The issue of land preservation has, until recently, failed to make it to the agenda of environmental politics in Norway. WP2 will study land preservation from the viewpoint of environmental politics, exploring the relationship between policy-makers, knowledge producers and NGOs.

  • Performed by Siri Øyslebø Sørensen
  • Management WP2 Hilde Bjørkhaug

Analytical approach and research design

In 2008, NGOs representing both environmental and agricultural interests joined forces in a call for political action for land protection in Norway. A letter addressed to the Minister of Agriculture and Food (21.04.2008) stated that “We do now have enough knowledge to take action”, referring to recent research showing the importance of protecting land for production of food.
WP2 will study land preservation from the viewpoint of environmental politics, exploring the relationship between policy-makers, knowledge producers and NGOs. The policy-making process can be divided into agenda setting, a legislative and an implementation phase (Keller 2009). Drawing on an actor-network approach, this will be a study of “policy in the making”, focusing on understanding the associations between various actors involved in the policy making process (Latour 2005). The research will build on insights from science and technology studies on the science policy relation (Bouma and Droogers 2007, Jasanoff 1990 and 2004, Keller 2009). Questions addressed will include: How do environmental NGOs relate to the issue of preservation for food compared to other reasons for land protection, typically nature conservation?; How do scientists deal with the policy implications of their work?; How do bureaucrats and politicians assemble knowledge and interests in their efforts to formulate policy proposals?
Qualitative interviews with representatives from NGOs, science communities and bureaucrats will constitute the main research method. A document analysis will be conducted to tap into the historical processes that led to the current situation. Dr. Bjørkhaug, CRR is responsible for leading WP2, in collaboration with junior scientists.
WP2 will deliver 2 submitted articles to peer-reviewed publisher (minimum 1 to scientific journals)