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Available empirical evidence about the impacts of large-scale agricultural investments (LAIs) in low-income countries is skewed towards the assessment of economic benefits. How LAIs affect land use and the environment is less understood. This study assesses how small-scale farmers living close to an LAI perceive the changes LAI's inflict on land use, land management, and tree cover in Kenya, Mozambique, and Madagascar. It also investigates their perceptions regarding LAI's impacts on the general environment and people's health, as well as on employment opportunities, infrastructure, and conflicts. 271 small-scale farmers were interviewed and their perceptions supported by a remote-sensing-based analysis of land use and land cover changes. Results show that LAIs contributed both directly and indirectly to deforestation in Mozambique, triggered changes in small-scale farmers’ agricultural land management in Kenya, and caused pastoralists to lose access to grazing land in Madagascar. Despite some benefits from employment opportunities and infrastructure improvement, the majority of respondents perceived the overall impacts of LAIs as negative, highlighting reduced access to land and water, pollution, health issues, and unsatisfactory working conditions. We urgently need to invest in devising concrete transformative options to improve LAIs’ contribution to sustainable development in their host countries.
Julie Gwendolin Zaehringer; Peter Messerli; Markus Giger; Boniface Kiteme; Ali Atumane; Maya Da Silva; Lovasoa Rakotoasimbola; Sandra Eckert. Large-scale agricultural investments in Eastern Africa: consequences for small-scale farmers and the environment. Ecosystems and People 2021, 17, 342 -357.
AMA StyleJulie Gwendolin Zaehringer, Peter Messerli, Markus Giger, Boniface Kiteme, Ali Atumane, Maya Da Silva, Lovasoa Rakotoasimbola, Sandra Eckert. Large-scale agricultural investments in Eastern Africa: consequences for small-scale farmers and the environment. Ecosystems and People. 2021; 17 (1):342-357.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJulie Gwendolin Zaehringer; Peter Messerli; Markus Giger; Boniface Kiteme; Ali Atumane; Maya Da Silva; Lovasoa Rakotoasimbola; Sandra Eckert. 2021. "Large-scale agricultural investments in Eastern Africa: consequences for small-scale farmers and the environment." Ecosystems and People 17, no. 1: 342-357.
Five years after adoption of the 2030 Agenda, there is a general lack of progress in reaching its Sustainable Development Goals—be it on national, regional, or global scales. Scientists attribute this above all to insufficient understanding and addressing of interactions between goals and targets. This study aims to contribute to the methodological conceptualization of the 2030 Agenda’s implementation at the national level. To this end, taking the case of Switzerland, we tested and enhanced existing approaches for assessing interactions among the 2030 Agenda’s targets and for analysing the systemic relevance of priority targets. Building on our insights, the article concludes with an eight-step proposal for creating knowledge to support national 2030 Agendas.
Thomas Breu; Michael Bergöö; Laura Ebneter; Myriam Pham-Truffert; Sabin Bieri; Peter Messerli; Cordula Ott; Christoph Bader. Where to begin? Defining national strategies for implementing the 2030 Agenda: the case of Switzerland. Sustainability Science 2020, 16, 183 -201.
AMA StyleThomas Breu, Michael Bergöö, Laura Ebneter, Myriam Pham-Truffert, Sabin Bieri, Peter Messerli, Cordula Ott, Christoph Bader. Where to begin? Defining national strategies for implementing the 2030 Agenda: the case of Switzerland. Sustainability Science. 2020; 16 (1):183-201.
Chicago/Turabian StyleThomas Breu; Michael Bergöö; Laura Ebneter; Myriam Pham-Truffert; Sabin Bieri; Peter Messerli; Cordula Ott; Christoph Bader. 2020. "Where to begin? Defining national strategies for implementing the 2030 Agenda: the case of Switzerland." Sustainability Science 16, no. 1: 183-201.
This paper contributes to debates on the implications of land-based investments on local livelihoods in the Global South. Drawing on a comprehensive national dataset on land concessions in Laos, and 2005 and 2015 village-level poverty rates, we examine the association between land-based investments and poverty at the village level in Lao rural areas. Results outline contexts in which land-based investments have either positive or adverse association with village-level poverty change rates; they also reveal factors that determine village-level poverty reduction in Laos. Our results suggest that poverty rates in villages affected by land-based investments decreased significantly between 2005 and 2015, following the national trend in Laos. However, in cases where land-based investments caused more farmland loss, poverty reduction was low or poverty rates increased over this period. Results further reveal that land-based investments implemented in more remote areas or poorer villages had a stronger association with poverty reduction. However, poverty was not a central consideration for the establishment of land-based investments. Our findings fill an important gap, providing a middle-level analysis from which grounded observations are analyzed alongside national trends.
Vong Nanhthavong; Michael Epprecht; Cornelia Hett; Julie G. Zaehringer; Peter Messerli. Poverty trends in villages affected by land-based investments in rural Laos. Applied Geography 2020, 124, 102298 .
AMA StyleVong Nanhthavong, Michael Epprecht, Cornelia Hett, Julie G. Zaehringer, Peter Messerli. Poverty trends in villages affected by land-based investments in rural Laos. Applied Geography. 2020; 124 ():102298.
Chicago/Turabian StyleVong Nanhthavong; Michael Epprecht; Cornelia Hett; Julie G. Zaehringer; Peter Messerli. 2020. "Poverty trends in villages affected by land-based investments in rural Laos." Applied Geography 124, no. : 102298.
Sustainable land governance in a telecoupled world is currently a challenge. Distant actors, institutions, and interactions shape local land uses and are assumed to affect sustainable development in critical ways as they exert new and often additional claims on land and trigger adverse local impacts like displacement. Action towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is urgently needed, as are agents of change that will initiate sustainability transformations. However, empirical studies on transformation pathways towards sustainable land governance remain scarce. Moreover, very few studies have addressed the identification of actors through whom such transformation might be achieved. To address this gap, we analysed the likelihood of actors becoming agents of change based on their aims, resources, and relational profiles in the land governance network. Our study focused on Madagascar, a country that manifests unsustainable land governance, with distant actors increasingly influencing local land use. We combined an analysis of agency with social network analysis to disentangle attributes and the transformative potential of different actors involved in land governance in northeastern Madagascar. Our results show that actors have different combinations of aims, resources, and relational profiles. Combined analysis of their agency and social networks enabled us to identify potential agents of change and yielded options for transformation actions through which they can become operational agents of change. Our research contributes to promoting pathways to sustainability transformations where actors with various agency levels and social network assets are empowered to establish sustainable land governance. The combination of agency analysis and social network analysis is an innovative method that helps to advance sustainability science.
O. Ravaka Andriamihaja; Florence Metz; Julie G. Zaehringer; Manuel Fischer; Peter Messerli. Identifying agents of change for sustainable land governance. Land Use Policy 2020, 100, 104882 .
AMA StyleO. Ravaka Andriamihaja, Florence Metz, Julie G. Zaehringer, Manuel Fischer, Peter Messerli. Identifying agents of change for sustainable land governance. Land Use Policy. 2020; 100 ():104882.
Chicago/Turabian StyleO. Ravaka Andriamihaja; Florence Metz; Julie G. Zaehringer; Manuel Fischer; Peter Messerli. 2020. "Identifying agents of change for sustainable land governance." Land Use Policy 100, no. : 104882.
Global change processes are increasing their pace and reach, leading to telecoupled situations, where distant factors come to outpace local determinants of land use change. Often, these dynamics drive agricultural intensification processes, with as yet unclear implications for the well-being of human populations living in the areas affected. This study explores how two key telecoupling dynamics affect local well-being in the biodiversity hotspot of Madagascar. It focuses on forest frontier landscapes, which are undergoing processes of agricultural intensification as a consequence of distant factors. Concretely, we look at how the recent establishment of two, largely externally funded, terrestrial protected areas, Masoala National Park and Makira Natural Park, and the ongoing price boom for two export cash crops, vanilla and clove, have influenced the well-being of local populations in the country's north-east. We present data from eight focus group discussions conducted in four villages located on the periphery of the two protected areas. Drawing on the “capabilities approach,” we identify the key components of the local understanding of well-being, lay out the interconnections between these components, and explore how the two telecoupling processes affect well-being dynamics. Our findings reveal that well-being components present bundle characteristics, where increases or decreases in one component lead to parallel increases, or decreases in a set of them. We further ascertain that telecoupling processes might lead to trade-offs between well-being components. These findings highlight the need for a holistic understanding of human well-being when planning protected areas, and when designing governance mechanisms to steer local landscapes under intense cash crop price fluctuations toward sustainable outcomes.
Jorge C. Llopis; Clara Léonie Diebold; Flurina Schneider; Paul C. Harimalala; Laby Patrick; Peter Messerli; Julie Gwendolin Zaehringer. Capabilities Under Telecoupling: Human Well-Being Between Cash Crops and Protected Areas in North-Eastern Madagascar. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 2020, 3, 1 .
AMA StyleJorge C. Llopis, Clara Léonie Diebold, Flurina Schneider, Paul C. Harimalala, Laby Patrick, Peter Messerli, Julie Gwendolin Zaehringer. Capabilities Under Telecoupling: Human Well-Being Between Cash Crops and Protected Areas in North-Eastern Madagascar. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 2020; 3 ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJorge C. Llopis; Clara Léonie Diebold; Flurina Schneider; Paul C. Harimalala; Laby Patrick; Peter Messerli; Julie Gwendolin Zaehringer. 2020. "Capabilities Under Telecoupling: Human Well-Being Between Cash Crops and Protected Areas in North-Eastern Madagascar." Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 3, no. : 1.
Dominant research modes are not enough to guide the societal transformations necessary to achieve the 2030 Agenda. Researchers, practitioners, decision makers, funders and civil society should work together to achieve universally accessible and mutually beneficial sustainability science.
Peter Messerli; Eun Mee Kim; Wolfgang Lutz; Jean-Paul Moatti; Katherine Richardson; Muhammad Saidam; David Smith; Parfait Eloundou-Enyegue; Ernest Foli; Amanda Glassman; Gonzalo Hernandez Licona; Endah Murniningtyas; Jurgis Kazimieras Staniškis; Jean-Pascal Van Ypersele; Eeva Furman. Expansion of sustainability science needed for the SDGs. Nature Sustainability 2019, 2, 892 -894.
AMA StylePeter Messerli, Eun Mee Kim, Wolfgang Lutz, Jean-Paul Moatti, Katherine Richardson, Muhammad Saidam, David Smith, Parfait Eloundou-Enyegue, Ernest Foli, Amanda Glassman, Gonzalo Hernandez Licona, Endah Murniningtyas, Jurgis Kazimieras Staniškis, Jean-Pascal Van Ypersele, Eeva Furman. Expansion of sustainability science needed for the SDGs. Nature Sustainability. 2019; 2 (10):892-894.
Chicago/Turabian StylePeter Messerli; Eun Mee Kim; Wolfgang Lutz; Jean-Paul Moatti; Katherine Richardson; Muhammad Saidam; David Smith; Parfait Eloundou-Enyegue; Ernest Foli; Amanda Glassman; Gonzalo Hernandez Licona; Endah Murniningtyas; Jurgis Kazimieras Staniškis; Jean-Pascal Van Ypersele; Eeva Furman. 2019. "Expansion of sustainability science needed for the SDGs." Nature Sustainability 2, no. 10: 892-894.
Global environmental change (GEC) and sustainability science (SS) communities’ science is increasingly challenged to inform transformations to sustainability. Recognizing this, the Global Land Programme (GLP), a network of the international land system science community, is developing, testing, and launching new network infrastructures, science–policy interfaces, and co-production approaches. This paper charts the efforts of the GLP – since its 2015 joining of Future Earth, a 10-year initiative to advance global sustainability science – to support the land system science community as it endeavors to produce transformative research oriented toward sustainable development. Moving from incremental to transformational modes of knowledge co-production across scientific research networks – such as those represented under the umbrella of the Future Earth — requires that these work across multiple knowledge domains, scales, contexts, and regions, and in collaboration with a diversity of actors from global-level decisionmakers to national, regional, and local level civil society organizations as well as the private sector. Beyond the generation of fundamental science, GLP’s rich co-design tradition of working with land managers and linking case-study and field-based research to global synthesis situate it as a key institution and platform accelerating transformative research oriented toward sustainable development.
Ariane De Bremond; Albrecht Ehrensperger; Isabelle Providoli; Peter Messerli. What role for global change research networks in enabling transformative science for global sustainability? A Global Land Programme perspective. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 2019, 38, 95 -102.
AMA StyleAriane De Bremond, Albrecht Ehrensperger, Isabelle Providoli, Peter Messerli. What role for global change research networks in enabling transformative science for global sustainability? A Global Land Programme perspective. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 2019; 38 ():95-102.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAriane De Bremond; Albrecht Ehrensperger; Isabelle Providoli; Peter Messerli. 2019. "What role for global change research networks in enabling transformative science for global sustainability? A Global Land Programme perspective." Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 38, no. : 95-102.
Implementing the 2030 Agenda may well translate into competing claims on scarce land resources. Thus, there is a call for a better linkage of science, policy, and practice to navigate development trade-offs and use co-benefits. We found that since 2015, scientists formally associated as members to the Global Land Programme (GLP) have mainly researched on topics that are relevant to the 2030 Agenda, but only half of the sampled publications actually address interactions between its targets. Of those, many are concentrating on the interactions between climate action, environmental targets, and food security, while interactions between land-related issues and poverty are addressed much less often. Our results point to opportunities for further strengthening GLP’s capacity to engage in transdisciplinary dialogue and interdisciplinary collaboration and respond to the knowledge needs of societal partners.
Albrecht Ehrensperger; Ariane De Bremond; Isabelle Providoli; Peter Messerli. Land system science and the 2030 agenda: exploring knowledge that supports sustainability transformation. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 2019, 38, 68 -76.
AMA StyleAlbrecht Ehrensperger, Ariane De Bremond, Isabelle Providoli, Peter Messerli. Land system science and the 2030 agenda: exploring knowledge that supports sustainability transformation. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 2019; 38 ():68-76.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlbrecht Ehrensperger; Ariane De Bremond; Isabelle Providoli; Peter Messerli. 2019. "Land system science and the 2030 agenda: exploring knowledge that supports sustainability transformation." Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 38, no. : 68-76.
The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development stresses the fundamental role science should play in implementing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals endorsed by the global community. But how can and should researchers respond to this societal demand on science? We argue that answering this question requires systematic engagement with the fundamental normative dimensions of the 2030 Agenda and those of the scientific community—and with the implications these dimensions have for research and practice. We suggest that the production of knowledge relevant to sustainable development entails analytic engagement with norms and values through four tasks. First, to unravel and critically reflect on the ethical values involved in sustainability, values should increasingly become an empirical and theoretical object of sustainability research. Second, to ensure that research on social–ecological systems is related to sustainability values, researchers should reflect on and spell out what sustainability values guide their research, taking into account possible interdependencies, synergies, and trade-offs. Third, to find common ground on what sustainability means for specific situations, scientists should engage in deliberative learning processes with societal actors, with a view to jointly reflecting on existing development visions and creating new, contextualized ones. Fourth, this implies that researchers and scientific disciplines must clarify their own ethical and epistemic values, as this defines accountability and shapes identification of problems, research questions, and results. We believe that ignoring these tasks, whether one is in favor or critical of the 2030 Agenda, will undermine the credibility and relevance of scientific contributions for sustainable development.
Flurina Schneider; Andreas Kläy; Anne B. Zimmermann; Tobias Buser; Micah Ingalls; Peter Messerli. How can science support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development? Four tasks to tackle the normative dimension of sustainability. Sustainability Science 2019, 14, 1593 -1604.
AMA StyleFlurina Schneider, Andreas Kläy, Anne B. Zimmermann, Tobias Buser, Micah Ingalls, Peter Messerli. How can science support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development? Four tasks to tackle the normative dimension of sustainability. Sustainability Science. 2019; 14 (6):1593-1604.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFlurina Schneider; Andreas Kläy; Anne B. Zimmermann; Tobias Buser; Micah Ingalls; Peter Messerli. 2019. "How can science support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development? Four tasks to tackle the normative dimension of sustainability." Sustainability Science 14, no. 6: 1593-1604.
In north-eastern Madagascar, maintenance of biodiversity competes with expansion of land for agriculture and mining. The concept of “telecoupling” provides a framework for analysis of distant actors and institutions that influence local land use decisions. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the extent of telecoupling of land governance in north-eastern Madagascar and a lack of evidence regarding its role in driving land use change and land competition. Using a descriptive Social Network Analysis, we disentangled distant interactions between actors in terms of flows and institutions. Our findings show that the domains of economic and environmental interactions are dominated by actors from different sectors that have claims on the same land but generally do not interact. Distant influences occurring via remote flows of goods, money, and institutions serve to reinforce local land competition. Balancing economic and environmental land claims for more sustainable regional development in north-eastern Madagascar requires collaboration between actors across sectors, scales, and domains.
O. Ravaka Andriamihaja; Florence Metz; Julie G. Zaehringer; Manuel Fischer; Peter Messerli. Land Competition under Telecoupling: Distant Actors’ Environmental versus Economic Claims on Land in North-Eastern Madagascar. Sustainability 2019, 11, 851 .
AMA StyleO. Ravaka Andriamihaja, Florence Metz, Julie G. Zaehringer, Manuel Fischer, Peter Messerli. Land Competition under Telecoupling: Distant Actors’ Environmental versus Economic Claims on Land in North-Eastern Madagascar. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (3):851.
Chicago/Turabian StyleO. Ravaka Andriamihaja; Florence Metz; Julie G. Zaehringer; Manuel Fischer; Peter Messerli. 2019. "Land Competition under Telecoupling: Distant Actors’ Environmental versus Economic Claims on Land in North-Eastern Madagascar." Sustainability 11, no. 3: 851.
Science-based initiatives generate particular changes towards sustainable development. But why and how does this work? Theories of change (ToCs) can help in understanding the theoretical assumptions and modes of knowledge production associated with these initiatives: ToCs trigger debate among the stakeholders and evaluators of an initiative regarding the hypothesized and observed effects of actions as well as regarding underlying assumptions about how change happens. Therefore, they can strengthen the effectiveness of research, practice, and education in sustainability science.
Christoph Oberlack; Thomas Breu; Markus Giger; Nicole Harari; Karl Herweg; Sarah-Lan Mathez-Stiefel; Peter Messerli; Stephanie Moser; Cordula Ott; Isabelle Providoli; Theresa Tribaldos; Anne Zimmermann; Flurina Schneider. Theories of change in sustainability science: Understanding how change happens. GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society 2019, 28, 106 -111.
AMA StyleChristoph Oberlack, Thomas Breu, Markus Giger, Nicole Harari, Karl Herweg, Sarah-Lan Mathez-Stiefel, Peter Messerli, Stephanie Moser, Cordula Ott, Isabelle Providoli, Theresa Tribaldos, Anne Zimmermann, Flurina Schneider. Theories of change in sustainability science: Understanding how change happens. GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society. 2019; 28 (2):106-111.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChristoph Oberlack; Thomas Breu; Markus Giger; Nicole Harari; Karl Herweg; Sarah-Lan Mathez-Stiefel; Peter Messerli; Stephanie Moser; Cordula Ott; Isabelle Providoli; Theresa Tribaldos; Anne Zimmermann; Flurina Schneider. 2019. "Theories of change in sustainability science: Understanding how change happens." GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society 28, no. 2: 106-111.
Oberlack, C., D. Sietz, E. Bürgi Bonanomi, A. De Bremond, J. Dell'Angelo, K. Eisenack, E. C. Ellis, G. Epstein, M. Giger, A. Heinimann, C. Kimmich, M. T. J. Kok, D. Manuel-Navarrete, P. Messerli, P. Meyfroidt, T. Václavík, and S. Villamayor-Tomas. 2019. Archetype analysis in sustainability research: meanings, motivations, and evidence-based policy making. Ecology and Society 24(2):26. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-10747-240226
Christoph Oberlack; Diana Sietz; Elisabeth Bürgi Bonanomi; Ariane De Bremond; Jampel Dell'angelo; Klaus Eisenack; Erle C. Ellis; Graham Epstein; Markus Giger; Andreas Heinimann; Christian Kimmich; Marcel Tj Kok; David Manuel-Navarrete; Peter Messerli; Patrick Meyfroidt; Tomas Vaclavik; Sergio Villamayor-Tomas. Archetype analysis in sustainability research: meanings, motivations, and evidence-based policy making. Ecology and Society 2019, 24, 1 .
AMA StyleChristoph Oberlack, Diana Sietz, Elisabeth Bürgi Bonanomi, Ariane De Bremond, Jampel Dell'angelo, Klaus Eisenack, Erle C. Ellis, Graham Epstein, Markus Giger, Andreas Heinimann, Christian Kimmich, Marcel Tj Kok, David Manuel-Navarrete, Peter Messerli, Patrick Meyfroidt, Tomas Vaclavik, Sergio Villamayor-Tomas. Archetype analysis in sustainability research: meanings, motivations, and evidence-based policy making. Ecology and Society. 2019; 24 (2):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChristoph Oberlack; Diana Sietz; Elisabeth Bürgi Bonanomi; Ariane De Bremond; Jampel Dell'angelo; Klaus Eisenack; Erle C. Ellis; Graham Epstein; Markus Giger; Andreas Heinimann; Christian Kimmich; Marcel Tj Kok; David Manuel-Navarrete; Peter Messerli; Patrick Meyfroidt; Tomas Vaclavik; Sergio Villamayor-Tomas. 2019. "Archetype analysis in sustainability research: meanings, motivations, and evidence-based policy making." Ecology and Society 24, no. 2: 1.
Myanmar has experienced profound transformations of land use and land governance, often at the expense of smallholders. Empirical evidence on the agency of actors included and excluded in land use decision-making remains scarce. This study analyses who influences land use decision-making, how they do this, and under what circumstances smallholders are included. Comparing three land use trajectories in southern Myanmar, we analysed actors’ agency—conceived as the meanings and means behind (re)actions—in land use decision-making using data from focus groups and interviews. Results showed that uneven distribution of means can lead to unequal decision-making power, enabling actors with more means to exclude those with less means: smallholders. However, this only applies in the case of top-down interventions with mutually exclusive actor interests regarding use of the same land. Where interests are compatible or a mediator supports smallholders in negotiations, actors are likely to develop a collaboration despite unequal means, leading to smallholders’ inclusion in decision-making. Transformation of current land governance towards sustainable development could be promoted by providing mediators to actors with few means, ensuring equal access for all to formal land tenure, engaging with brokers in the land governance network, and improving access to knowledge and financial capital for actors with few means.
Lara Lundsgaard-Hansen; Flurina Schneider; Julie Zaehringer; Christoph Oberlack; Win Myint; Peter Messerli. Whose Agency Counts in Land Use Decision-Making in Myanmar? A Comparative Analysis of Three Cases in Tanintharyi Region. Sustainability 2018, 10, 3823 .
AMA StyleLara Lundsgaard-Hansen, Flurina Schneider, Julie Zaehringer, Christoph Oberlack, Win Myint, Peter Messerli. Whose Agency Counts in Land Use Decision-Making in Myanmar? A Comparative Analysis of Three Cases in Tanintharyi Region. Sustainability. 2018; 10 (10):3823.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLara Lundsgaard-Hansen; Flurina Schneider; Julie Zaehringer; Christoph Oberlack; Win Myint; Peter Messerli. 2018. "Whose Agency Counts in Land Use Decision-Making in Myanmar? A Comparative Analysis of Three Cases in Tanintharyi Region." Sustainability 10, no. 10: 3823.
Changes in land systems generate many sustainability challenges. Identifying more sustainable land-use alternatives requires solid theoretical foundations on the causes of land-use/cover changes. Land system science is a maturing field that has produced a wealth of methodological innovations and empirical observations on land-cover and land-use change, from patterns and processes to causes. We take stock of this knowledge by reviewing and synthesizing the theories that explain the causal mechanisms of land-use change, including systemic linkages between distant land-use changes, with a focus on agriculture and forestry processes. We first review theories explaining changes in land-use extent, such as agricultural expansion, deforestation, frontier development, and land abandonment, and changes in land-use intensity, such as agricultural intensification and disintensification. We then synthesize theories of higher-level land system change processes, focusing on: (i) land-use spillovers, including land sparing and rebound effects with intensification, leakage, indirect land-use change, and land-use displacement, and (ii) land-use transitions, defined as structural non-linear changes in land systems, including forest transitions. Theories focusing on the causes of land system changes span theoretically and epistemologically disparate knowledge domains and build from deductive, abductive, and inductive approaches. A grand, integrated theory of land system change remains elusive. Yet, we show that middle-range theories – defined here as contextual generalizations that describe chains of causal mechanisms explaining a well-bounded range of phenomena, as well as the conditions that trigger, enable, or prevent these causal chains –, provide a path towards generalized knowledge of land systems. This knowledge can support progress towards sustainable social-ecological systems.
P. Meyfroidt; R. Roy Chowdhury; A. de Bremond; E.C. Ellis; K.-H. Erb; Tatiana Filatova; R.D. Garrett; J. Morgan Grove; A. Heinimann; Tobias Kuemmerle; C.A. Kull; E.F. Lambin; Y. Landon; Y. Le Polain De Waroux; P. Messerli; D. Müller; Jonas Nielsen; Garry Peterson; V. Rodriguez García; M. Schlüter; B.L. Turner; Peter Verburg. Middle-range theories of land system change. Global Environmental Change 2018, 53, 52 -67.
AMA StyleP. Meyfroidt, R. Roy Chowdhury, A. de Bremond, E.C. Ellis, K.-H. Erb, Tatiana Filatova, R.D. Garrett, J. Morgan Grove, A. Heinimann, Tobias Kuemmerle, C.A. Kull, E.F. Lambin, Y. Landon, Y. Le Polain De Waroux, P. Messerli, D. Müller, Jonas Nielsen, Garry Peterson, V. Rodriguez García, M. Schlüter, B.L. Turner, Peter Verburg. Middle-range theories of land system change. Global Environmental Change. 2018; 53 ():52-67.
Chicago/Turabian StyleP. Meyfroidt; R. Roy Chowdhury; A. de Bremond; E.C. Ellis; K.-H. Erb; Tatiana Filatova; R.D. Garrett; J. Morgan Grove; A. Heinimann; Tobias Kuemmerle; C.A. Kull; E.F. Lambin; Y. Landon; Y. Le Polain De Waroux; P. Messerli; D. Müller; Jonas Nielsen; Garry Peterson; V. Rodriguez García; M. Schlüter; B.L. Turner; Peter Verburg. 2018. "Middle-range theories of land system change." Global Environmental Change 53, no. : 52-67.
Pursuing integrated research and decision-making to advance action on the sustainable development goals (SDGs) fundamentally depends on understanding interactions between the SDGs, both negative ones (“trade-offs”) and positive ones (“co-benefits”). This quest, triggered by the 2030 Agenda, has however pointed to a gap in current research and policy analysis regarding how to think systematically about interactions across the SDGs. This paper synthesizes experiences and insights from the application of a new conceptual framework for mapping and assessing SDG interactions using a defined typology and characterization approach. Drawing on results from a major international research study applied to the SDGs on health, energy and the ocean, it analyses how interactions depend on key factors such as geographical context, resource endowments, time horizon and governance. The paper discusses the future potential, barriers and opportunities for applying the approach in scientific research, in policy making and in bridging the two through a global SDG Interactions Knowledge Platform as a key mechanism for assembling, systematizing and aggregating knowledge on interactions.
Måns Nilsson; Elinor Chisholm; David Griggs; Philippa Howden-Chapman; David McCollum; Peter Messerli; Barbara Neumann; Anne-Sophie Stevance; Martin Visbeck; Mark Stafford-Smith. Mapping interactions between the sustainable development goals: lessons learned and ways forward. Sustainability Science 2018, 13, 1489 -1503.
AMA StyleMåns Nilsson, Elinor Chisholm, David Griggs, Philippa Howden-Chapman, David McCollum, Peter Messerli, Barbara Neumann, Anne-Sophie Stevance, Martin Visbeck, Mark Stafford-Smith. Mapping interactions between the sustainable development goals: lessons learned and ways forward. Sustainability Science. 2018; 13 (6):1489-1503.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMåns Nilsson; Elinor Chisholm; David Griggs; Philippa Howden-Chapman; David McCollum; Peter Messerli; Barbara Neumann; Anne-Sophie Stevance; Martin Visbeck; Mark Stafford-Smith. 2018. "Mapping interactions between the sustainable development goals: lessons learned and ways forward." Sustainability Science 13, no. 6: 1489-1503.
Nicholas R. Magliocca; Erle Ellis; Ginger R.H. Allington; Ariane de Bremond; Jampel Dell'Angelo; Ole Mertz; Peter Messerli; Patrick Meyfroidt; Ralf Seppelt; Peter Verburg. Closing global knowledge gaps: Producing generalized knowledge from case studies of social-ecological systems. Global Environmental Change 2018, 50, 1 -14.
AMA StyleNicholas R. Magliocca, Erle Ellis, Ginger R.H. Allington, Ariane de Bremond, Jampel Dell'Angelo, Ole Mertz, Peter Messerli, Patrick Meyfroidt, Ralf Seppelt, Peter Verburg. Closing global knowledge gaps: Producing generalized knowledge from case studies of social-ecological systems. Global Environmental Change. 2018; 50 ():1-14.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNicholas R. Magliocca; Erle Ellis; Ginger R.H. Allington; Ariane de Bremond; Jampel Dell'Angelo; Ole Mertz; Peter Messerli; Patrick Meyfroidt; Ralf Seppelt; Peter Verburg. 2018. "Closing global knowledge gaps: Producing generalized knowledge from case studies of social-ecological systems." Global Environmental Change 50, no. : 1-14.
Oberlack, C., S. Boillat, S. Brönnimann, J.-D. Gerber, A. Heinimann, C. Ifejika Speranza, P. Messerli, S. Rist, and U. Wiesmann. 2018. Polycentric governance in telecoupled resource systems. Ecology and Society 23(1):16. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-09902-230116
Christoph Oberlack; Sébastien Boillat; Stefan Brönnimann; Jean-David Gerber; Andreas Heinimann; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza; Peter Messerli; Stephan Rist; Urs Wiesmann. Polycentric governance in telecoupled resource systems. Ecology and Society 2018, 23, 1 .
AMA StyleChristoph Oberlack, Sébastien Boillat, Stefan Brönnimann, Jean-David Gerber, Andreas Heinimann, Chinwe Ifejika Speranza, Peter Messerli, Stephan Rist, Urs Wiesmann. Polycentric governance in telecoupled resource systems. Ecology and Society. 2018; 23 (1):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChristoph Oberlack; Sébastien Boillat; Stefan Brönnimann; Jean-David Gerber; Andreas Heinimann; Chinwe Ifejika Speranza; Peter Messerli; Stephan Rist; Urs Wiesmann. 2018. "Polycentric governance in telecoupled resource systems." Ecology and Society 23, no. 1: 1.
Through ongoing deforestation in the tropics, forest-related ecosystem services are declining, while ecosystem services provided by agricultural land uses are on the increase. Land system science provides a framework for analysing the links between land use change and the resulting socio-environmental trade-offs. However, the evidence base to support the navigation of such trade-offs is often lacking, as information on land use cannot directly be obtained through remote sensing and census data is often unavailable at sufficient spatial resolution. The global biodiversity hotspot of north-eastern Madagascar exemplifies these challenges. Combining land use data obtained through remote sensing with social-ecological data from a regional level household survey, we attempt to make the links between land use and ecosystem service benefits explicit. Our study confirmed that remotely sensed information on landscapes reflects households’ involvement in rice production systems. We further characterized landscapes in terms of “ecosystem service bundles” linked to specific land uses, as well as in terms of ecosystem service benefits to households. The map of landscape types could help direct future conservation and development efforts towards places where there is potential for success
Julie Gwendolin Zaehringer; Gudrun Schwilch; Onintsoa Ravaka Andriamihaja; Bruno Salomon Ramamonjisoa; Peter Messerli. Remote sensing combined with social-ecological data: The importance of diverse land uses for ecosystem service provision in north-eastern Madagascar. Ecosystem Services 2017, 25, 140 -152.
AMA StyleJulie Gwendolin Zaehringer, Gudrun Schwilch, Onintsoa Ravaka Andriamihaja, Bruno Salomon Ramamonjisoa, Peter Messerli. Remote sensing combined with social-ecological data: The importance of diverse land uses for ecosystem service provision in north-eastern Madagascar. Ecosystem Services. 2017; 25 ():140-152.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJulie Gwendolin Zaehringer; Gudrun Schwilch; Onintsoa Ravaka Andriamihaja; Bruno Salomon Ramamonjisoa; Peter Messerli. 2017. "Remote sensing combined with social-ecological data: The importance of diverse land uses for ecosystem service provision in north-eastern Madagascar." Ecosystem Services 25, no. : 140-152.
Christoph Oberlack; Laura Tejada; Peter Messerli; Stephan Rist; Markus Giger. Sustainable livelihoods in the global land rush? Archetypes of livelihood vulnerability and sustainability potentials. Global Environmental Change 2016, 41, 153 -171.
AMA StyleChristoph Oberlack, Laura Tejada, Peter Messerli, Stephan Rist, Markus Giger. Sustainable livelihoods in the global land rush? Archetypes of livelihood vulnerability and sustainability potentials. Global Environmental Change. 2016; 41 ():153-171.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChristoph Oberlack; Laura Tejada; Peter Messerli; Stephan Rist; Markus Giger. 2016. "Sustainable livelihoods in the global land rush? Archetypes of livelihood vulnerability and sustainability potentials." Global Environmental Change 41, no. : 153-171.
This study examines the validity of the assumption that international large-scale land acquisition (LSLA) is motivated by the desire to secure control over water resources, which is commonly referred to as ‘water grabbing’. This assumption was repeatedly expressed in recent years, ascribing the said motivation to the Gulf States in particular. However, it must be considered of hypothetical nature, as the few global studies conducted so far focused primarily on the effects of LSLA on host countries or on trade in virtual water. In this study, we analyse the effects of 475 intended or concluded land deals recorded in the Land Matrix database on the water balance in both host and investor countries. We also examine how these effects relate to water stress and how they contribute to global trade in virtual water. The analysis shows that implementation of the LSLAs in our sample would result in global water savings based on virtual water trade. At the level of individual LSLA host countries, however, water use intensity would increase, particularly in 15 sub-Saharan states. From an investor country perspective, the analysis reveals that countries often suspected of using LSLA to relieve pressure on their domestic water resources—such as China, India, and all Gulf States except Saudi Arabia—invest in agricultural activities abroad that are less water-intensive compared to their average domestic crop production. Conversely, large investor countries such as the United States, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Japan are disproportionately externalizing crop water consumption through their international land investments. Statistical analyses also show that host countries with abundant water resources are not per se favoured targets of LSLA. Indeed, further analysis reveals that land investments originating in water-stressed countries have only a weak tendency to target areas with a smaller water risk.
Thomas Breu; Christoph Bader; Peter Messerli; Andreas Heinimann; Stephan Rist; Sandra Eckert. Large-Scale Land Acquisition and Its Effects on the Water Balance in Investor and Host Countries. PLOS ONE 2016, 11, e0150901 .
AMA StyleThomas Breu, Christoph Bader, Peter Messerli, Andreas Heinimann, Stephan Rist, Sandra Eckert. Large-Scale Land Acquisition and Its Effects on the Water Balance in Investor and Host Countries. PLOS ONE. 2016; 11 (3):e0150901.
Chicago/Turabian StyleThomas Breu; Christoph Bader; Peter Messerli; Andreas Heinimann; Stephan Rist; Sandra Eckert. 2016. "Large-Scale Land Acquisition and Its Effects on the Water Balance in Investor and Host Countries." PLOS ONE 11, no. 3: e0150901.