ABSTRACT
The salinization of freshwater resources poses significant problems to agriculture, industry, and drinking water provision in coastal areas all around the world. Climatic and anthropogenic stresses create additional pressures on freshwater resources in these areas, thereby increasing competition between the different uses. In the low-lying, coastal regions of the Netherlands, the threat of salinization is already widespread due to historically saline groundwater reservoirs and being largely positioned below sea level. Agriculture in these areas is particularly vulnerable to the threat of salinization, being exposed to brackish seepage, fluctuating weather conditions, and by being one of the last activities to receive freshwater in times of scarcity as determined by national regulation. To research how the agricultural sector can be made more salinization-resilient, semi-structured interviews with experts (n = 12) and stakeholders (n = 38) were conducted to identify what is currently locking-in unsustainable land- and water-management practices and what could potentially support a transition to salinization-resilience. The findings show that lacking a sense of urgency, uncertainty about the threat of salinization, uncertainty about the effectiveness, efficiency, and feasibility of different mitigation and adaptation measures, and the fact that the burden of salinization and the responsibility to solve it are not carried by just one stakeholder (group) are inhibiting divergence from the current dominant unsustainable practices. These obstacles can be overcome by embedding the issue in existing programs, increasing communication and collaboration between the stakeholders, formulating long-term strategies, and increasing awareness through pilot projects. Furthermore, research into different measures and a societal cost-benefit analysis can aid in formulating possible pathways to salinization-resilience.
