Living Landscape assessment framework : Evaluating & improving the social-ecological functioning of agricultural landscapes

Summary

There is growing momentum in public and policy discourse to restore nature quality, biodiversity, and ecosystem and social services in agricultural landscapes. Re-designing these landscapes holds great potential to halt biodiversity loss while contributing to sustainable and resilient food systems. However, measures for restoring biodiversity often have limited effects when implemented on a small scale or in isolation. Compared to farm-level measures, landscape-level measures are more complex due to the involvement of numerous stakeholders with varying interests and stakes in different land uses. This complexity underscores the need for an integrated landscape approach that considers the needs and interests of all stakeholders. Several approaches have been proposed to support landscape improvement efforts. However, many of these focus on a single goal, geographic area, or scale, lack participatory elements, or prioritiae either social or ecological aspects. To the best of our knowledge, no existing framework enables stakeholders to mobiliae and self-organiae for creating socially and ecologically well-functioning agricultural landscapes. This study aims to address that gap through the development of the Living Landscape (LiLa) assessment framework. The LiLa assessment framework is designed to help stakeholders identify and assess ways to improve the social and ecological functioning of their landscapes. It builds on existing frameworks, tools, and concepts, including social-ecological networks, participatory change, and landscape assessment. Using these concepts the framework was further developed by the research team and validated through workshops with researchers and landscape professionals. The LiLa assessment framework for evaluating and improving social-ecological functioning of agricultural landscapes consists of five core elements: the i) social network of stakeholders, that can engage in ii) collective action, to influence the iii) agricultural-ecological network, to provide the desired iv) landscape values and services within the v) context of external factors that influence the landscape but cannot be changed in the short term. For each element a literature review was done to identify indicators and criteria for assessment. Reflection questions were also formulated to facilitate participatory assessment. These questions were operationalised into a workshop tool with downloadable question cards, designed to enable stakeholders to collaboratively evaluate and improve their landscapes. This tool can be downloaded via the Website or Research@WUR. The LiLa assessment framework translates the theoretical foundations of social-ecological networks into a practical, participatory tool that empowers stakeholders to collaboratively assess and improve the functioning of their agricultural landscapes. Developed with input from internal discussions and external workshops with WUR researchers and landscape professionals, the framework is adaptable, applicable across diverse contexts, and can be customised to meet specific landscape needs. Its success depends on stakeholders' willingness to collaborate, but it is designed to incorporate diverse perspectives and objectives, facilitating participatory and inclusive landscape improvements. At the time of finalising this report, a peer-reviewed paper based on this work has been submitted for publication. This report contains content that overlaps with the forthcoming manuscript, including some identical or closely related sections, figures, and tables. This statement is provided in the interest of transparency.