IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v8y2016i8p743-d75287.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research in Practice: Lessons from Inter- and Transdisciplinary Research in the Austrian Eisenwurzen

Author

Listed:
  • Simone Gingrich

    (Institute of Social Ecology, Alpen-Adria Universitaet, 1070 Vienna, Austria)

  • Martin Schmid

    (Institute of Social Ecology, Alpen-Adria Universitaet, 1070 Vienna, Austria)

  • Thomas Dirnböck

    (Department for Ecosystem Research and Environmental Information Management, Environment Agency Austria, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Iwona Dullinger

    (Institute of Social Ecology, Alpen-Adria Universitaet, 1070 Vienna, Austria
    Vegetation Ecology and Landscape Ecology, Division of Conservation Biology, Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, Vienna University, 1030 Vienna, Austria)

  • Rita Garstenauer

    (Zentrum für Migrationsforschung, 3109 St. Pölten, Austria)

  • Veronika Gaube

    (Institute of Social Ecology, Alpen-Adria Universitaet, 1070 Vienna, Austria)

  • Helmut Haberl

    (Institute of Social Ecology, Alpen-Adria Universitaet, 1070 Vienna, Austria)

  • Martin Kainz

    (WasserCluster Lunz–Biologische Station, Danube University Krems, 3293 Lunz am See, Austria)

  • Daniel Kreiner

    (Department of Nature Conservation/Research, Gesäuse National Park, 8911 Admont, Austria)

  • Renate Mayer

    (Agricultural Research and Education Center Raumberg-Gumpenstein, 8952 Irdning-Donnersbachtal, Austria)

  • Michael Mirtl

    (Department for Ecosystem Research and Environmental Information Management, Environment Agency Austria, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Oliver Sass

    (Department of Geography and Regional Science, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria)

  • Thomas Schauppenlehner

    (Institute for Landscape Development, Recreation and Conservation Planning, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1180 Vienna, Austria)

  • Andrea Stocker-Kiss

    (Department for Ecosystem Research and Environmental Information Management, Environment Agency Austria, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Martin Wildenberg

    (Research Centre of Expertise RCE-Vienna, Institute for Ecological Economics, Vienna University of Economics and Business, 1020 Vienna, Austria)

Abstract

Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research (LTSER) is an inter- and transdisciplinary research field addressing socio-ecological change over time at various spatial and temporal scales. In the Austrian Eisenwurzen region, an LTSER platform was founded in 2004. It has fostered and documented research projects aiming at advancing LTSER scientifically and at providing regional stakeholders with relevant information for sustainable regional development. Since its establishment, a broad range of research activities has been pursued in the region, integrating information from long-term ecological monitoring sites with approaches from social sciences and the humanities, and in cooperation with regional stakeholders. Based on the experiences gained in the Eisenwurzen LTSER platform, this article presents current activities in the heterogeneous field of LTSER, identifying specific (inter-)disciplinary contributions of three research strands of LTSER: long-term ecological research, socio-ecological basic research, and transdisciplinary research. Given the broad array of diverse contributions to LTSER, we argue that the platform has become a relevant “boundary organization,” linking research to its regional non-academic context, and ensuring interdisciplinary exchange among the variety of disciplines. We consider the diversity of LTSER approaches an important resource for future research. Major success criteria of LTSER face specific challenges: (1) existing loose, yet stable networks need to be maintained and extended; (2) continuous generation of and access to relevant data needs to be secured and more data need to be included; and (3) consecutive research projects that have allowed for capacity building in the past may be threatened in the future if national Austrian research funders cease to provide resources.

Suggested Citation

  • Simone Gingrich & Martin Schmid & Thomas Dirnböck & Iwona Dullinger & Rita Garstenauer & Veronika Gaube & Helmut Haberl & Martin Kainz & Daniel Kreiner & Renate Mayer & Michael Mirtl & Oliver Sass & T, 2016. "Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research in Practice: Lessons from Inter- and Transdisciplinary Research in the Austrian Eisenwurzen," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:8:p:743-:d:75287
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/8/8/743/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/8/8/743/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Diane Gershon, 2000. "Pushing the frontiers of interdisciplinary research: an idea whose time has come," Nature, Nature, vol. 404(6775), pages 313-315, March.
    2. Hirsch Hadorn, Gertrude & Bradley, David & Pohl, Christian & Rist, Stephan & Wiesmann, Urs, 2006. "Implications of transdisciplinarity for sustainability research," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 60(1), pages 119-128, November.
    3. Martin Schonhart & Thomas Schauppenlehner & Erwin Schmid & Andreas Muhar, 2011. "Analysing the maintenance and establishment of orchard meadows at farm and landscape levels applying a spatially explicit integrated modelling approach," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 54(1), pages 115-143.
    4. Karl-Heinz Erb & Thomas Kastner & Sebastiaan Luyssaert & Richard A. Houghton & Tobias Kuemmerle & Pontus Olofsson & Helmut Haberl, 2013. "Bias in the attribution of forest carbon sinks," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 3(10), pages 854-856, October.
    5. Blackstock, K.L. & Kelly, G.J. & Horsey, B.L., 2007. "Developing and applying a framework to evaluate participatory research for sustainability," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 60(4), pages 726-742, February.
    6. Brandt, Patric & Ernst, Anna & Gralla, Fabienne & Luederitz, Christopher & Lang, Daniel J. & Newig, Jens & Reinert, Florian & Abson, David J. & von Wehrden, Henrik, 2013. "A review of transdisciplinary research in sustainability science," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 1-15.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ragnheiður Bogadóttir, 2020. "The Social Metabolism of Quiet Sustainability in the Faroe Islands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-18, January.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Schmidt, Laura & Falk, Thomas & Siegmund-Schultze, Marianna & Spangenberg, Joachim H., 2020. "The Objectives of Stakeholder Involvement in Transdisciplinary Research. A Conceptual Framework for a Reflective and Reflexive Practise," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    2. Marina Knickel & Karlheinz Knickel & Francesca Galli & Damian Maye & Johannes S. C. Wiskerke, 2019. "Towards a Reflexive Framework for Fostering Co—Learning and Improvement of Transdisciplinary Collaboration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-22, November.
    3. Hoffmann, Sabine & Pohl, Christian & Hering, Janet G., 2017. "Exploring transdisciplinary integration within a large research program: Empirical lessons from four thematic synthesis processes," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(3), pages 678-692.
    4. Spangenberg, Joachim H. & Görg, Christoph & Settele, Josef, 2015. "Stakeholder involvement in ESS research and governance: Between conceptual ambition and practical experiences – risks, challenges and tested tools," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 16(C), pages 201-211.
    5. Arora-Jonsson, Seema, 2016. "Does resilience have a culture? Ecocultures and the politics of knowledge production," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 98-107.
    6. Vandermeulen, V. & Van Huylenbroeck, G., 2008. "Designing trans-disciplinary research to support policy formulation for sustainable agricultural development," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(3), pages 352-361, October.
    7. Zeigermann, Ulrike & Böcher, Michael, 2020. "Challenges for bridging the gap between knowledge and governance in sustainability policy – The case of OECD ‘Focal Points’ for Policy Coherence for Development," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    8. Evelien de Hoop, 2020. "More Democratic Sustainability Governance through Participatory Knowledge Production? A Framework and Systematic Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-30, July.
    9. Ioan G. Pop & Sebastian Văduva & Mihai-Florin Talpoș, 2017. "Energetic Sustainability and the Environment: A Transdisciplinary, Economic–Ecological Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-12, May.
    10. Viola Hakkarainen & Katri Mäkinen‐Rostedt & Andra Horcea‐Milcu & Dalia D'Amato & Johanna Jämsä & Katriina Soini, 2022. "Transdisciplinary research in natural resources management: Towards an integrative and transformative use of co‐concepts," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(2), pages 309-325, April.
    11. Daniel El Chami & André Daccache & Maroun El Moujabber, 2020. "How Can Sustainable Agriculture Increase Climate Resilience? A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-23, April.
    12. Troullaki, Katerina & Rozakis, Stelios & Kostakis, Vasilis, 2021. "Bridging barriers in sustainability research: Α review from sustainability science to life cycle sustainability assessment," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    13. Brandt, Patric & Ernst, Anna & Gralla, Fabienne & Luederitz, Christopher & Lang, Daniel J. & Newig, Jens & Reinert, Florian & Abson, David J. & von Wehrden, Henrik, 2013. "A review of transdisciplinary research in sustainability science," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 1-15.
    14. Rob Alexander & Lori Britt & Elise Barrella, 2014. "Converging on sustainable placemaking through transdisciplinary process," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 4(4), pages 301-309, December.
    15. Ana Guzmán Ruiz & Meredith Dobbie & Rebekah Brown, 2017. "Insights and future directions of transdisciplinary practice in the urban water sector," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 7(2), pages 251-263, June.
    16. Vanessa R. Levesque & Aram J. K. Calhoun & Kathleen P. Bell, 2019. "Actions speak louder than words: designing transdisciplinary approaches to enact solutions," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 9(2), pages 159-169, June.
    17. Jana Zscheischler & Sebastian Rogga & Maria Busse, 2017. "The Adoption and Implementation of Transdisciplinary Research in the Field of Land-Use Science—A Comparative Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-20, October.
    18. Gabriela Tejada & Marina Cracco & Clémence Ranquet Bouleau & Jean-Claude Bolay & Silvia Hostettler, 2019. "Testing Analytical Frameworks in Transdisciplinary Research for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-28, August.
    19. Feliciano, D. & Blagojević, D. & Böhling, K. & Hujala, T. & Lawrence, A. & Lidestav, G. & Ludvig, A. & Turner, T. & Weiss, G. & Zivojinovic, I., 2019. "Learning about forest ownership and management issues in Europe while travelling: The Travellab approach," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 32-42.
    20. Siebenhüner, Bernd, 2018. "Conflicts in Transdisciplinary Research: Reviewing Literature and Analysing a Case of Climate Adaptation in Northwestern Germany," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 117-127.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:8:p:743-:d:75287. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.