What is socio-ecological research delivering? A literature survey across 25 international LTSER platforms

Abstract

With an overarching goal of addressing global and regional sustainability challenges, Long Term Socio-Ecological Research Platforms (LTSER) aim to conduct place-based research, to collect and synthesize both environmental and socio-economic data, and to involve a broader stakeholder pool to set the research agenda. To date there have been few studies examining the output from LTSER platforms. In this study we enquire if the socio-ecological research from 25 self-selected LTSER platforms of the International Long-Term Ecological Research (ILTER) network has produced research products which fulfil the aims and ambitions of the paradigm shift from ecological to socio-ecological research envisaged at the turn of the century. In total we assessed 4983 publically available publications, of which 1112 were deemed relevant to the socio-ecological objectives of the platform. A series of 22 questions were scored for each publication, assessing relevance of responses in terms of the disciplinary focus of research, consideration of human health and well-being, degree of stakeholder engagement, and other relevant variables. The results reflected the diverse origins of the individual platforms and revealed a wide range in foci, temporal periods and quantity of output from participating platforms, supporting the premise that there is a growing trend in socio-ecological research at long-term monitoring platforms. Our review highlights the challenges of realizing the top-down goal to harmonize international network activities and objectives and the need for bottom-up, self-definition for research platforms. This provides support for increasing the consistency of LTSER research while preserving the diversity of regional experiences.

Enhancement of Ecological Field Experimental Research by Means of UAV Multispectral Sensing

“…[34] plus the three incorporated in 2010. Nowadays, the number has increased to 31 [35] and more have been created in other LTER regional networks [36]. (b) Location of Kiskun LTSER platform in Hungary (green area) and the ExDRain experiment site (red dot).…”

LTSER platforms as a place-based transdisciplinary research infrastructure: learning landscape approach through evaluation

“…Comparisons with the normative model for LTSER platforms LTSER emerged in response to the recognition of increased effects of human activities on sustainability at local to global levels (Singh et al 2013;Mirtl et al 2018). These challenges can often be considered as wicked (Duckett et al 2016), which calls for integrative modes of knowledge production and learning (Angelstam et al 2013b;Holzer et al 2018). With the aim of monitoring and diagnosing, as well as treating socio-ecological systems by contributing to problemsolving, the LTSER platform concept aims at being a type of place-based infrastructure that supports collaborative knowledge production and learning by academic and non-academic participants (Haberl et al 2006;Singh et al 2013).…”

“…Conditions for joining the LTSER network (usually) include: support by the platform's local, regional and national authorities, the existence of long-term datasets (especially biodiversity indicators but also abiotic variables) and the inclusion and integration of socio-economic data (Haberl et al 2006(Haberl et al , 2009Mirtl et al 2013). Dick et al (2018) showed that this vision has become reality in terms of a rapid increase of research publications. Enhancing collaboration among LTSER platforms at the international level is the next desirable level of ambition towards using multiple landscapes as a laboratory (Angelstam et al 2013a;Holzer et al 2018).…”

“…Dick et al (2018) showed that this vision has become reality in terms of a rapid increase of research publications. Enhancing collaboration among LTSER platforms at the international level is the next desirable level of ambition towards using multiple landscapes as a laboratory (Angelstam et al 2013a;Holzer et al 2018).…”

Participatory socio-ecological system: Manglaralto-Santa Elena, Ecuador

“…Environmental changes affect ecological systems and their ability to provide ecosystem services, so the changes in ecosystem services affect provisions on the welfare of the social system (Fisher et al, 2014). A clear focus on environmental sustainability is necessary in order to mitigate the longterm consequences of ecosystems, with attention to interactions with socio-economic and environmental drivers at different temporal and spatial scales (Dick et al, 2018).…”