Stimulating collective action to preserve High Nature Value farming in post-transitional settings. A comparative analysis of three Slovenian social-ecological systems

Abstract

The main research challenge of this paper is to gain a better understanding of collective action to preserve High Nature Value (HNV) farming in the specific setting of post-transitional EU Member States of Central and Eastern Europe, which we explore using Slovenia as a model country. We apply the Social-ecological Systems (SES) framework and combine participatory and action research in considering different options for stimulating collective action of local actors in three social-ecological systems in Slovenia. We describe the systems, focussing on first-tier variables, and provide a comparison of their characteristics influencing the readiness to engage in collective action. Characteristics of system actors had the greatest influence on outcomes, followed by the social, economic and political setting (macro issues) and governance arrangements. Strong leaders enjoying the community’s trust are needed; rules must be transparent and individuals must have a personal interest to engage in cooperation. In a post-transitional setting, overcoming the issue of lack of trust is a limiting factor when attempting to stimulate collective action.

The Analysis of Italian Plant Agrobiodiversity Databases Reveals That Hilly and Sub-Mountain Areas Are Hotspots of Herbaceous Landraces

“…Apart from a few exceptions, the areas richest in number of landraces and in different crops cultivated as landraces were located inland in hilly and mountainous areas of the Apennine chain that are characterized by high environmental diversity. The Apennines is a land system that preserves, and in some case enhances, the biological diversity threatened by changes in land use and by diffuse abandonment [58,59].…”

“…In the research found in [60], in fact, areas with a high level of agrobiodiversity in which to set or enhance in situ conservation of plant genetic resources (most appropriate areas (MAPAs)) were identified through a methodological approach using three criteria: pres- Apart from a few exceptions, the areas richest in number of landraces and in different crops cultivated as landraces were located inland in hilly and mountainous areas of the Apennine chain that are characterized by high environmental diversity. The Apennines is a land system that preserves, and in some case enhances, the biological diversity threatened by changes in land use and by diffuse abandonment [58,59].…”

Memory over matter?—a conceptual framework to integrate social–ecological l legacies in agricultural NCP co-production

“…Thus, collective rule sets can be relevant for the preservation of landscapes with a specific biodiversity and cultural values, such as High Nature Value (HNV) landscapes. Recent research explicitly studying these linkages in Slovenia has highlighted the relevance of collective rule sets and associated collective value sets for these landscapes (Rac et al 2020). Some research suggests that collective rule sets can promote biodiversity conservation, but more numerous and standardised, or at least comparable, studies exploring these interlinkages are needed (Chappell et al 2016).…”

Trends in High Nature Value Farmland and Ecosystem Services Valuation: A Bibliometric Review

“…A lack of standardized frameworks leads to varied identifications and protections across regions. Although the ecological importance of HNVf is documented [26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44], there is a need to understand the relationships between communities, land management, and conservation. Furthermore, many critical ecosystem services of HNVf are either undervalued or ignored in economic evaluations .…”