Example of transformative research with biosphere regions: the Biosphere.Center - a new organizational structure for collaboration - Vera ...

Example of transformative research with
biosphere regions:
the Biosphere.Center - a new organizational structure
for collaboration
Vera Luthardt, Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development,
EuroMAB Dublin, 2019

Source of first part: a summary study on the subject:

Participatory Learning for Transdisciplinary Science in
Biosphere Reserves – a Modified Role for Universities
Heike Walk, Vera Luthardt, Benjamin Nölting,
Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, Germ

 Chapter in the book:
                  UNESCO Biosphere Reserves
    Supporting Biocultural Diversity, Sustainability and Society

     Edtited by Maureen G. Reed and Martin F. Price      2019      2

What requirements does the Lima action plan make on
   BR with regard to cooperation with research?

                                                      3

What requirements does the Lima action plan make on
    BR with regard to to cooperation with research?

 Key elements:
   Facilitating biodiversity and sustainability science
   Education for sustainable development
   Capacity building

 Core demands:
   Use of experiences from sustainability science and education
   Use of modern, open, transparent ways to communicate and share
     information

       That demands: participatory governance and collaborative
                     decision-making

                                                                     4

What is connected with Participatory governance?

 Participation is a prerequisite for learning processes in BR´s

 Actors have to be understood in their local context or action
  situation

 all relevant actors should be involved in democratic, collaborative
  processes right from the start

          But many stakeholders have not learned how to set
          participatory processes in motion and how to design them

                                                                        5

What is connected with Participatory governance?

 Participation is a prerequisite for learning processes in BR´s

 Actors have to be understood in their local context or action
  situation

 all relevant actors should be involved in democratic, collaborative
  processes right from the start

          But many stakeholders have not learned how to set
          participatory processes in motion and how to design them

                                                                        6

What is connected with Participatory governance?

Participation methods are e.g.

 Public hearings                 World cafes
 Informational meetings          Open space conferences

 Online forums                   Scenario workshops

                                                            7

What requirements does the Lima action plan make on
          Universities & research institutions ?

 To build partnerships with BR-administration for research,
  practical learning, training opportunities.

 That means:
   To support the management of BRs
   To identify and disseminate good practices
    in line with sustainability principles
   To encourage stakeholders to collaborate
    in designing and implementing projects that
    improve management and sustainable development of their BRs
   To organize regional education, capacity building and training programs.

                                                                               8

What rethinking means transformative science?

 Generic scientific knowledge is often not in line with the needs of real-
   world actors to solve their specific problems

   to solve complex sustainability problems it is essential to work with
local people

   to define problems and research designs together with stakeholders

   to produce socially robust knowledge and develop solutions that are
transferable to both science and practice

   to have an focus on change processes

   to involve action-oriented research or real-world labs

                                                                              9

What rethinking means transformative science?

 Generic scientific knowledge is often not in line with the needs of real-
   world actors to solve their specific problems

   to solve complex sustainability problems it is essential to work with
local people

   to define problems and research designs together with stakeholders

   to produce socially robust knowledge and develop solutions that are
transferable to both science and practice

   to have an focus on change processes

   to involve action-oriented research or real-world labs

                                                                              10

Our solution approach: a new organizational structure
                    for collaboration

Biosphere Center is a close collaboration among three actors with
different roles and responsibilities:
               Michael Succow Foundation
                    Initiates and supports the establishment of BRs worldwide

               Europarc Germany e. V.
                    Umbrella organization for a network of large-scale
               protected areas in Germany and as part of the Europarc
               Federation e.V. in Europe

               Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development
                     researches, analyzes, develops and tests applied solutions
               for the implementation of sustainable development in BR
               model regions

                                                                              11

Our solution approach: a new organizational structure
                    for collaboration

 Founded in 2017 science-based and practice-led

Goals:
 To support biosphere reserves

 To generate, collect, share and actively disseminate knowledge
  about BRs and the results of their work
 To promote the practical implementation of the MAB Programme
  internationally
 To stimulate innovative approaches to land use, regional
  development, landscape management and nature conservation in
  BRs
 To offer education and further training for management of BRs

                                                                   12

Our competence Areas

       Consulting and Development
                 Improvement of the participation of local actors
                 Introduction of sustainable land use forms
                 Conception/adaptation of management planning of transboundary BRs
                 Feasibility/ development studies and support for new designations
                 Support/Improvement of BR zonation
                 Development and implementation of visitor control concepts

       Research                                                    Training and Further Education
                  Adaptive Management                                     International education
                  Networking strategies and assessment                     programs in cooperation with
                   of expansion                                             partner-biosphere reserves
                  Protection area management and                          Workshops and summer schools
                   support                                                  for different biosphere reserve
                                                                            stakeholder
                  Integrative monitoring
                                                                           Train-the-Trainer programs
                  Sustainable management of recreation
                   / tourism

                                                                                                                   13
                                                                                                              13

Our solution approach: : a new organizational
                  structure for collaboration

 Advantage of this structure:
 we look together for the needs for solutions, then for financing and
   then we work together on projects

 Requirements and findings can be shared directly and interactively

 lays the basis for the implementation of the requirements of the Lima
   Action Plan for the exchange of knowledge between research and
   practice in the BRs

                                                                          14

Our solution approach: : a new organizational
                  structure for collaboration

 Advantage of this structure:
 we look together for the needs for solutions, then for financing and
   then we work together on projects

 Requirements and findings can be shared directly and interactively

 lays the basis for the implementation of the requirements of the Lima
   Action Plan for the exchange of knowledge between research and
   practice in the BRs

                                                                          15

Current Projects biosphere.center

                                    16

Contact:
biosphere.center
c/o Eberswalde University for Sustainable
Development
Schicklerstraße 5 | 16225 Eberswalde |
Germany
Email: info@biosphere.center
Website: www.biosphere.center

Thank you for your attention!