ABSTRACT This book takes up the challenge of contemporary landscape research. Continued poverty a... more ABSTRACT This book takes up the challenge of contemporary landscape research. Continued poverty and progressing environmental degradation and climate change show us that landscape development is complex and unpredictable. Landscapes consist of nested biophysical and social systems, which are multi-dimensional and highly dynamic, and simultaneously interact at various system levels. This leads to complex, non-linear, divergent processes and the emergence of new landscape arrangements. Scientists have to acknowledge that they cannot predict or control landscape dynamics but need the local specific knowledge and experimentation of local stakeholders. Collaborative research-for-action and research-in-action together with societal stakeholders are needed. Many scientists accept this challenge. Based on different types of system thinking, they develop theoretical frameworks and methodologies to integrate scientific and local knowledge and/or enhance learning between them and societal stakeholders for sustainable landscape development and governance. Landscape researchers, inspired by these theoretical frameworks and the perceived issue-at-stake, start defining the orientation of the research and change process in interaction with policy makers and stakeholders. The question is whether and how the different types of research contribute to ecologically sustainable, socially equitable development and governance, valued by or at least acceptable for the variety of stakeholders, organisations and institutions involved.
ABSTRACT Sustainable landscape development means researchers have to engage in collaborative rese... more ABSTRACT Sustainable landscape development means researchers have to engage in collaborative research to find an informed, ethical and locally-valued balance between ecological resilience and societal pursuits, and build the capacity for co-ordinated adaptive management of the involved stakeholders and governance institutions. In this last chapter we analyse the collaborative research processes, or so-called boundary-spanning-processes, of the case chapters. The timing and the type of boundary objects and methods used more or less define the level of participation of social stakeholders and the role and function of the researcher in the ongoing societal learning, negotiation and innovation process. The cases show the variety of functions and knowledge broker strategies pursued. From the chapters it is not clear whether all research efforts led to concrete impacts; several authors highlighted dilemma’s and bottlenecks that they found hard to deal with. We note that each type of problem and context setting requires a specific type of inquiry (theoretical system perspective), researcher role and boundary process, and to be effective the latter should evolve in line with the iterative societal learning, negotiation and innovation process. To be effective, collaborative researchers cannot limit themselves to ‘knowledge production for action’, but need to engage in ‘knowledge production in action’. They have to analyse the situation and embed their research in the ongoing change process; to opt for a multiple-dimensional, flexible research approach, and to wisely combine various types of system thinking and the respective paradigmatic assumptions. With enough background knowledge on various system approaches, continuous monitoring and reflection, collaborative researchers may become competent performers, but at the end of the day collaborative research is an art. Experts have a holistic perspective, ‘a feel’ for nuances and apply creative thinking in action.
Large efforts have been dedicated to investigate effects of acid atmospheric deposition on trees ... more Large efforts have been dedicated to investigate effects of acid atmospheric deposition on trees and soil at the forest stand level. For this purpose intensive monitoring programs and integrated simulation models were developed. This paper describes the application of the models NuCSAM, SoilVeg and ForGro to the Speuld site, a Douglas fir stand on a podzolic soil. The site was monitored between 1987 and 1992. Atmospheric inputs and element outputs at Speuld are fairly representative for Dutch forests. The models were parameterized and calibrated for this site. Simulated soil water contents, soil solution chemistry, foliage biomass and nutrient status and stem growth between 1987 and 1992 were comparable with observations. The generality of the SoilVeg and ForGro model was further tested by an approximate simulation of a site irrigation and fertigation experiment at a nearby Douglas fir site between 1987 and 1991. The direction and magnitude of simulated effects of irrigation and fertigation on stem growth, litter fall and needle nutrient status were generally right, but the observed enhanced N-mineralization could not be simulated. Simulations of site response to the Dutch target deposition scenario between 1994 and 2050 showed large differences between the three models, particularly for nitrogen cycling and foliage nutrient status. Nonetheless all models indicate a fast response of soil solution chemistry to changing deposition. Both SoilVeg and ForGro indicate that direct effects of air pollution and effects of soil pH and A1 are subsidiary to effects of drought and nitrogen. Our understanding of effects of acid atmospheric deposition on forests, based on lab trials, relatively short site monitoring studies and integrated simulation models, is still inadequate to quantitatively predict the long-term impact of acid deposition on forests on a nationwide scale.
Within the framework of the Dutch Priority Program on Acidification, 10 yr of research was conduc... more Within the framework of the Dutch Priority Program on Acidification, 10 yr of research was conducted in a Douglas fir stand at Speulder forest. Research was conducted to establish the loads and levels of acidifying and eutrophying pollutants and ozone, to determine forest vitality characteristics and follow growth parameters and nutrient status in time and to determine the effects of reduction of loads and levels by manipulation experiments. Results indicate that during the last 20 yr critical levels for air pollutants have hardly been exceeded except for ozone, which slightly affected assimilation. Elevated nitrogen deposition has caused several adverse effects including (i) inhibited mycorrhizal development, leading to a decreased base cation and phosphorus uptake; (ii) elevated foliage/root (fine and coarse) ratios, making the forest more sensitive to drought and windthrow; (iii) elevated nitrogen and arginine concentrations in the foliage, associated with relative base cation and phosphorus deficiency, and (iv) elevated nitrate leaching polluting the groundwater. High inputs of acidity have caused elevated ratios of Al to base cations, affecting fine root (uptake) and depletion of the readily available Al pool, thus affecting the long-term sustainability. Despite these effects, forest vitality, in terms of defoliation/discoloration, is reasonable and forest growth even increased in response to nitrogen. The exceedances of critical loads for nitrogen and acidity, however, implies a (large) risk for the long-term sustainability of the Speulder forest.
In this book, authors present their research experiences, their theoretical inspiration, the rese... more In this book, authors present their research experiences, their theoretical inspiration, the research methodology applied to consult, share and collaborate with societal actors in order to create options for change. The book includes several striking examples from the Netherlands (both successful and effective), and also innovative examples from communities in Africa and Asia. The authors reflect on opportunities, problems and dilemma’s they had to deal with. They especially address how far the role and theoretical perspectives of collaborative researchers can lead them in action research. Can they limit themselves to joint knowledge production and learning processes or should they engage in strategic positioning, advocacy and entrepreneurship to make it happen? The book discusses the issues that researchers should consider when they position their research activities within on going developments at landscape level.
ABSTRACT This book takes up the challenge of contemporary landscape research. Continued poverty a... more ABSTRACT This book takes up the challenge of contemporary landscape research. Continued poverty and progressing environmental degradation and climate change show us that landscape development is complex and unpredictable. Landscapes consist of nested biophysical and social systems, which are multi-dimensional and highly dynamic, and simultaneously interact at various system levels. This leads to complex, non-linear, divergent processes and the emergence of new landscape arrangements. Scientists have to acknowledge that they cannot predict or control landscape dynamics but need the local specific knowledge and experimentation of local stakeholders. Collaborative research-for-action and research-in-action together with societal stakeholders are needed. Many scientists accept this challenge. Based on different types of system thinking, they develop theoretical frameworks and methodologies to integrate scientific and local knowledge and/or enhance learning between them and societal stakeholders for sustainable landscape development and governance. Landscape researchers, inspired by these theoretical frameworks and the perceived issue-at-stake, start defining the orientation of the research and change process in interaction with policy makers and stakeholders. The question is whether and how the different types of research contribute to ecologically sustainable, socially equitable development and governance, valued by or at least acceptable for the variety of stakeholders, organisations and institutions involved.
ABSTRACT Sustainable landscape development means researchers have to engage in collaborative rese... more ABSTRACT Sustainable landscape development means researchers have to engage in collaborative research to find an informed, ethical and locally-valued balance between ecological resilience and societal pursuits, and build the capacity for co-ordinated adaptive management of the involved stakeholders and governance institutions. In this last chapter we analyse the collaborative research processes, or so-called boundary-spanning-processes, of the case chapters. The timing and the type of boundary objects and methods used more or less define the level of participation of social stakeholders and the role and function of the researcher in the ongoing societal learning, negotiation and innovation process. The cases show the variety of functions and knowledge broker strategies pursued. From the chapters it is not clear whether all research efforts led to concrete impacts; several authors highlighted dilemma’s and bottlenecks that they found hard to deal with. We note that each type of problem and context setting requires a specific type of inquiry (theoretical system perspective), researcher role and boundary process, and to be effective the latter should evolve in line with the iterative societal learning, negotiation and innovation process. To be effective, collaborative researchers cannot limit themselves to ‘knowledge production for action’, but need to engage in ‘knowledge production in action’. They have to analyse the situation and embed their research in the ongoing change process; to opt for a multiple-dimensional, flexible research approach, and to wisely combine various types of system thinking and the respective paradigmatic assumptions. With enough background knowledge on various system approaches, continuous monitoring and reflection, collaborative researchers may become competent performers, but at the end of the day collaborative research is an art. Experts have a holistic perspective, ‘a feel’ for nuances and apply creative thinking in action.
Large efforts have been dedicated to investigate effects of acid atmospheric deposition on trees ... more Large efforts have been dedicated to investigate effects of acid atmospheric deposition on trees and soil at the forest stand level. For this purpose intensive monitoring programs and integrated simulation models were developed. This paper describes the application of the models NuCSAM, SoilVeg and ForGro to the Speuld site, a Douglas fir stand on a podzolic soil. The site was monitored between 1987 and 1992. Atmospheric inputs and element outputs at Speuld are fairly representative for Dutch forests. The models were parameterized and calibrated for this site. Simulated soil water contents, soil solution chemistry, foliage biomass and nutrient status and stem growth between 1987 and 1992 were comparable with observations. The generality of the SoilVeg and ForGro model was further tested by an approximate simulation of a site irrigation and fertigation experiment at a nearby Douglas fir site between 1987 and 1991. The direction and magnitude of simulated effects of irrigation and fertigation on stem growth, litter fall and needle nutrient status were generally right, but the observed enhanced N-mineralization could not be simulated. Simulations of site response to the Dutch target deposition scenario between 1994 and 2050 showed large differences between the three models, particularly for nitrogen cycling and foliage nutrient status. Nonetheless all models indicate a fast response of soil solution chemistry to changing deposition. Both SoilVeg and ForGro indicate that direct effects of air pollution and effects of soil pH and A1 are subsidiary to effects of drought and nitrogen. Our understanding of effects of acid atmospheric deposition on forests, based on lab trials, relatively short site monitoring studies and integrated simulation models, is still inadequate to quantitatively predict the long-term impact of acid deposition on forests on a nationwide scale.
Within the framework of the Dutch Priority Program on Acidification, 10 yr of research was conduc... more Within the framework of the Dutch Priority Program on Acidification, 10 yr of research was conducted in a Douglas fir stand at Speulder forest. Research was conducted to establish the loads and levels of acidifying and eutrophying pollutants and ozone, to determine forest vitality characteristics and follow growth parameters and nutrient status in time and to determine the effects of reduction of loads and levels by manipulation experiments. Results indicate that during the last 20 yr critical levels for air pollutants have hardly been exceeded except for ozone, which slightly affected assimilation. Elevated nitrogen deposition has caused several adverse effects including (i) inhibited mycorrhizal development, leading to a decreased base cation and phosphorus uptake; (ii) elevated foliage/root (fine and coarse) ratios, making the forest more sensitive to drought and windthrow; (iii) elevated nitrogen and arginine concentrations in the foliage, associated with relative base cation and phosphorus deficiency, and (iv) elevated nitrate leaching polluting the groundwater. High inputs of acidity have caused elevated ratios of Al to base cations, affecting fine root (uptake) and depletion of the readily available Al pool, thus affecting the long-term sustainability. Despite these effects, forest vitality, in terms of defoliation/discoloration, is reasonable and forest growth even increased in response to nitrogen. The exceedances of critical loads for nitrogen and acidity, however, implies a (large) risk for the long-term sustainability of the Speulder forest.
In this book, authors present their research experiences, their theoretical inspiration, the rese... more In this book, authors present their research experiences, their theoretical inspiration, the research methodology applied to consult, share and collaborate with societal actors in order to create options for change. The book includes several striking examples from the Netherlands (both successful and effective), and also innovative examples from communities in Africa and Asia. The authors reflect on opportunities, problems and dilemma’s they had to deal with. They especially address how far the role and theoretical perspectives of collaborative researchers can lead them in action research. Can they limit themselves to joint knowledge production and learning processes or should they engage in strategic positioning, advocacy and entrepreneurship to make it happen? The book discusses the issues that researchers should consider when they position their research activities within on going developments at landscape level.
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