A rose by any other name? Assessing landscape approach effectiveness in the tropics

James Reed, Josh van Vianen, Jos Barlow, Terry Sunderland

SIANI SLU - Young researchers meeting on multifunctional landscapes. Gothenburg, June 7th 2016

Rationale

Landscape Approach

A refinement

of prior approaches

Attempt to integrate multiple

stakeholders

A framework for policy

and practiceAn attempt

to reconcile disciplinary

divides

A tool to assess

landscape perf.

A strategy to align

conflicting objectives

What do we mean by “landscape approaches”?

Rationale

Are landscape approaches being implemented in the tropics?Are they effective in reconciling conservation and development?

MethodsEvolution of search terms and strategy:

• Internal/external consultation• Two stakeholder workshops (Nairobi & Cape Tribulation)

• Extensive scoping exercise using Web of Science• Developed inclusion/exclusion criteria for studies

• Protocol published. See: Reed et al. 2015: What are landscape approaches and how effectively have they been implemented in the

tropics?

Specialist databases:ScopusCAB DirectISI Web of KnowledgePubMed Internet searches:Google ScholarOther:Grey literature search

Screening resultsPeer-reviewed literature Grey (or additional)

literature

Initial scoping results in WoK:26,303 articles

Response to call for grey literature: 57 documents

Retrieved from specialist databases: 13,290 articles – All TITLES screened

Initial web screening:214 documents

Relevant after title screening:1,171 articles – All ABSTRACTS screened

Targeted web screening:79 documents

Relevant after abstract screening: 382 articles – All FULL TEXTS screened

Articles identified by author group/experts:56 documents

Final studies of relevance:82 articles

Articles retrieved from bibliography screening:82 articles

Landscape approaches are the latest in an evolution of integrated attempts to reconcile C&D.

1980s 1990s 2000s 2010 - present

1980s: Integrated Rural Development 1998: Integrated

Natural Resource Management (INRM)

1985 onwards: Integrated Conservation & Development projects (ICDPs)

Contributing Sciences:Ecosystem ManagementLandscape EcologyIsland biogeography

Conservation rooted frameworks e.g. “Ecosystem Approach”

1992: “Landscape Approach” first documented (Barrett 1992)

(Integrated) Landscape Approach frameworks

Key findings from the “theory” literature

Optimizing adoption of landscape approaches:• evaluating progress within a landscape is fundamental to

determining where gains or losses are being made• hybrid, multi-level and cross-sectoral governance structures

that integrate internal traditional knowledge and external institutional and financial support are increasingly preferable

• must acknowledge the need for contextualisation and not subscribe to panaceas

• inclusive, participatory stakeholder negotiation can help align local socio-cultural and global environmental concerns

• should recognise dynamic processes and perverse outcomes

See: Reed et al. 2016 - Integrated landscape approaches to managing social and environmental issues in the tropics: learning from the past to guide the future

Where and how are landscape approaches being implemented?

Peer reviewed articles

Grey literature (web screening)

Grey literature (document screening)

Totals

Number of case studies

24 97 52 173

Number of countries represented

16 52 42 61

Number reported success

13 46 20 79

Reliable data provided

6 8 1 15

Geographic distribution

“Conservation” impacts

“Development” impacts

Factors for success

Governance effects

Key findings from the literatureCurrent barriers to effective implementation:

• the ongoing development of theory and conceptualization may be stimulating time lags

• the proliferation of terms associated with landscape approaches may be impeding policy and practice progress

• operating silos persist at all levels and scales• engaging multiple stakeholders is all too often seen as

a box-ticking exercise to satisfy project requirements• monitoring remains the least well developed area of

landscape approach application

Conclusions and recommendations

Landscape approaches remain contentious and under-theorized

There is good evidence of “landscape approaches” being implemented within the tropics but weak evidence of effectiveness

Multi-level engagement seems fundamental to success

Attempts to implement must be contextualized

Metrics need to continue to develop

Thanks for listening!

For further information:James Reed: j.reed@cgiar.orgTerry Sunderland: t.sunderland@cgiar.org