Module 0600
Theory and methods for an integrated analysis of ecosystem services governance

Course organizer

Dr. Lasse Loft (Working Group on Ecosystem Services Governance, ZALF) lasse.loft@zalf.de

Course lecturers

• Dr. Cheng Chen, cheng.chen@zalf.de
• Dr. Lasse Loft, lasse.loft@zalf.de
• Dr. Claudia Sattler, csattler@zalf.de
• Dr. Barbara Schröter, barbara.schroeter@zalf.de
• Dr. Johannes Schuler, jschuler@zalf.de
• Christoph Schulze, christoph.schulze@zalf.de

Course venue

Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Str. 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany

Course description

Since the emergence of the concept of ecosystem services in the late 1990s, we can observe a change in the understanding of governance as a mode of societal coordination that recognizes the role of institutions and collective action. Moving away from mostly state-carried hierarchical command and control-based approaches toward more inclusive market- and community-based approaches, which also include private and civil society actors.

These forms of governance face several challenges, largely rooted in the nature of complex and interlinked social-ecological systems. Methods which underpin our deeper understanding of ecosystem services governance in the context of interconnected social-ecological-systems have just begun to be explored and assessed. This merits the question of which methods are suited to support our understanding of ecosystem services governance and are able to address these challenges. The course thus aims to provide a short introduction to specific challenges of ecosystem services and then focus on presenting and applying selected methods for the assessment of different governance approaches aimed at the sustainable provisioning and management of ecosystem services.

Course outline

1. Introduction to:
•  specific challenges of ecosystem services governance and an
• overview of methods for stakeholder involvement into the research process
2. Presentation and application of selected qualitative and quantitative methods for the assessment of governance approaches aimed at the sustainable provisioning and management of ecosystem services:
• Social Network Analysis (SNA) with the participatory Net-Map tool
• Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA)
• Analysis of stakeholder perceptions through Q-method
• Framework for Participatory Impact Assessment (FoPIA) of land use policies

Teaching methods:

In person only; lectures 50%, exercises and group work 50%

Grading: Participation 50 %, exercises and group work 50%

Credit points: 3 credits

References

A list of relevant literature will be provided in advance (we aim for two weeks before the starting of the course).

Language of instruction: English

Contact

For further information please contact Dr. Lasse Loft (Working Group on Ecosystem Services Governance, ZALF) lasse.loft@zalf.de.