Reconciling fragmented and contested landscapes

RECONNECT focuses on the connections and, in particular, the disconnect of biodiversity conservation from other aspects of contemporary landscapes and societies. Fragmentation, contestation, and disconnection can be institutional, ecological, and social.

This manifests in interrupted ecological flows through habitat networks, siloed sectoral planning, and plural lifestyles and values - leading to tensions between conservation, equity, and production goals, and to clashing governance priorities and landuse practices.

We will collaborate with stakeholders to generate in-depth knowledge about ways to manage institutional, ecological, and social boundaries in four case sites.

The sites, located in France, Germany, South Africa, and Sweden each extend across urban to rural gradients with different types of conservation governance of protected areas and surrounding landscapes.The inter- and transdisciplinary ‘reconnection’ approach will be achieved by 1) developing a coherent set of tools and processes for systematically identifying and assessing the interconnections between ecosystems, community values, and diverse institutional arrangements; and 2) developing governance models and practices for surfacing and managing tensions and for (re-)connecting people and ecosystems.

Together, the WPs will feed cross-sectoral governance and citizen involvement into the implementation of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.