Problem and Knowledge Gap: The trajectory of landscape transformations is controlled by complex feedbacks and interactions between society and the environment. Policies and governance focused on solving single issues often result in unintended consequences due to these feedbacks between biophysical and socio-economic systems. In the Dommel and Vecht watersheds, the interactions between society, economy, and environment are intricate, particularly regarding water supply and use between regions and actors within a watershed. This work package aims to analyze and identify the key feedbacks and dynamics between society, economy, and environment, and between different regions within our two watersheds. Building on insights from other work packages and leveraging the expertise from the RESHAPE Academy, we seek to understand how actions in one part of the system propagate throughout the entire system, identifying both desired and undesired transformation pathways and their trade-offs. Our goal is to pinpoint leverage points in the system where effective actions can steer the system towards desired transformation pathways.
Research Questions:
- How do dependencies and interactions between biophysical and socio-economic systems, as well as between the spatial components of the landscape, influence transformation pathways to nature-inspired resilient landscapes and water systems?
- Are there transformation pathways that lead to trade-offs, lock-ins, or other undesired effects, or that are less robust to climate change?
- What are the important leverage points within the system that can help avoid undesired pathways and promote desired transformation pathways for nature-inspired resilient landscapes and water systems?
By addressing these questions, we aim to develop a comprehensive understanding of the system dynamics and stakeholder interactions that drive landscape transformations, enabling us to guide effective and sustainable policy and governance decisions.