Exploring adaptive capacity to phosphorus challenges through two United Kingdom river catchments

Bibliographic Data

ID9744943
AuthorsCharles J Lyons (0000-0003-2319-2933, University of Leeds, corresponding author), Christopher Lyon, Brent Jacobs (0000-0003-3147-341X, University of Technology Sydney), Julia Martin-Ortega (0000-0003-0002-6772, University of Leeds), Shane A Rothwell (0000-0002-3919-6077, Lancaster University), Liz Davies (The Wye & Usk Foundation), Chris Stoate (0000-0002-8021-7888, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust), Kirsty J Forber (0000-0001-7182-9586, Lancaster University), Donnacha G Doody (0000-0003-2361-2504, Agri Food and Biosciences Institute), Paul J A Withers (0000-0002-1153-0328, Lancaster University)
Year2022
Volume136
Pages225-236
Publication date2022-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEnvironmental Science & Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1462-9011 • E-ISSN: 1873-6416
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.envsci.2022.06.001
OpenAlexW4283361902
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited73

Phosphorus (P) is a critical natural resource for food production, but one that is subject to global supply vulnerabilities. P is also responsible for endemic eutrophication in waterbodies due to poor stewardship in the food chain. Catchments are natural social-ecologically bounded systems for P use in agriculture and water management. Stakeholders, such as farmers, water and sewerage service companies, local authorities, and environmental organisations mediate catchment adaptive capacity to P supply risks and P pollution in waterbodies. Adaptive capacity at this level has been insufficiently explored in addressing the P challenge, yet is essential to it. We address this gap by exploring through a qualitative study of stakeholders in two United Kingdom catchments. Our results suggest that the awareness and relevance of P-supply challenges is low in catchments, but the problem of waterbody vulnerability to excess P is of greater concern. Our findings highlight the roles in adaptive capacity of entrenched practices; knowledge and training activities and organisations; stakeholder cooperation and synergy; funding, infrastructure, and technology; the governance environment; and time needed to draw down P. We find that farmers and water companies are especially important to adaptive capacity as they directly interact with P flows. We therefore suggest that catchment adaptive capacity would be significantly improved through a well-supported, and expanded package of existing efforts such as providing scientific evidence of catchment P dynamics; training; payments; more empowered local governance. This effort would support catchment stakeholders to adopt effective P-stewardship practices within a multi-decade integrated catchment management strategy

Adaptive capacity · Adaptive Management · Business · Climate change · Corporate governance · Economics · Environmental planning · Environmental resource management · Natural resource economics · Stakeholder · Stewardship (theology · Sustainability · Vulnerability (computing · Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment · Environmental Science · Phosphorus and nutrient management · Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics · Ecology · Finance

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access