California Nitrogen Assessment
The United States (California)
Geographical coverage
| Geographical scale of the assessment | Sub-national |
|---|---|
| Country or countries covered | United States |
| Any other necessary information or explanation for identifying the location of the assessment, including site or region name |
North America |
Geographical scale of the assessment
Sub-national
Country or countries covered
United States
Any other necessary information or explanation for identifying the location of the assessment, including site or region name
North America
Conceptual framework, methodology and scope
Assessment objectives
Gain a comprehensive view of N flows in the state, with emphasis on agriculture’s roles.
Provide useful insights for stakeholders into the balance between the benefits of agricultural nitrogen and the effects of surplus nitrogen in the environment.
Compare options, including practices and policies.
Move beyond “academic business as usual” to more effectively link science with action and to produce information that informs both policy and field-level practice.
Mandate for the assessment
Funded by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, due to concern about water quality and greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, with interest from state government leaders.
Conceptual framework and/or methodology used for the assessment
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA)
System(s) assessed
- Marine
- Coastal
- Inland water
- Forest and woodland
- Cultivated/Agricultural land
- Grassland
- Mountain
- Urban
Species groups assessed
Ecosystem services/functions assessed
Provisioning
- Food
- Water
- Genetic resources
- Ornamental resources
- Raw materials
Regulating
- Air quality
- Climate regulation
- Regulation of water quality
- Waste treatment
- Maintainence of soil fertility
Supporting Services/Functions
- Nutrient cycling
- Soil formation and fertility
- Primary production
Cultural Services
- Recreation and tourism
- Spiritual experience
Scope of assessment includes
Drivers of change in systems and services
Yes
Impacts of change in services on human well-being
Yes
Options for responding/interventions to the trends observed
Yes
Explicit consideration of the role of biodiversity in the systems and services covered by the assessment
Yes
Timing of the assessment
Year assessment started
2009
Year assessment finished
Ongoing
If ongoing, year assessment is anticipated to finish
2013
Periodicity of assessment
One off
Assessment outputs
Website(s)
Report(s)
Communication materials (e.g. brochure, presentations, posters, audio-visual media)
Current_July2012_CNA_project_summary_with_stakeholder_engagement.pdf
Journal publications
Training materials
Other documents/outputs
Tools and processes
Tools and approaches used in the assessment
- Modelling
- Trade-off analysis
- Scenarios
Process used for stakeholder engagement in the assessment process and which component
From 2009-2001, used multiple avenues -- stakeholder forums, farm visits, growers consultations, and industry field trips -- to engage with more than 350 stakeholders across 50 organizations.
Outreach events generated more than 100 nitrogen-related questions and provided data, practical examples, and management options to guide the assessment.
Collaboration with stakeholders to create four 'scenarios' on the future of nitrogen management in California agriculture.
A 30-member Stakeholder Advisory Committee provides feedback and acts as liaison between the CNA and members' constituencies.
Key stakeholder groups engaged
Farmer organizations and commodity groups
Environmental NGOs
Individual farmers, ranchers, nurseries
Fertilizer industry organizations
Government agencies
Health and social justice organizations
Research organizations
The number of people directly involved in the assessment process
Less than 10
Incorporation of scientific and other types of knowledge
- Scientific information only
- Resource experts (e.g. foresters etc)
Supporting documentation for specific approaches, methodology or criteria developed and/or used to integrate knowledge systems into the assessment
Assessment reports peer reviewed
Yes
Data
Accessibility of data used in assessment
Policy impact
Impacts the assessment has had on policy and/or decision making, as evidenced through policy references and actions
Independent or other review on policy impact of the assessment
No
Lessons learnt for future assessments from these reviews
Capacity building
Capacity building needs identified during the assessment
Actions taken by the assessment to build capacity
Sharing of data/repatriation of data, Workshops, Formal training, Communication and awareness raising
