11
impoverishment of local traditional knowledge by introduction of information
technology, migration, land degradation, desertification). Therefore, due to the complexity of SES, monitoring, tracing, and evaluating socio- ecological system change
require multiple disciplines, expertise, knowledge systems, concepts, methodologies, frameworks, novel platforms, newly emerging sciences, thus fundamental
approaches to do dryland system science achieve the stewardship of future drylands
and the sustainable development goals (see Table 1.1).
RISZA and the Conceptual/Operational Model
In March 2017, the International Network for Drylands Sustainability/Red Internacional
para la Sostenibilidad de las Zonas Áridas (RISZA) (www.risza.com.mx) was launched
by the Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (IPICYT) in San
Luis Potosi, Mexico, with financial support from the National Council of Science and
Technology (CONACYT by its Spanish acronym). The aim of RISZA is to generate
and foster research, development, and innovation in partnership at the national level
linked to the tripartite alliance between Latin America, Africa, and Europe (see Chap.
13/Agadir Platform), with a strong regional, inter- sectoral emphasis.
RISZA aims to guide and facilitate transdisciplinary and participatory research
including academics, governmental and non-governmental organizations, civil societies, local stakeholders, and policy-makers, to foster collective knowledge production, iterative system monitoring and (re) evaluation, and capacity building in
dryland stewardship at all levels. The principal research goal is to contribute to
accomplish the SDGs in Mexican drylands in synergistic ways, drawing on expertise from other countries of the Platform of Agadir. As a ratifying country, Mexico
needs to comply with each of the SDGs and their associated targets. Pre-established
global indicators and country-specific indicators serve to monitor each SDG. The
role of Mexico’s and global drylands in meeting the SDGs both as a national and a
global biome is poorly understood (for an exception, see FAO 2018). RISZA as part
of the Agadir Platform will contribute with knowledge, technology, and innovation
to meet these goals, in particular to the SDGs 13, 14, 15, and 17.
As a product of the inaugural RISZA participatory planning meeting in May
2017, a transdisciplinary group consisting of 80 people co-designed a comprehensive framework consisting of four dimensions: philosophies, study objects, actions,
and long-term goals (Fig. 1.1). The framework is also a network, with the four
dimensions representing nodes and the participatory or collective nature of the
network representing the links, the blue line meaning water (a crucial determinant
of drylands) as a transversal main focal point. This framework is flexible and open
for feedback and adjustment; its emphasis lies on establishing the basis for interand transdisciplinary collaborations in national and international drylands with a
current emphasis on Latin America, North Africa, and Southern Europe. It is also
necessary to motivate the dialogue and co-production of knowledge by different
actors (i.e., academia, government, private sector, civil societies, local communities,
indigenous groups).
1 Introduction: International Network for the Sustainability…
impoverishment of local traditional knowledge by introduction of information
technology, migration, land degradation, desertification). Therefore, due to the complexity of SES, monitoring, tracing, and evaluating socio- ecological system change
require multiple disciplines, expertise, knowledge systems, concepts, methodologies, frameworks, novel platforms, newly emerging sciences, thus fundamental
approaches to do dryland system science achieve the stewardship of future drylands
and the sustainable development goals (see Table 1.1).
RISZA and the Conceptual/Operational Model
In March 2017, the International Network for Drylands Sustainability/Red Internacional
para la Sostenibilidad de las Zonas Áridas (RISZA) (www.risza.com.mx) was launched
by the Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (IPICYT) in San
Luis Potosi, Mexico, with financial support from the National Council of Science and
Technology (CONACYT by its Spanish acronym). The aim of RISZA is to generate
and foster research, development, and innovation in partnership at the national level
linked to the tripartite alliance between Latin America, Africa, and Europe (see Chap.
13/Agadir Platform), with a strong regional, inter- sectoral emphasis.
RISZA aims to guide and facilitate transdisciplinary and participatory research
including academics, governmental and non-governmental organizations, civil societies, local stakeholders, and policy-makers, to foster collective knowledge production, iterative system monitoring and (re) evaluation, and capacity building in
dryland stewardship at all levels. The principal research goal is to contribute to
accomplish the SDGs in Mexican drylands in synergistic ways, drawing on expertise from other countries of the Platform of Agadir. As a ratifying country, Mexico
needs to comply with each of the SDGs and their associated targets. Pre-established
global indicators and country-specific indicators serve to monitor each SDG. The
role of Mexico’s and global drylands in meeting the SDGs both as a national and a
global biome is poorly understood (for an exception, see FAO 2018). RISZA as part
of the Agadir Platform will contribute with knowledge, technology, and innovation
to meet these goals, in particular to the SDGs 13, 14, 15, and 17.
As a product of the inaugural RISZA participatory planning meeting in May
2017, a transdisciplinary group consisting of 80 people co-designed a comprehensive framework consisting of four dimensions: philosophies, study objects, actions,
and long-term goals (Fig. 1.1). The framework is also a network, with the four
dimensions representing nodes and the participatory or collective nature of the
network representing the links, the blue line meaning water (a crucial determinant
of drylands) as a transversal main focal point. This framework is flexible and open
for feedback and adjustment; its emphasis lies on establishing the basis for interand transdisciplinary collaborations in national and international drylands with a
current emphasis on Latin America, North Africa, and Southern Europe. It is also
necessary to motivate the dialogue and co-production of knowledge by different
actors (i.e., academia, government, private sector, civil societies, local communities,
indigenous groups).
1 Introduction: International Network for the Sustainability…