The Transformative Potential of Water Councils – A Case Study of Kävlinge Water Council in the South of Sweden

Freshwater is a critical resource, which is also the reason for why water have been altered by humans for centuries. During the last decades due to population growth, socio-economic development and climate-related effects the societal challenges related to water have amplified. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are often highlighted as a key response to these challenges. However, according to Seddon et al., (2020), a major challenge with nature-based solutions is “inflexible and highly sectorized forms of governance”, which is why the cross sectoral Water Councils, voluntary and participatory organisations bringing together a range of stakeholders at the water-shed level regulated under the EU Water Framework Directive, potentially have a unique position to overcome the challenges. While NbS are identified as solutions for the interconnected social, economic and environmental challenges, literature points towards the approach taken (O’Brien et al., 2022).  

This is a case study which develop, facilitate and assess a dialogue process of co-creation of a new water management plan in Kävlinge Water Council between 2023-2025 related to NbS-challenges. The study aims to analyse the transformational changes throughout the dialogues. Kävlinge Water Council is situated in the south of Sweden, a heavily cultivated area largely affected by the wetland drainage in the 19th century. This water council is also a pioneer in implementing NbS. However, during the last decade, water availability has fluctuated in the region, creating conflict of interest among stakeholders. The study uses a multi-level stakeholder co-creative process including meetings with civil servants respectively politicians, industry stakeholders and landowners. The process is designed by a transdisciplinary team of researchers and civil servants. Material about participants perspective on the design of the process as well as its end-product: A new water management plan, is collected through interviews workshops and surveys. 

The preliminary results show that the process is engaging and leads to in-depth discussions on the present and future water management in the catchment. Politicians and civil servants to some extent have different focuses on necessary challenges and changes. So far, two out of five dialogues have been facilitated. Dialogue one focused on a general identification of challenges while dialogue two focused on a broader spectrum of solutions and evaluation of solutions. The upcoming dialogues will focus on organisation, urban versus rural communities, financing and communication. The study also plans to incorporate dialogue with higher-level stakeholders such as national and regional authorities and citizens. We believe this type of iterative process has the potential to level the implementation of NbS, specifically in water councils throughout Sweden, but particularly in Kävlinge Water Council. We also believe that the result can be incorporated in regional and national water policy to level the implementation of NbS, the EU Water Framework Directive and the Floods Directive. 

References
Seddon, N., Chausson, A., Berry, P., Girardin, C.A.J., Smith, A., Turner, B., (2020). Understanding the value and limits of nature-based solutions to climate change and other global challenges. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. B Biol. Sci. 375, 20190120. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2019.0120