177
needs and has been emphasizing the need to embark on transformative change and
manage transitions toward sustainable pathways (CBD 2017, 2018).
9.3 Afterword: Future Research Directions
This book presents contemporary experiences and analyses of community-based
approaches to the sustainable resource management of SEPLS primarily based on
experiences in Asia. The different cases highlight several pertinent issues regarding
land/seascape approaches. First, empirical evidence illustrating the relevance of
landscape approaches to the conservation of natural resources, contributions to
economies, and sustainable livelihoods is compelling. The landscape approach is by
nature an integrated approach that cuts across sectoral divisions and various policy
priorities (e.g., environment, rural development, water management, health, and
food security) and has a systemic focus on both the ecological and social dimensions within the land/seascape.
This implies that the interconnectedness of natural and human systems is highly
entrenched in such areas and that the utilization and management of resources, even
if driven by contextual priorities, have certain broad similarities, including those
related to maintaining the multifunctionality of the landscape and ensuring a diversity of resources, a diversity of income sources based on primary production and
services, and endogenous approaches that integrate traditional and modern practices
and knowledge to ensure more sustainable outcomes. However, the experiences
related in this book also indicate that sustaining such an ideal and idyllic scenario is
fraught with various challenges ranging from policy drivers, changing priorities of
the local population, demographic changes, the impact of distant market forces, the
erosion of traditional practices, the homogenization of cropping practices, and
changes in land use.
Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach beginning with
a clear understanding of changes in the natural resources and in the various drivers
of change and of the implications for a good quality of life for the population.
Possible solutions and pathways for the development that are participatory and
inclusive in nature and ensuring a good alignment between macro policy goals and
landscape level priorities need to be identified and implemented. New solutions may
require the creation of flexible legal frameworks that protects the interests of, and
reduces political constraints for, collaborative efforts in land/seascapes (Plieninger
et al. 2018). This also implies an enhanced mandate for future research priorities
focused on integrated approaches to landscape management to build inventories on
the management, natural state, and drivers of change; to develop methodologies that
further high fidelity scenarios developed using participatory approaches involving
stakeholders on the ground; and to ensure that actions are taken at multiple scales,
including local, regional, and beyond, and are aligned with new conceptual and
9 Synthesis: Managing Socio-ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes…
needs and has been emphasizing the need to embark on transformative change and
manage transitions toward sustainable pathways (CBD 2017, 2018).
9.3 Afterword: Future Research Directions
This book presents contemporary experiences and analyses of community-based
approaches to the sustainable resource management of SEPLS primarily based on
experiences in Asia. The different cases highlight several pertinent issues regarding
land/seascape approaches. First, empirical evidence illustrating the relevance of
landscape approaches to the conservation of natural resources, contributions to
economies, and sustainable livelihoods is compelling. The landscape approach is by
nature an integrated approach that cuts across sectoral divisions and various policy
priorities (e.g., environment, rural development, water management, health, and
food security) and has a systemic focus on both the ecological and social dimensions within the land/seascape.
This implies that the interconnectedness of natural and human systems is highly
entrenched in such areas and that the utilization and management of resources, even
if driven by contextual priorities, have certain broad similarities, including those
related to maintaining the multifunctionality of the landscape and ensuring a diversity of resources, a diversity of income sources based on primary production and
services, and endogenous approaches that integrate traditional and modern practices
and knowledge to ensure more sustainable outcomes. However, the experiences
related in this book also indicate that sustaining such an ideal and idyllic scenario is
fraught with various challenges ranging from policy drivers, changing priorities of
the local population, demographic changes, the impact of distant market forces, the
erosion of traditional practices, the homogenization of cropping practices, and
changes in land use.
Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach beginning with
a clear understanding of changes in the natural resources and in the various drivers
of change and of the implications for a good quality of life for the population.
Possible solutions and pathways for the development that are participatory and
inclusive in nature and ensuring a good alignment between macro policy goals and
landscape level priorities need to be identified and implemented. New solutions may
require the creation of flexible legal frameworks that protects the interests of, and
reduces political constraints for, collaborative efforts in land/seascapes (Plieninger
et al. 2018). This also implies an enhanced mandate for future research priorities
focused on integrated approaches to landscape management to build inventories on
the management, natural state, and drivers of change; to develop methodologies that
further high fidelity scenarios developed using participatory approaches involving
stakeholders on the ground; and to ensure that actions are taken at multiple scales,
including local, regional, and beyond, and are aligned with new conceptual and
9 Synthesis: Managing Socio-ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes…