to analyse how knowledge production through multi-stakeholder dialogues on water, landscapes, forests, and agriculture can inform governance and the management of landscapes. Multi-stakeholder learning dialogues and platforms (MSPs) were established related to water and natural resources management, complemented by targeted reviews, to establish a shared understanding of the drivers of change and impacts on the hydrology of landscapes and ecosystem services. The MSP dialogues illustrate the need to address water as an integral part of landscape management and governance to achieve the wide range of the Sustainable Development Goals related to water and food security, climate action, life on land, as well as sustainable production and consumption, equality, and strong institutions. The co-production of knowledge through MSPs contributes to continuous learning that informs adaptive management of water flows in landscapes, above and below ground, as well as in the atmosphere. It helps to build a shared understanding of system dynamics and integrate knowledge about hydrology and water flows into policy recommendations. Co-production of knowledge also contributes to stakeholder participation at different levels, inclusiveness, and transparency, and to water stewardship.

Highlights

Landscape-wide approaches that integrate the development of agriculture, forestry, energy, and water are considered key to address complex environmental problems [1,2], and to avoid trade-offs between response options
This paper builds on work by Swedish Water House (SWH), a part of the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), that for over a decade has engaged in co-production of knowledge on the role of water in sustainable development, engaging practitioners at the national and local level, scientists, the private sector, and policymakers
SWH Multi-stakeholder learning dialogues and platforms (MSPs) are small, manageable interdisciplinary networks that meet in person at SIWI in Stockholm on a regular basis, but some stakeholders participate via a video link if based elsewhere

Summary

Introduction

Landscape-wide approaches that integrate the development of agriculture, forestry, energy, and water are considered key to address complex environmental problems [1,2], and to avoid trade-offs between response options. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has 10 adopted principles for a landscape approach to reconcile agriculture, conservation, and other competing land uses. These principles emphasise the importance of multiple scales, multifunctionality, multi-stakeholder participation, resilience, and adaptive management [5]. Forests and trees have key functions in maintaining resilient and productive landscapes, communities, and ecosystems. They ensure a water supply and provide high quality water resources. Around 75% of the world’s accessible freshwater for agricultural, domestic, urban, industrial, and environmental uses depend on forests [8]

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