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Research article2017Peer reviewed

Governance and management dynamics of landscape restoration at multiple scales: Learning from successful environmental managers in Sweden

Dawson, Lucas; Elbakidze, Marine; Angelstam, Per; Gordon, Johanna

Abstract

Due to a long history of intensive land and water use, habitat networks for biodiversity conservation are generally degraded in Sweden. Landscape restoration (LR) is an important strategy for achieving representative and functional green infrastructures. However, outcomes of LR efforts are poorly studied, particularly the dynamics of LR governance and management. We apply systems thinking methods to a series of LR case studies to analyse the causal structures underlying LR governance and management in Sweden. We show that these structures appear to comprise of an interlinked system of at least three sets of drivers and four core processes. This system exhibits many characteristics of a transformative change towards an integrated, adaptive approach to governance and management. Key challenges for Swedish LR projects relate to institutional and regulatory flexibility, the timely availability of sufficient funds, and the management of learning and knowledge production processes. In response, successful project leaders develop several key strategies to manage complexity and risk, and enhance perceptions of the attractiveness of LR projects. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Landscape restoration; Environmental system dynamics; Integrated adaptive governance & management; Causal loop modelling; Green infrastructure

Published in

Journal of Environmental Management
2017, Volume: 197, pages: 24-40

      SLU Authors

      • Sustainable Development Goals

      SDG15 Life on land

      UKÄ Subject classification

      Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use

      Publication identifier

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.03.019

      Permanent link to this page (URI)

      https://res.slu.se/id/publ/90080