The section presents our three future scenarios for the Parrett Catchment - with accompanying mapped-based information. Each of the future scenarios represents different visions of the Catchment based on how underlying trends and themes may unfold.  Click on the links to explore more about each of the scenarios.

This scenario describes a catchment where highly localized, low impact and generally ‘low tech’ responses to wider trends prevail.  This is a scenario where communities have become increasingly resilient as processes of globalisation become stronger, and nation states weaker.  By today’s standards this scenario is what many would describe as ‘sustainable’.

In this scenario an increasingly open and deregulated world dictates the fortunes of the Catchment.  Here it is the free market that shapes environmental, economic and social well being.  Local communities are disempowered and disorganized, while the nation state lacks influence and power over global trends. The outcomes for sustainability are highly mixed.

This scenario depicts a catchment where planning for the future becomes increasingly centralized.  This is a world where seemingly unstoppable trends toward globalization have been resisted. The nation state is increasingly closed and inward looking and leads the way in planning for national self-sufficiency. High impact, high tech and over engineered approaches to sustainability prevail.