Integrated Landscape Approach: Closing the Gap between Theory and Application

Abstract

Abstract:Recently, the integrated landscape approach has gained increasing interest of the scientific community, as well as of organizations active in the field of sustainable development. However, the enthusiastic welcome is challenged by little consensus on theory, terminology and definitions. Moreover, the operationalization of the approach into practice is a major challenge. In this paper, we present a framework to operationalize the integrated landscape approach in practice by putting a long-term collaboration between scientists and various stakeholder at center stage. Based on encompassing understanding of landscape-level processes and interactions, four pillars addressing different steps of a joint-learning circle are described and illustrated with examples. We consider the integrated landscape approach to be a prime way of targeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but novel forms of collaboration between scientists and other stakeholders based on long-term commitments will be needed for operationalization in practice.

Exploring the Role of Science in Sustainable Landscape Management. An Introduction to the Special Issue

“…Karrasch et al [20] use landscape services in relation to the values achieved by adapting coastal landscapes to climate change, and they use them in a spatially explicit way by linking them to landscape elements. Burgi et al [21] use them as the connection between landscape functioning and the societal demands for landscape values as perceived by people. The main advantages of using landscape services in sustainable landscape management are that: (1) the concept links values to the ecological and physical functioning of the landscape; (2) by using the concept, a demand for future values by groups of stakeholders is stimulated (facilitating negotiations between land owners or managers and users); and (3) the concept facilitates social learning and collaboration among stakeholders with different interests and values [22].…”

“…The outcome of this process is often in the form of a map and pictures of the future landscape. The recognition that social learning and knowledge sharing is crucial in finding a sustainable solution for a landscape area is the basis for the cyclic process scheme proposed by Burgi et al [21]. Here, design is the third step, following assessments of alternative future scenarios and a choice for one of them, and preceding implementation of adaptation measures.…”

“…In these examples, scientists play different roles. They may (1) contribute to understanding the relation between landscape services and the response by users and owners of pieces of land [18], (2) provide information about landscape indicators for sustainability [20], or (3) organize the process and facilitate joined vision building and decision making about interventions [20,21]. The need for this role diversity can be understood with help of the analysis by Raquez and Lambin [31], who investigated 46 case studies to learn how scientific information had contributed to social-ecological transformations towards sustainability.…”

Decision support tools for forest landscape restoration: Current status and future outlook

“…The landscape approach has gained traction in the sustainable development agenda as a way to overcome the limitations of sectorial approaches, to address trade-offs within spatial units, and to enable a deeper understanding of change and resilience in socioecological systems (Freeman et al 2015;Bürgi et al 2017). But, how do we operationalize a landscape approach such as FLR?…”

How can landscape ecology contribute to sustainability science?

“…Design has also been conceptualized in a somewhat narrower meaning as the creative step in a joined learning cycle that includes understanding, exploration, design and transformation (Bürgi et al 2017). Steingröver et al (2010) reported how they facilitated a group of farmers and other stakeholders through a joined learning and design process aimed at creating a green infrastructure for the provision of landscape services.…”