Water Governance in Mediterranean Farming Systems through the Social-Ecological Systems Framework—An Empirical Case in Southern Portugal
Water governance is a major challenge in the Mediterranean context. Any action to drive water governance towards sustainability needs to be grounded in a holistic understanding of such challenges. Therefore, a first step towards the improvement of water governance is a grounded understanding of what...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Land |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/2/178 |
| _version_ | 1797478787214999552 |
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| author | Taiana Homobono Maria Helena Guimarães Catarina Esgalhado Lívia Madureira |
| author_facet | Taiana Homobono Maria Helena Guimarães Catarina Esgalhado Lívia Madureira |
| author_sort | Taiana Homobono |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Water governance is a major challenge in the Mediterranean context. Any action to drive water governance towards sustainability needs to be grounded in a holistic understanding of such challenges. Therefore, a first step towards the improvement of water governance is a grounded understanding of what is at stake, who are the actors involved, and how they interact. To achieve this level of understanding, we propose the use of the social–ecological Systems (SES) framework. This framework was developed to grasp the complexity of issues related to the sustainable use of public goods such as water. This study looks at water governance in the farming sector of three municipalities in the Alentejo and Algarve, in the south of Portugal. Data were collected using a literature review and 22 semi-structured interviews with territorial actors (i.e., public administration, non-governmental associations, private sector, decision-makers, and farmers). By using the SES framework, we provide an integrated characterization of water governance in the case study and identify the implicated factors. Between these factors, and focusing on the overlap between literature and actors’ perspectives, are (1) the lack of integrated and supported strategies for development, and (2) lack of communication between the actors that need to congregate efforts towards sustainable use of water resources. The study found few examples of collective efforts and long-lasting networks of collaboration, especially between science and practice. We conclude by arguing that place-based tailored policies are needed. Such policies should promote communication and collective actions between researchers, local organizations, public administration, and farmers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:36:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b6137b1b40c14becb94734ae9f2851e6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:36:36Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj.art-b6137b1b40c14becb94734ae9f2851e62023-11-23T20:42:14ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2022-01-0111217810.3390/land11020178Water Governance in Mediterranean Farming Systems through the Social-Ecological Systems Framework—An Empirical Case in Southern PortugalTaiana Homobono0Maria Helena Guimarães1Catarina Esgalhado2Lívia Madureira3MED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Universidade de Évora, Polo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7002-554 Évora, PortugalMED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Universidade de Évora, Polo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7002-554 Évora, PortugalMED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Universidade de Évora, Polo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7002-554 Évora, PortugalCentre for Transdisciplinary Development Studies (CETRAD), Universidade Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5000-554 Vila Real, PortugalWater governance is a major challenge in the Mediterranean context. Any action to drive water governance towards sustainability needs to be grounded in a holistic understanding of such challenges. Therefore, a first step towards the improvement of water governance is a grounded understanding of what is at stake, who are the actors involved, and how they interact. To achieve this level of understanding, we propose the use of the social–ecological Systems (SES) framework. This framework was developed to grasp the complexity of issues related to the sustainable use of public goods such as water. This study looks at water governance in the farming sector of three municipalities in the Alentejo and Algarve, in the south of Portugal. Data were collected using a literature review and 22 semi-structured interviews with territorial actors (i.e., public administration, non-governmental associations, private sector, decision-makers, and farmers). By using the SES framework, we provide an integrated characterization of water governance in the case study and identify the implicated factors. Between these factors, and focusing on the overlap between literature and actors’ perspectives, are (1) the lack of integrated and supported strategies for development, and (2) lack of communication between the actors that need to congregate efforts towards sustainable use of water resources. The study found few examples of collective efforts and long-lasting networks of collaboration, especially between science and practice. We conclude by arguing that place-based tailored policies are needed. Such policies should promote communication and collective actions between researchers, local organizations, public administration, and farmers.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/2/178SES frameworkwater governancefarming systemsMediterraneanlocal dynamics |
| spellingShingle | Taiana Homobono Maria Helena Guimarães Catarina Esgalhado Lívia Madureira Water Governance in Mediterranean Farming Systems through the Social-Ecological Systems Framework—An Empirical Case in Southern Portugal Land SES framework water governance farming systems Mediterranean local dynamics |
| title | Water Governance in Mediterranean Farming Systems through the Social-Ecological Systems Framework—An Empirical Case in Southern Portugal |
| title_full | Water Governance in Mediterranean Farming Systems through the Social-Ecological Systems Framework—An Empirical Case in Southern Portugal |
| title_fullStr | Water Governance in Mediterranean Farming Systems through the Social-Ecological Systems Framework—An Empirical Case in Southern Portugal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Water Governance in Mediterranean Farming Systems through the Social-Ecological Systems Framework—An Empirical Case in Southern Portugal |
| title_short | Water Governance in Mediterranean Farming Systems through the Social-Ecological Systems Framework—An Empirical Case in Southern Portugal |
| title_sort | water governance in mediterranean farming systems through the social ecological systems framework an empirical case in southern portugal |
| topic | SES framework water governance farming systems Mediterranean local dynamics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/2/178 |
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