Understanding Stakeholder Synergies Through System Dynamics: Integrating Multi-Sectoral Stakeholder Narratives Into Quantitative Environmental Models

To reach the global aspiration of 17 ambitious SDGs, local realities must be integrated. Often, models are developed based on quantitative statistical data sources from databases on environmental indicators or economics to assess how a given SDG can be achieved. This process however removes the local realities from the equation. How can you best include stakeholders in this mathematical modelling processes distanced from their local realities, though, and ensure higher probability of future compliance with top-down global decisions that may have local consequences once implemented? When researching stakeholder involvement and their ability to form public policy, their opinions often get reported as a single assessment, like counting the fish in the ocean once and stating that as a permanent result. Too seldom do stakeholders get invited back and given the opportunity to validate results and allow researchers to adjust their models based on on-the-ground validation or change requests. We tested the full integration of stakeholders in the modelling process of environmental topics in six different case areas across Europe, with each area holding six sectoral and one inter-sectoral workshops. In these workshops, the scope of the issues relevant to the stakeholders was driven by first the sectoral priorities of the given sector, followed by a merging of issues. In this process, we were able to identify what the commonalities between different sectors were and where synergies lay in terms of governance paths. These results were then returned to the stakeholders in a mixed session where they were able to come with feedback and advice on the results researchers presented, so that the models reflected more closely the perceptions of the regional actors. We present these methods and reflect on the challenges and opportunities of using this deep-integration method to integrate qualitative data from stakeholder inclusion in a quantitative modelThe authors would like to acknowledge funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under Grant Agreement N° 773782Peer reviewe

Understanding Stakeholder Synergies Through System Dynamics: Integrating Multi-Sectoral Stakeholder Narratives Into Quantitative Environmental Models

To reach the global aspiration of 17 ambitious SDGs, local realities must be integrated. Often, models are developed based on quantitative statistical data sources from databases on environmental indicators or economics to assess how a given SDG can be achieved. This process however removes the local realities from the equation. How can you best include stakeholders in this mathematical modelling processes distanced from their local realities, though, and ensure higher probability of future compliance with top-down global decisions that may have local consequences once implemented? When researching stakeholder involvement and their ability to form public policy, their opinions often get reported as a single assessment, like counting the fish in the ocean once and stating that as a permanent result. Too seldom do stakeholders get invited back and given the opportunity to validate results and allow researchers to adjust their models based on on-the-ground validation or change requests. We tested the full integration of stakeholders in the modelling process of environmental topics in six different case areas across Europe, with each area holding six sectoral and one inter-sectoral workshops. In these workshops, the scope of the issues relevant to the stakeholders was driven by first the sectoral priorities of the given sector, followed by a merging of issues. In this process, we were able to identify what the commonalities between different sectors were and where synergies lay in terms of governance paths. These results were then returned to the stakeholders in a mixed session where they were able to come with feedback and advice on the results researchers presented, so that the models reflected more closely the perceptions of the regional actors. We present these methods and reflect on the challenges and opportunities of using this deep-integration method to integrate qualitative data from stakeholder inclusion in a quantitative modelThe authors would like to acknowledge funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under Grant Agreement N° 773782Peer reviewe

Data for wetlandscapes and their changes around the world

Geography and associated hydrological, hydroclimate and land-use conditions and their changes determine the states and dynamics of wetlands and their ecosystem services. The influences of these controls are not limited to just the local scale of each individual wetland but extend over larger landscape areas that integrate multiple wetlands and their total hydrological catchment – the wetlandscape. However, the data and knowledge of conditions and changes over entire wetlandscapes are still scarce, limiting the capacity to accurately understand and manage critical wetland ecosystems and their services under global change. We present a new Wetlandscape Change Information Database (WetCID), consisting of geographic, hydrological, hydroclimate and land-use information and data for 27 wetlandscapes around the world. This combines survey-based local information with geographic shapefiles and gridded datasets of large-scale hydroclimate and land-use conditions and their changes over whole wetlandscapes. Temporally, WetCID contains 30-year time series of data for mean monthly precipitation and temperature and annual land-use conditions. The survey-based site information includes local knowledge on the wetlands, hydrology, hydroclimate and land uses within each wetlandscape and on the availability and accessibility of associated local data. This novel database (available through PANGAEA https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.907398; Ghajarnia et al., 2019) can support site assessments; cross-regional comparisons; and scenario analyses of the roles and impacts of land use, hydroclimatic and wetland conditions, and changes in whole-wetlandscape functions and ecosystem services

A Comparison between Organic and Conventional Olive Farming in Messenia, Greece

Olive farming is one of the most important occupations in Messenia, Greece. The region is considered the largest olive producer in the country and it is recognized as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) for Kalamata olive oil, which is considered extra fine. In response to the declining trend of organic olive farming in Greece, this study assesses to what extent organic olive farming in Messenia provides a financially and environmentally competitive alternative to conventional olive farming. In this study, 39 olive farmers (23 conventional and 16 organic) participated in interviews based on questionnaires. The results showed that organic olive farming is significantly more profitable than conventional farming, primarily because of a higher price for organic olive oil. Despite this, the majority of the conventional farmers perceived a low profit from organic farming as the main constraint to organic olive farming. All farmers agreed that organic olive farming contributed to a better environment, health and quality of olive oil. Organic farmers used fewer synthetic pesticides and fertilizers and applied more environmentally-friendly ground vegetation management techniques than conventional farmers. Overall, organic farming was found to provide a competitive and sustainable alternative to conventional olive farming in Messenia

Unravelling Diverse Values of Ecosystem Services: A Socio-Cultural Valuation Using Q Methodology in Messenia, Greece

People perceive the importance of benefits from ecosystem services in different ways, depending on their values, beliefs, and needs. Acknowledging and integrating this diversity into decision-making processes can support informed natural resource management. Our empirical study unpicks the multiple ways stakeholder groups perceive the benefits derived from wetland ecosystem services (WES) in the area surrounding the “Gialova” coastal wetland in Messenia, Greece. The inhabitants from this region benefit from a range of WES, and most livelihoods are closely linked to agriculture and tourism. We aim to understand the patterns in commonly held stakeholder views on WES using “Q methodology”, a participatory mixed-methods approach. We identified five distinct perspectives on WES from a sample of 32 stakeholders. Alongside diverse perceptions of the relative importance of different WES, we observed a range of explanations of why certain WES are important and analyzed these through the lens of “value pluralism”. This identified tension between relational and instrumental values. Such analyses move beyond ecosystem service identification towards an understanding of value justifications and conflicts, and can support the deliberation of conflicted views, and policy design in alignment with people’s values

Agricultural land degradation in Portugal and Greece

Agricultural land degradation is a global problem affecting food production and other ecosystem services worldwide such as water regulation. It is driven by unsustainable land use and management practices (e.g. intensive tillage, overuse of agrochemicals) and can be aggravated by future climate change. Land degradation is particularly problematic in arid and semi-arid areas of southern Europe, and distinct soil degradation processes impair agricultural areas in Portugal and Greece. This chapter aims to improve understanding of various degradation processes affecting agricultural land, including soil erosion, compaction, contamination, and salinity and sodicity. It summarises the scientific literature on the current status of these degradation processes in agricultural areas of Portugal and Greece and their main causes and consequences. Moreover, it provides examples of best management practices implemented to mitigate agricultural land degradation. Some degradation processes are relatively well documented (e.g. erosion), while knowledge of the spatial extent of others such as soil compaction is still limited. A better understanding of soil degradation processes and of the counter-impacts of improved agricultural management practices is critical to support decision-making and ensure long-term fertility and productivity, thereby maintaining the sustainability of agriculture.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Atmospheric Aerosol over Western Greece-Six Years of Aerosol Observations at the Navarino Environmental Observatory

The Eastern Mediterranean is a highly populated area with air quality problems. It is also where climate change is already noticed by higher temperatures and s changing precipitation pattern. The anthropogenic aerosol affects health and changing concentrations and properties of the atmospheric aerosol affect radiation balance and clouds. Continuous long-term observations are essential in assessing the influence of anthropogenic aerosols on climate and health. We present six years of observations from Navarino Environmental Observatory (NEO), a new station located at the south west tip of Peloponnese, Greece. The two sites at NEO, were evaluated to show the influence of the local meteorology and to assess the general background aerosol possible. It was found that the background aerosol was originated from aged European aerosols and was strongly influenced by biomass burning, fossil fuel combustion, and industry. When subsiding into the boundary layer, local sources contributed in the air masses moving south. Mesoscale meteorology determined the diurnal variation of aerosol properties such as mass and number by means of typical sea breeze circulation, giving rise to pronounced morning and evening peaks in pollutant levels. While synoptic scale meteorology, mainly large-scale air mass transport and precipitation, strongly influenced the seasonality of the aerosol properties

The LTER-Greece Environmental Observatory Network: Design and Initial Achievements

Five years after its establishment (2016), the LTER-Greece network outlines its vision, aims, objectives and its achievements through a series of case studies. The network consists of eight observatories, focusing on innovative research topics, aiming to be both cooperative and complementary, while currently being in the process of expanding. LTER-Greece acknowledges the complexity of ecosystems and the fact that effective management of natural resources may only be achieved by addressing every sector of a nexus system in order to understand inter-dependencies, thus accounting for solutions that promote resilience. Hence, LTER-Greece focuses on the holistic study of the water-environment-ecosystem-food-energy-society nexus, in order to face environmental and socio-ecological challenges at local and global scales, particularly climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, natural disasters and unsustainable water and land management. Framed around five research pillars, monitoring and research targets nine research hypotheses related to climate change, environmental management, socio-ecology and economics, biodiversity and environmental process dynamics. As environmental monitoring and related research and conservation in Greece face critical shortcomings, LTER-Greece envisages confronting these gaps and contributing with interdisciplinary solutions to the current and upcoming complex environmental challenges

H2020 COASTAL - Deliverable D08 Model Validity – Final

The general objective of work package (WP) 2 in COASTAL is to develop quantitative data and scientific model constructs to support synergistic analysis of the land-sea interactions identified in WP1 for each Multi-Actor Lab (MAL). Modelling and data collection are usually parallel activities as model architecture points to data needs while data availability can be a limiting factor for model development. In this respect, WP2 is closely connected with WP4 -Systems Modelling, and supports: (i) quantifying physical, socio-economic and environmental land-sea interactions; (ii) making the existing and developed knowledge applicable in a System Dynamics (SD) framework; (iii) developing a basis for business and policy analysis in WP3 and for formulation of scenarios and transition pathways in WP5. As a consequence, this deliverable puts a strong emphasis on the architecture and progress of the SD models and the data needs for the six MALs.Following Task 2.1 in WP2 and its Deliverable D06 (Model and Data Inventory -submitted in December 2018 and updated in October 2020), Task 2.2 aims to translate and synthesize available modelling approaches, their results and reported data, as outlined in the D06 report, into equations, parameter settings and quantitative input for SD model quantification in all MALs. The current report is the second deliverable of WP2 and summarizes different approaches used to make available data, and supporting models (other than SD models) and their results applicable for the SD model quantification in the various MALs during the past 26 months of the project (months 7-32).The report includes an introduction of COASTAL, WP2, and Task 2.2 (sections 1 and 2), and highlights general knowledge transition needs within and across all MALs in this project (section 3). It also outlines various examples of data synthesis and translation related to MAL2 and MAL3 (section 3), developed by Stockholm University (SU) -task leader and co-leader of WP2, leader of the Swedish MAL3, and co-leader of the Greek MAL2 -and discussed with other MAL leaders in different meeting occasions of COASTAL. The report continues with general reflection and conclusions (section 4) based on the difference specific MAL sections (section 5). This includes summarizing scenario analysis strategy for each MAL and whether and how this can be related to key policy frameworks of the European Green Deal, the United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals (SDGs) in Agenda 2030, the shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) of global climate change scenarios, and marine spatial plans (MSP) -if/as currently applicable for each MAL. Separate subsections within section 5 are devoted to each MAL, and present available quantitative information and describe how and to what degree different SD sub-models are quantified. Depending on the complexity of MAL-specific problem scopes and land-sea interactions identified in their causal loop diagrams (CLD), different MALs are currently at different levels with their SD modelling and its quantification. Also, availability of data and supporting model results differ for different SD sub-models in and across the MALs. Many of the SD sub-models in most of the MALs are only partially quantified and some are not yet quantified. This explains the different information levels included in the different MAL sections of this report. MALs have planned various types of scenarios to address implications of existing uncertainties for land-sea interactions. Possible scenarios for testing are mostly related to: the two European Green Deal topics "Protecting nature and biodiversity" and "From farm to fork and healthy food system"; the two SDGs 6 (Clean water and sanitation) and 13 (Climate action); some of the SSPs through relations to scenarios of 4 D07 -Knowledge Transition</p

H2020 Projet COASTAL - Livrable D14 Modèles Opérationnels Systèmes Dynamiques pour les interactions Côtières-Rurales - Cas d'étude

Existing research and administration primarily addresses coastal and rural development from either a land- or sea-based perspective, making policy recommendations ill-adapted to fully benefit from opportunities which could otherwise foster synergistic economic development of coastal regions and the hinterland. The aim of the H2020 project COASTAL (https://h2020-coastal.eu), which started in May 2018, is to identify these opportunities by improved understanding of the social-ecological land-sea interactions. To this end, coastal and rural stakeholders interacted with local experts in six Multi-Actor Labs throughout the EU Territory. Causal Loop Diagrams, System Dynamics (SD) models, scenarios and other tools have been developed to support the design of evidence-based business road maps and policy guidelines. This WP4 deliverable (D14) is a status report for the progress made with the design and implementation of the operational land-sea models by the Multi-Actor Labs (MALs) after 36 months. The report builds on the deliverable D13 describing the system architecture and database for the draft models (Viaene et al., 2020). These operational stock-flow models are now available for all MALs and can be used to analyse systemic land-sea interactions and evaluate different policy alternatives with examples described in this deliverable. Not surprisingly, the project and systems modelling were affected by the impacts of the covid-19 pandemic. Planned formal and informal meetings with partners to jointly discuss the progress of the modelling, technical and design problems, and work out solutions had to be organised as online events which turned out to be far less effective despite of the number of meetings. Nevertheless, all MALs were able to identify the key stock and flow variables and quantify the social-environmental interactions connecting these variables. In the final phase of the project, these models will be combined with quantified scenarios to address system uncertainties and used to visualize business road maps and policy actions. This will help make policy and business recommendations evidence-based and allow comparison of proposed strategies for coastal-rural development, including best practices and system tipping points. Topics range from fish farming, sustainable water management, eco farming and rural tourism to renewable energy, and are being examined in the context of the EU Green Deal. Important methodological lessons can be learned from the modelling exercise. Model complexity should be tuned to the purpose of holistic policy analysis with enough consideration for cross-thematic aspects. Stakeholders are best engaged in the co-creation process by focusing on the policy implications rather than the underlying modelling, even if their feedback on models is constructive and useful. A step-by-step design strategy supported with system archetypes and concrete examples is essential for facilitating the translation of causal loop diagrams into operational policy models. To conclude, we provide a synthesis section in which the general status of the MAL models is summarised and in which we reflect on the progress made with the modelling and provide an outlook for remaining challenges in the modelling process.This WP4 deliverable (D14) is a status report for the progress made with the design and implementation of the operational land-sea models by the Multi-Actor Labs (MALs) after 36 months. The report builds on the deliverable D13 describing the system architecture and database for the draft models (Viaene et al., 2020). These operational stock-flow models are now available for all Multi Actor Labs and can be used to analyse systemic land-sea interactions and evaluate different policy alternatives with examples described in this deliverable. Not surprisingly, the project and systems modelling were affected by the impacts of the covid-19 pandemic. Planned formal and informal meetings with partners to jointly discuss the progress of the modelling, technical and design problems, and work out solutions had to be organised as online events which turned out to be far less effective despite of the number of meetings. Nevertheless, all MALs were able to identify the key stock and flow variables and quantify the social-environmental interactions connecting these variables. In the final phase of the project, these models will be combined with quantified scenarios to address system uncertainties and used to visualize business road maps and policy actions. This will help make policy and business recommendations evidence-based and allow comparison of proposed strategies for coastal-rural development, including best practices and system tipping points. Topics range from fish farming, sustainable water management, eco farming and rural tourism to renewable energy, and are being examined in the context of the EU Green Deal. This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement N° 773782 This document was produced under the terms and conditions of Grant Agreement No. 773782 for the European Commission. It does not necessary reflect the view of the European Union and in no way anticipates the Commission's future policy in this area Dissemination level PU Public X CO Confidential, restricted under conditions set out in Model Grant Agreement CI Classified information as referred to in Commission Decision 2001/844/EC)Ce livrable WP4 (D14) est un état d'avancement de la conception et de la mise en œuvre des modèles opérationnels terre-mer par les Multi-Actor Labs (MALs) après 36 mois. Le rapport s'appuie sur le livrable D13 décrivant l'architecture du système et la base de données pour les projets de modèles (Viaene et al., 2020). Ces modèles opérationnels stock-flux sont désormais disponibles pour tous les laboratoires multi-acteurs et peuvent être utilisés pour analyser les interactions systémiques terre-mer et évaluer différentes alternatives politiques avec des exemples décrits dans ce livrable. Sans surprise, la modélisation du projet et des systèmes a été affectée par les impacts de la pandémie de covid-19. Des réunions formelles et informelles planifiées avec des partenaires pour discuter conjointement de l'avancement de la modélisation, des problèmes techniques et de conception, et trouver des solutions ont dû être organisées sous forme d'événements en ligne qui se sont avérés beaucoup moins efficaces malgré le nombre de réunions. Néanmoins, tous les MAL ont pu identifier les principales variables de stock et de flux et quantifier les interactions socio-environnementales reliant ces variables. Dans la phase finale du projet, ces modèles seront combinés à des scénarios quantifiés pour répondre aux incertitudes du système et utilisés pour visualiser les feuilles de route commerciales et les actions politiques. Cela aidera à fonder les recommandations politiques et commerciales sur des données probantes et permettra de comparer les stratégies proposées pour le développement côtier et rural, y compris les meilleures pratiques et les points de basculement du système. Les sujets vont de la pisciculture, la gestion durable de l'eau, l'agriculture écologique et le tourisme rural aux énergies renouvelables, et sont examinés dans le cadre du Green Deal de l'UE. Ce projet a reçu un financement du programme de recherche et d'innovation Horizon 2020 de l'Union européenne dans le cadre de la convention de subvention n° 773782 Ce document a été produit dans le cadre de la convention de subvention n° 773782 pour la Commission européenne. Il ne reflète pas nécessairement le point de vue de l'Union européenne et n'anticipe en aucune manière sur la politique future de la Commission dans ce domaine. /844/CE