Introducing the Landscape Approach

(Bangkok, October 2010)

Landscape functions and people

Introduction games

who has come from closest by?

who has come from furthest away?

who has travelled the most hours?

who comes from the smallest country?

who comes from the biggest country?

who has come from the most important country? Why?

where is the centre of the world?

what is our centre now?

National

GovernmentNon-

governmental

local

Forest

policy practice

non-forest

Knowing our positions within the landscape

we are all actors in our landscape

what is our position within?

what is our role?

do we like that, or do we want to change? Why?

Joint definition of "landscape"

discuss in groups of three write three key words on cards assemble the cards and form a joint definition

Reading landscapes

Reading landscapes

Reading landscapes

Landscape approach

a landscape is never static but characterised by its processes and

dynamics

Definition of a landscape

“scape” or “schap”:

View, appearance, shape, creation

Property, archaic form of governance

Social construct which changes over time

Definition of a landscape

Neef (1967): "a landscape is a concrete part of the earth's surface shaped by uniform structure and same process pattern" 

Definition of a landscape

Turner (2001): “spatially heterogeneous geographic areas characterized by diverse interacting patches or ecosystems, ranging from relatively natural terrestrial and aquatic systems such as forests, grasslands and lakes to human-dominated environments including agricultural, urban  (and industrial )  settings".  

The definition of a landscape, lies in the eyes of the beholder...

Definition of a landscape

Multi-functional landscapes

Segregation of production functionSegregation of production function

Integration of production and environmental functions

Multi-functional landscapes

Landscape approach

is all about finding the balance between ecological integrity and human well-being

Does the landscape approach offer something new?

Response to:

Previous attempts to plan development

Withdrawal of central states, new scope for local stakeholders

Search for stronger regional identities

Climate change: shorter production chains

Landscape approach

Making use of existing experiences:

Decentralised NRM

Participatory land use planning –

(gestion du terroir/territoir)

Community forestry

See the bigger picture

Landscape as an arena

Well forested catchment

Rich biodiversity

High value timber

Attractive scenery, tourism

Ancestral homeland

Subsistence farm land

Commercial farm land

Biofuel production

Grazing land

Human settlement

Sub-soil richness

Which are the land use options?

Well forested catchment

Rich biodiversity

High value timber

Attractive scenery, tourism

Ancestral homeland

Subsistence farm land

Commercial farm land

Biofuel production

Grazing land

Human settlement

Sub-soil richness

Which are the claims? What are the claims?

Well forested catchment

Rich biodiversity

High value timber

Attractive scenery, tourism

Ancestral homeland

Subsistence farm land

Commercial farm land

Biofuel production

Grazing land

Human settlement

Sub-soil richness

Who are the claimants?

Who are the claimants?

What are the claims?

What drives them?

Districtpolicy

Need for money

Power relations

education

Empowerment

Need for firewood

Local Market prices

Food needs

Ability to invest

Land ownership

Land pressure

Labour force

Districtpolicy

Need for money

Power relations

education

Empowerment

Need for firewood

Local Market prices

Food needs

Ability to invest

Land ownership

Land pressure

Labour force

Population growth

Climate change

Demand for (bio)fuels

Increased Interest in biodiversity

Growing demandAnimal feed

Increased mobility

Globalisation

Need for minerals

Commodity prices up

Increased exploitati

on

Direct foreign investments

Land grabbing

Growing fooddemand

What are the drivers that drive them?

Potential conflicts

Districtpolicy

Need for money

Power relations

education

Empowerment

Need for firewood

Local Market prices

Food needs

Ability to invest

Land ownership

Land pressure

Labour force

Population growth

Climate change

Demand for (bio)fuels

Increased Interest in biodiversity

Growing demandAnimal feed

Increased mobility

Globalisation

Need for minerals

Commodity prices up

Increased exploitati

on

Direct foreign investments

Land grabbing

Growing fooddemand Competin

g claims

Drivers at multiple levels and scales

Giller et al, 2008

Mismatches in levels and scales

Bio-physical scales

Individual

family

Community

Country

Region

Municipality

Province/district

department

Governance scales

Local

provincial

National

International

municipal

Juridical scales

What is the difference?

Simple and complex systems

Cooking

Simple

Predictable

Recipe

Landscape

Complex

Not predictable

Research

Scenarios

Adaptive management

Social learning

Puzzle

Simple

Predictable

Single solution

Trial & error

Machine

Complicated

Not predictable

Guidelines

Problem tree

Planning

ComplicatedComplex

Chaotic Simple

Source: Cognitive Edge (www.cognitive-edge.com)

Cynefin Framework

How to understand complex realities?

Ping pong ball game

How to deal with complex realities

Understanding complex realities

Looking at reality through different eyes:

Multiple actors

Multiple sectors

Multiple scales

What's the problem?

Landscape approach is an approach to interpret and understand complex realities

LLP is a way to intervene in complex realities

Landscape approach versus landscape level planning

is not easy to understand Cannot easily be controlled or planned Can be influenced By addressing the entire system By moving from planning to emergence

Both acknowledge that a landscape:

Landscape approach versus landscape level planning

From planning to emergence

Planned Incremental Emergent

From planning to emergence

participation of all actors involved

Flexible and adaptive management

Creating synergies across boundaries

Searching for “win-win” options

Collaborative learning

Any questions?

IF NOT: THANK YOU!