Amplifying the transformative impact of landscape-oriented partnerships: understanding conditions for and interactions of amplification processes

Rural landscapes are vital for many species. However, the shift toward intensive agricultural practices with high external inputs has significantly reduced heterogeneity, habitats, and hence, biodiversity in these landscapes. One promising response is the formation of landscape-oriented partnerships, voluntary collaborations among diverse actors aimed at promoting biodiversity restoration or conservation within a specific landscape. These partnerships are increasingly seen as potential drivers of broader transformative changes in agricultural practices and landscape management. Yet, research indicates that although many partnerships achieve positive outcomes, they rarely realize fundamental changes within or beyond the landscape itself. Understanding how such initiatives can amplify their impact is central to assessing their potential as “Seeds of Good Anthropocenes,” initiatives that prefigure and catalyze radically more sustainable futures. This paper advances the understanding of the amplification processes by which landscape-oriented partnerships contribute to transformative change for biodiversity in rural landscapes. We conducted a comparative case study of partnerships working on bulb farming and the restoration of landscape elements in the Dutch Dune and Bulb Region in the Netherlands, using interviews, participant observation, and policy document analysis. Based on our analysis, we identify three important insights for understanding amplification processes. First, we found that the combinations and interactions of different amplification processes influenced a partnership’s contribution to transformative change. Second, while promoting and embedding non-instrumental nature values, such as relational and intrinsic values, within partnerships is key to transformative impact, expanding a partnership’s activities or goals can hinder this process by aligning with existing values and policy goals rather than questioning them, thus limiting transformative potential. Third, alignment with policy goals emerged as a critical factor for enabling amplification; however, deliberate alignment with policy goals can also lead to narrowing down of partnerships, as most policies, rules, and regulations relevant for farmers are very specific and not system-oriented. Thus, to enhance partnerships’ impact on transformative change, governance approaches like integrative governance should guide the development of visions, policies, and laws at both landscape and higher levels.