Who decides:
- what are relevant topics for research and teaching curricula?
- what are the priorities in the management of natural resources?
- what are acceptable levels of risk?
- how do we steer society towards sustainability?
These questions are too far-reaching societally for politicians, scientists and experts to alone provide the answers. Indeed, faced with environmental change of planetary magnitude and profound transformations of life at local levels, society as a whole needs to decide which adaptation pathways are desirable, acceptable and feasible. At the same time, not every single decision in policy, management, research or education can be deliberated and consensually agreed upon, especially during crisis situations that demand swift action. Further, not all interested parties may want to be involved in complex and lengthy participation processes. Participation therefore can take many forms and relies on different degrees of engagement.
Photo credit: COMTESS, 2012
Photo credit: COMTESS, 2012
Photo credits: A.C. de la Vega-Leinert, 2017
Important question are then:
- Which decisions do we need to make together?
- How do we ensure that participation is fair, that all interested parties can truly express their needs and that all parties will be heard respectfully and with an open mind?
- Once decisions have been made, how do we, together, set to implement them?
- How do we learn from the problems we as a society encounter? And how can we adjust our strategies along the way?
One important part of my research is to explore ways to bring together different scientific disciplines, and to open science to other sources of knowledge and experience.
I am convinced that a shared sense of purpose helps us to act and make our world a better and more just place for all. To get there, we need to acknowledge and value the diversity of knowledge and experiences at hand. Furthermore, we need to trust that each of us has a role to play in constructing sustainable and equitable futures.
Photo credits: A.C. de la Vega-Leinert, 2018
Photo credit: COMTESS, 2012
Photo credit: COMTESS, 2012
Publications
Transdisciplinary Research
Ansari D, Schönenberg R, Abud M, Becerra L, de la Vega-Leinert AC, Dudley N, Dunlop M, Figueroa C, Guevara O, Hauser P, Hobbie H, Hossain MAR, Hugé J, Janssens de Bisthoven L, Keunen H, Munera-Roldan C, Petzold J, Rochette AJ, Schmidt M, Schumann C, Sengupta S, Stoll-Kleemann S, van Kerkhoff L, Vanhove MPM, Wyborn C. (2021) Communications on climate change and biodiversity loss with local populations: Exploring best-practices and postcolonial moments in eight case studies from across the globe. Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 1945, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research. Energy Access and Development Program. eadp.eu
de la Vega-Leinert AC, Schönenberg R (2020). Transdisciplinary perspectives on current transformations at extractive and agrarian, frontiers in Latin America – An introduction. Journal of Land Use Sciences 15(2-3): 99-107. Doi: 10.1080/1747423X.2020.1766245. www.tandfonline.com
Thonicke K, Langerwisch F, Baumann M, Leitão PJ, Václavík T, Alencar A, Simões M, Scheiter S, Langan L, Bustamante M, Gasparri I, Hirota M, Börner J, Rajao R, Soares-Filho B, Yanosky A, Ochoa-Quinteiro J-M, Seghezzo L, Conti G, de la Vega-Leinert AC (2019). A social-ecological approach to identify and quantify biodiversity tipping points in South America’s seasonal dry ecosystems, Biogeosciences Discuss (Preprint). Doi.org:10.5194/bg-2019-221
de la Vega-Leinert AC, Stoll-Kleemann S (2015). Identifying gaps between science, policy and societal perspectives on coastal land use: The case of managed realignment in Darß – Zingst region, Mecklenburg Western Pomerania, Eastern German Baltic coast. In: Stoll-Kleemann, Susanne (ed.) (2015): Local Perceptions and Preferences for Landscape and Land Use in the Fischland-Darß-Zingst Region, German Baltic Sea, Greifswalder Geographische Arbeiten 51: 41-67, Institut für Geographie und Geologie, Universität Greifswald. Citations in Google Scholar: 1. geo.uni-greifswald.de
de la Vega-Leinert AC, Wegener E, Stoll-Kleemann S (2012). Identifying gaps between science and practitioners perspectives on land use: the case of managed realignment in the German Baltic coast. Berlin Conference on Human Dimensions of Global Change, 5.–6. November 2012, Environmental Policy Research Centre, Free University, Berlin. berlinconference.org
Patt AG, Schröter D, Klein RJT, de la Vega-Leinert AC (2009, 2011, 2012). Assessing Vulnerability to Global Environmental Change – Making Research Useful for Adaptation Decision Making and Policy. Routledge, London, UK. 1. and 2. Editions, Hardback, Paperback and E-Book. www.taylorfrancis.com
Patt AG, Schröter D, de la Vega-Leinert AC, Klein RJT (2009, 2011, 2012). Vulnerability and Assessment to support adaptation and mitigation: common themes from the diversity of approaches. In, Patt AG, Schröter D, Klein RJT, de la Vega-Leinert AC (eds.), Assessing Vulnerability to Global Environmental Change – Making Research Useful for Adaptation Decision Making and Policy. Routledge, London, UK. 1. and 2. Editions, Hardback, Paperback and E-Book. www.taylorfrancis.com
de la Vega-Leinert AC, Schröter D (2009, 2011, 2012). Chapter 11 – Evaluation of the ATEAM stakeholder dialogue on European Vulnerability. In, Patt AG, Schröter D, Klein RJT, de la Vega-Leinert AC (eds.), Assessing Vulnerability to Global Environmental Change – Making Research Useful for Adaptation Decision Making and Policy. Routledge, London, UK. 1. and 2. Editions, Hardback, Paperback and E-Book. www.taylorfrancis.com
de la Vega-Leinert AC, Stoll-Kleemann S, O’Riordan T (2009). Sustainability Science in Concept and in Practice. A Guide to a New Curriculum. Geographical Research 47 (4): 351-361. Doi: 10.1111/j.1745-5871.2009.00588.x. onlinelibrary.wiley.com
de la Vega-Leinert AC, Schröter D, Leemans R, Frisch U, Plumier J (2008). A stakeholder dialogue on European vulnerability. Regional Environmental Change 8(3): 109-124. Doi: 10.1007/s10113-008-0047-7. link.springer.com
de la Vega-Leinert AC, Schröter D (2007). Stakeholder dialogue as a communication and negotiation tool in scientific inquiry. In, Caravalho, A. (ed.), Communicating Climate Change: Discourses, Mediations and Perceptions. Centro de Estudos de Comunicação e Sociedade (CECS), Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal. www.lasics.uminho.pt
Welp M, de la Vega-Leinert AC, Stoll-Kleemann S, Jaeger C (2006). Theoretical approaches for science-based stakeholder dialogues. Global Environmental Change 16(2): 115-234. Doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2005.12.002. www.sciencedirect.com
Welp M, de la Vega-Leinert AC, Stoll-Kleemann S and Fürstenau C (2006). Science-based Stakeholder Dialogues in Climate Change Research. 213-239. In: Stoll-Kleemann S and Welp M (eds): Stakeholder Dialogues in Natural Resources Management. Environmental Science and Engineering (Environmental Science). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. 213-240. link.springer.com
Patt T, Klein RJT, de la Vega-Leinert AC (2005). Taking the uncertainty in climate change vulnerability assessment seriously. C.R. Geoscience 337: 411-424. Doi:10.1016/j.crte.2004.11.006. www.sciencedirect.com
Participatory Conservation Management
Brenner L, de la Vega-Leinert AC (2014). Aceptación de Áreas Naturales Protegidas en México – Una perspectiva desde la gobernanza ambiental de la Reserva de la Biosfera El Vizcaíno. Región & Sociedad 26(59): 183-213. dialnet.unirioja.es
de la Vega-Leinert AC, Nolasco MA, Stoll-Kleemann S (2012). UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in an Urbanized World. Environment: Science & Policy for Sustainable Development 54(1), 26-37. Doi: 10.1080/00139157.2012.639603. www.tandfonline.com
de la Vega-Leinert AC, Stoll-Kleemann S (2012). Retos y oportunidades en el manejo de la biodiversidad: el caso de las reservas de la biosfera. In, Rosales Ortega, R., Brenner, L. Y Mendoza, C., (eds.), Geografía económica y gobernanza ambiental: actores, instituciones y procesos globales. México D.F., México, Editorial Siglo XXI, UAM. 187-206. Stoll-Kleemann S, de la Vega-Leinert AC, Schultz L (2010). The role of community participation in the effectiveness of UNESCO Biosphere Reserve management: Evidence and reflections from two parallel global surveys. Environmental Conservation 37(3): 227-238. Doi:10.1017/S037689291000038X. www.jstor.org