Landscape Change Scenarios: Developing Participatory Tools for Enhancing Resilience to Climate Change

0574821 - ÚVGZ 2024 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Zandlová, M. - Skokanová, H. - Trnka, Miroslav
Landscape Change Scenarios: Developing Participatory Tools for Enhancing Resilience to Climate Change.
Environmental Management. Roč. 72, č. 3 (2023), s. 631-656. ISSN 0364-152X. E-ISSN 1432-1009
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT(CZ) EF16_019/0000797; GA TA ČR(CZ) TL02000048
Research Infrastructure: CzeCOS IV - 90248
Institutional support: RVO:86652079
Keywords : Land use scenarios * Mixed-methods approach * Ethnography * Participatory planning * Interdisciplinary applied research * Climate change resilience
OECD category: Climatic research
Impact factor: 3.5, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00267-023-01840-x

The impacts of climate change on people and ecosystems have been studied at both local and global levels. The environment is expected to change significantly, and the role of local communities in shaping more resilient landscapes is considered crucial. This research focuses on rural regions highly susceptible to climate change impacts. The objective was to enhance conditions for climate resilient development on a microlocal level by encouraging diverse stakeholders to participate in developing sustainable landscape management. This paper introduces a novel interdisciplinary mixed-method approach to landscape scenario development, combining research-driven and participatory approaches and integrating quantitative methods with qualitative ethnographic inquiry. Two scenarios for 2050 were built: a research-driven, business-as-usual scenario accounting for mandatory adaptation policies and an optimistic scenario combining research-driven and participatory approaches, including additional feasible community-based measures. While the differences between the projected land use seem to be relatively subtle, the optimistic scenario would in fact lead to a considerably more resilient landscape. The results highlight the role of interdisciplinarity and ethnography in gaining good local knowledge and building an atmosphere of trust. These factors supported the research credibility, strengthened the legitimacy of the intervention in local affairs, and contributed to the active participation of the stakeholders. We argue that despite its time, intense effort and limited direct policy impact, the mixed-method approach is highly suitable for the microlocal level. It encourages citizens to think about how their environment is threatened by climate change impacts and increases their willingness to contribute to climate resilience.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0344882