Publications (FIS)

More than spatial coordination

How Dutch agricultural collectives foster social capital for effective governance of agri-environmental measures

authored by: Rena Barghusen, Claudia Sattler, Richard Berner, Bettina Matzdorf
Abstract: Collective approaches for agri-environmental measures are known for aiming at spatial coordination of measures to enhance ecological effectiveness. In the Netherlands, governance networks for agri-environmental measures are centered around agricultural collectives that function as intermediaries between individual farmers and governmental as well as non-governmental actors. Against the background that some agricultural collectives are bottom-up and other top-down initiated, we analyzed in how far they can build up social capital through formal and informal relations. We used the Net-Map method to collect qualitative and quantitative data for a Social Network Analysis to uncover the network characteristics that contribute to a certain level of social capital. The results revealed that the umbrella organization links the collectives to the national governmental level and to other collectives. This is especially important for top-down initiated collectives. The facilitation of internal meetings within the collectives is important for social learning. Furthermore, a formalization of the exchange between collectives and stakeholders of nature conservation could strengthen cooperation where traditionally conflicts dominate. By analyzing interaction in detail, the social reasoning to promote collective agri-environmental measures was highlighted. They enable collaboration of different stakeholders at multiple levels to the end that knowledge and resources are bundled.
Organisation(s): Institute of Environmental Planning
External Organisation(s): Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU Berlin)
Type: Article
Journal: Journal of Rural Studies
Volume: 96
Pages: 246-258
No. of pages: 13
ISSN: 0743-0167
Publication date: 12.2022
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Geography, Planning and Development, Development, Sociology and Political Science
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.10.023 (Access: Open)

BibTeX

@article{bf4efc3487644d93a19a8be65de9e9b4,
title = "More than spatial coordination: How Dutch agricultural collectives foster social capital for effective governance of agri-environmental measures",
abstract = "Collective approaches for agri-environmental measures are known for aiming at spatial coordination of measures to enhance ecological effectiveness. In the Netherlands, governance networks for agri-environmental measures are centered around agricultural collectives that function as intermediaries between individual farmers and governmental as well as non-governmental actors. Against the background that some agricultural collectives are bottom-up and other top-down initiated, we analyzed in how far they can build up social capital through formal and informal relations. We used the Net-Map method to collect qualitative and quantitative data for a Social Network Analysis to uncover the network characteristics that contribute to a certain level of social capital. The results revealed that the umbrella organization links the collectives to the national governmental level and to other collectives. This is especially important for top-down initiated collectives. The facilitation of internal meetings within the collectives is important for social learning. Furthermore, a formalization of the exchange between collectives and stakeholders of nature conservation could strengthen cooperation where traditionally conflicts dominate. By analyzing interaction in detail, the social reasoning to promote collective agri-environmental measures was highlighted. They enable collaboration of different stakeholders at multiple levels to the end that knowledge and resources are bundled.",
keywords = "AECM, Bottom-up vs. top-down initiated, Governance of ecosystem services, Net-map tool, Social network analysis, Social-ecological systems",
author = "Rena Barghusen and Claudia Sattler and Richard Berner and Bettina Matzdorf",
note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by the ZALF PhD project {\textquoteleft}Landscaper{\textquoteright} and the European Union's Horizon2020 research and innovation program Contracts2.0 under Grant 818,190 . ",
year = "2022",
month = dec,
doi = "10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.10.023",
language = "English",
volume = "96",
pages = "246--258",
journal = "Journal of Rural Studies",
issn = "0743-0167",
publisher = "Elsevier Ltd.",
}