An actor game on implementation of environmental quality standards for nitrogen

An actor game was the key component in a pre-feasibility study aimed at gaining experience on new nitrogen (N) pollution abatement strategies in a close to reality situation. The study focused on: (a) testing implementation of legal regulations based on environmental quality standards for nitrate concentration in groundwater and N transport to the sea; (b) finding sets of agriculturally feasible and cost-effective measures to decrease the N load; (c) investigating possibilities for collective action through formal actor cooperation, and; (d) testing the usefulness of mathematical modelling in environmental N management. The agriculturally dominated catchment of Genevadsån (224 km2) on the southwest coast of Sweden was chosen for the actor game. A major conclusion is that the game turned out to be a good arena for gaining deeper insight into, and a more thorough understanding of, the views of the different stakeholders.