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Public policies for wetland implementation in Denmark and Sweden – historical lessons and emerging issues
Abstract   Peer reviewed

Public policies for wetland implementation in Denmark and Sweden – historical lessons and emerging issues

M Graversgaard, T Dalgaard, C C Hoffmann, B H Jacobsen, Neil Powell, J Strand, P Feuerbach and K Tonderski
3rd Bonus Symposium Book of Abstracts, p.34
Bonus Symposium: Sustainable ecosystem governance under changing climate and land use, 3rd (Gdańsk, Poland, 14-Mar-2018–16-Mar-2018)
2018
url
http://bonus2018.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Book-of-Abstract_Final.pdfView
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Abstract

Environmental Science and Management Policy and Administration
Natural wetlands used to cover a significant part of the rural landscape but these areas have been reduced significantly all over the world and so also in Denmark and Sweden. Since the 1980s' efforts have been made to re-establish these wetlands. Findings from other studies suggest that compensation levels, efficiency, implementation approach and flexibility are key factors in a successful implementation. The analysis of the implementation in Denmark have shown that the original efficiency per ha was overestimated and the costs were underestimated. The political targets have been too optimistic for the last 30 years and continue to be so. The experience gained from previous implementation and the layout of the subsidy scheme has not been fully utilised due partly to a shift from national financing schemes (lumpsum) to a partly EU financed Rural Development Program (yearly payment over 20 years). Sweden started earlier and the programs have in more cases a more multifunctional purpose as in Denmark were N reduction effect is the main policy goal. The main barriers in the implementation of wetlands in Sweden have changed somewhat over time, and have included economy, land availability and institutional and governance barriers. Looking at the two countries they both show a change from a focused on the local approach to a broad Rural Development Program approach where the efficiency per ha went down. However, a large potential for more wetland implementation still remains in both countries. Consequently, the objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of the historical implementation of wetlands and related governance processes. This is carried out in order to illustrate barriers of why more wetlands have not been created and restored, and to illustrate the opportunities for future wetlands implementation. Details about lessons, impacts and learning outcomes from the two neighbouring countries will be reviewed to gain an overview of the systemic transformations needed to facilitate a more sustainable development.

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