Stakeholder Strategies for Sustainability Impact Assessment of Land Use Scenarios: Analytical Framework and Identifying Land Use Claims

Abstract

Despite scientific progress in operationalizing sustainable development (SD), it is still hampered by methodological challenges at the regional level. We developed a framework to analyse stakeholder based, SD targets for future land use, which are characterized by different impact levels and spatial references. The framework allows for the analysis of land use demands in the context of SD. We identified societal use targets in north-eastern Germany, particularly for the area type's lowland fens and irrigation fields, represented through strategy documents. We used frame analysis to aggregate and condense the targets into land use claims. Results present a framework for the ex-ante Sustainability Impact Assessment of land use changes at the regional level and the determination and regionalization of the future societal demand for land use functions. For future land use at the regional level, manifold land use claims exist, but on smaller scales, area-specific targets are less apparent. Six key main-use claims and 44 side-use claims were identified at the regional level and for area types. Possible trade-offs among land use claims for land use functions can be identified at each governance level. Implications of the methodological OPEN ACCESSLand 2015, 4 779 approach are discussed according to moving development targets and SD as multi-sector and multi-level governance issues.

Agro(Eco)System Services—Supply and Demand from Fields to Society

“…At the same time, specific markets are developing for high quality farm products or regional brands. The interest of agricultural producers to enhance production efficiency has often resulted in homogeneous landscapes with low structural diversity [1], soil erosion [2], high nutrient input and water pollution [3], resource-inefficient production schemes [4] and increasing dependence on subsidies, as well as losses in biodiversity and landscape aesthetics [5]. On the other hand, trends to counter these developments are emerging, focusing on natural capital and functions of landscapes and ecosystems other than production [6].…”

“…Furthermore, safeguarding mechanisms are needed to ensure that farmers manage the land responsibly, taking into account the environmental effects agricultural activities generate. Negative effects could be compensated by the "polluter-pays principle" [5], whereas ecological-economic information could be used to support an ecosystem service-based management [3]. All these contributions are relevant to the discussion of ecosystem services provided by agricultural/rural areas and decision-making perspectives for managing them sustainably.…”

“…Such landscapes are per se a result of particular demands for agro(eco)system services, and they have always been modified by human interventions into natural processes [6]. Applying the agro(eco)system services concept appropriately can help to show the effects of human interventions by qualitatively and quantitatively analyzing trade-offs between different ecosystem services [1,2,[4][5][6][7] and by supporting the development of site-specific, more sustainable land use strategies. Within the political arena it may turn out that there might be a need to promote a new terminology, to talk about agrosystem services (i.e., the anthropogenic contributions to ecosystem service generation in agricultural land use systems) and to strengthen the use of the term agro(eco)system services within this context.…”

“…Rural development therefore needs to explore additional opportunities for the use of land, so as to contribute to maintaining economic activity in rural areas. Regions offering a wider range of goods and services may gain competitive advantages [5]. Thus, a cultural revalorization of regional agricultural systems is recommended [6].…”

“…Agro(eco)system services need to be considered in the context of 'the multiple goods and services provided to humanity by nature' in combination with (often substantial) additional anthropogenic inputs [7] (such as fertilizer, pesticides, energy, labor, machinery, knowledge) [2][3][4]8,9]. Agricultural systems/landscapes are multifunctional; they supply visually distinct scenery, contain structurally and functionally distinct biodiversity, and they are the source for provisioning, regulating and cultural services [5]. Such landscapes are per se a result of particular demands for agro(eco)system services, and they have always been modified by human interventions into natural processes [6].…”