Governing biocultural diversity in mosaic landscapes

Oosten, C.J. van; Hijweege, Wouter Leen

doi:10.3920/978-90-8686-749-3_13

Cited by 8 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…The Pantanal is a bioculturally diverse mosaic landscape (cf. [76]), yet the people who have shaped it, who live in it year-round, who are most thoroughly connected with it, and who derive a regional identity from it, do not feature justly in (digital) myths that underpin the tourist sector. Table 3.…”

Section: Discussion: Representations Of a Simplified Biodiverse Pantmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Online and Offline Representations of Biocultural Diversity: A Political Ecology Perspective on Nature-Based Tourism and Indigenous Communities in the Brazilian Pantanal

et al. 2018

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The concept of biocultural diversity is confronted with contemporary changes that impact on local communities, such as globalization and digital transformations. Engaging the conceptual flexibility of 'biocultural diversity', we studied nature-based tourism at the intersection of indigenous communities and the digital realm. We employed a political ecology perspective to examine online and offline representations of biocultural diversity in the Brazilian Pantanal, one of the biggest wetlands in the world, and home to groups of peoples known as the Pantaneiros. Data from interviews with 48 stakeholders in the tourist sector were structured along three 'myths'-the Uncivilised, Unrestrained, and Unchanged-for which we have also constructed counter narratives. Each myth denoted the primacy of biodiversity, and ignored broader dimensions of the Pantanal as a bioculturally diverse landscape. The relationships of the Pantaneiros with their environment were found to be intricate and had clear repercussions for tourism, but ironically, reference to the Pantaneiro culture in nature-based tourism was superficial. Moreover, thriving on the myths, this form of tourism perpetuates skewed power structures and social inequalities. Lower-class Pantaneiros likely suffer most from this. We recommend stakeholder engagement with a biocultural design that facilitates the integration of other-than-biodiversity values, and that thereby promotes sustainability of the entire social-ecological system. Sustainability 2018, 10, 3643 2 of 20 and parcel of mainstream environmental discourses and initiatives [1]. Yet, despite this, the concept has received criticism too. Focusing on landscapes, species, and genetic diversity, biodiversity overlooks human and cultural components of landscapes [2,3]. As such biodiversity conservation has conceptual roots in one of the earliest institutionalised expressions of nature conservation: the National Park movement that commenced with Yellowstone in 1872. In their most stringent form, both National Parks and biodiversity protection may lead to so-called fortress conservation in which rigid boundaries between human and nature are drawn. Both in historical and recent times, indigenous communities and other local peoples have been suffering from the consequences of fortress conservation, which have included displacement, restricted land access and rights, and unfair relations of production [4].Understandings of biocultural diversity-the interrelated and co-evolved diversity of life in its biological and cultural manifestations [5]-takes a more holistic approach to natural areas and its inhabitants than biodiversity conservation does. 'Biocultural diversity' explicitly embraces the notion of social-ecological systems, in which the interrelatedness between rural populations and the natural environment are emphasised, either in a traditional setting or with regard to newer human-nature interactions [2,6]. Moreover, biocultural diversity aims to pay heed to the various cultural manifestations-such as worldviews,...

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Section: Discussion: Representations Of a Simplified Biodiverse Pantmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As with other bioculturally diverse, mosaic landscapes, the Pantanal is historically shaped by people who have developed a deep attachment with it, and vice versa [76]. A number of studied examples indicate the richness of biocultural diversity in the Pantanal.…”

Section: Biocultural Diversity Indigenous Peoples and The Pantaneirosmentioning

confidence: 99%

Online and Offline Representations of Biocultural Diversity: A Political Ecology Perspective on Nature-Based Tourism and Indigenous Communities in the Brazilian Pantanal

et al. 2018

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“…Second, to analyse the role of partnerships in landscape governance we based ourselves on the work of G€ org (2007), van Huijstee et al (2007) and Visseren-Hamakers (2013). Landscapes are socially and culturally constructed entities (Arts et al, 2017;G€ org, 2007;van Oosten & Hijweege, 2012) that provide and support opportunities for and fulfil multiple needs of diverse actors (Antrop, 2006;McShane et al, 2011;Sayer et al, 2013). A landscape can be defined as a socialbiophysical construct that bridges "social scales and the biophysical conditions and ecological processes in spaces" (G€ org, 2007, p. 955).…”

Section: Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Landscape governance through partnerships: lessons from Amboseli, Kenya

Mugo

Visseren-Hamakers

Duim

2020

Journal of Sustainable Tourism

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The Amboseli landscape in Kenya has long been facing persistent challenges regarding conservation and development. To mitigate these problems and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), various policy interventions have been initiated, mostly in the form of partnership arrangements. This article examines two such partnerships, the Amboseli Ecosystem Trust (AET) and the Big Life Foundation (BLF), to understand how they contribute to the governance of the Amboseli landscape, and the intrinsic link to power and politics. The research findings, based on document analysis, interviews and focus-group discussions, reveal that the partnerships have performed complementing landscape governance roles. Whereas AET focused on policy development, agenda-setting and meta-governance, BLF concentrated on policy implementation and meta-governance in relation to wildlife security. The way the partnerships performed these governance roles can be explained through the four faces of power, which reveal BLF's compulsory power and AET's institutional power. Nevertheless, the partnerships have only partially managed to bridge conflicting conservation and development discourses illustrating that the concept of sustainable development appears to hold little productive power on the ground. Overall, the article provides important insights into the contributions that partnerships can make to the SDGs, but also their limitations.

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“…We adopt an expanded version of this concept called "multifunctional landscapes" (Tress & Tress, 2001), considering not only ecological but also economic, cultural and historical contexts, and social dimensions. We define multifunctional landscapes as composed of patches of natural and human-influenced vegetation, constantly shaped by the social practices, preferences, and power relations that drive land-use changes (Agrawal, Wollengerg, & Persha, 2014;van Oosten & Hijweege, 2012;Wiersum, 2003). In other words, these landscapes are shaped by the different possible forms of landscape governance.…”

Section: Redd+ Policies and Measures At Landscape Levelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To avoid arbitrary and narrow definitions of what constitutes a LA, while still distinguishing it from landscape governance, we draw on literature (Agrawal et al, 2014;Reed et al, 2015;Sayer et al, 2013;van Oosten & Hijweege, 2012;Wiersum, 2003) to identify LA elements imperative for successful implementation. Recognising landscapes are impermanent and multifunctional spaces, these elements vary according to context but may include (a) heterogeneity; (b) collaborative governance and collective action (i.e., shared responsibility); (c) cross-sector linkages (i.e., coordination and communication); (d) local practices (i.e., cultural and power relations); and (e) supply and demand chains.…”

Section: Redd+ Policies and Measures At Landscape Levelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deconstructing the policyscape for reducing deforestation in the Eastern Amazon: Practical insights for a landscape approach

et al. 2019

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In international debates on climate change mitigation and forests, there is increased recognition of the importance of a landscape approach to effectively address tropical deforestation. Such an approach, although increasingly promoted, remains only loosely defined and requires further development in order to effectively integrate different interventions at landscape level. In particular, it is important to understand the possible interactions between different landscape interventions at local level—where they are intended to have effect—and the challenges associated with them. Inspired by the complexity of policy mix analysis, this article seeks to shed light on these interactions by analysing how different policies and measures for reducing deforestation and degradation have played out in a jurisdiction with wide‐ranging actors and interventions aimed at shaping their behaviour. Focusing on smallholders, we examine the Sustainable Landscapes Pilot Programme in São Félix do Xingu, looking at how different policies interact—categorising interactions as “complementary,” “mutually reinforcing” (synergistic), “in conflict,” “interdependent,” and/or “redundant”—and explain how proponents of this pilot programme seek to integrate them. Most analysis is based on primary data collected through quantitative (i.e., random stratified sampling and surveys) and qualitative (i.e., observation and focus groups) methods. The São Félix do Xingu case shows that understanding effects of different policies and measures on people's behaviour requires a deeper look at local perceptions and reactions to such policies and measures, something most studies on the topic have overlooked. Ultimately, the heterogeneity and complexity of social practices that permeate landscapes must be recognised in order to integrate diverse measures to reduce deforestation.

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Governing biocultural diversity in mosaic landscapes

Cited by 8 publications

References 13 publications

Online and Offline Representations of Biocultural Diversity: A Political Ecology Perspective on Nature-Based Tourism and Indigenous Communities in the Brazilian Pantanal

Online and Offline Representations of Biocultural Diversity: A Political Ecology Perspective on Nature-Based Tourism and Indigenous Communities in the Brazilian Pantanal

Landscape governance through partnerships: lessons from Amboseli, Kenya

Deconstructing the policyscape for reducing deforestation in the Eastern Amazon: Practical insights for a landscape approach

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