SoCuLa – Socio-cultural Drivers of Biodiversity Change in Germany
This research project investigates the influence of social transformation processes – for example demographic change, digitalization or changes in values and norms – on cultural landscapes and their biodiversity. As a result, possible development paths of cultural landscapes can be identified. These paths are developed jointly with the local population.
Research approach
The project follows a social-ecological research approach. The aim is to understand the influence of socio-cultural drivers on cultural landscapes and their biodiversity. This will be described qualitatively, and in addition, indicators for cultural ecosystem services will be developed on a quantitative level. Thus, it will be possible to record and quantify cultural aspects of landscapes, such as the regional identity or an aesthetically attractive landscape. The insights gained will be incorporated into participatory scenarios to jointly discuss future landscape developments. For this, the DFG-funded Infrastructure Priority Programme “Biodiversity Exploratories” provides the appropriate empirical framework. Since 2006, mostly natural science data have been collected in three German regions in order to gain a better understanding of ecosystem processes and the effects of human interventions. The so-called “Exploratories” Schorfheide-Chorin, Hainich-Dün and Schwäbische Alb represent three landscape types that can be found throughout Europe: Sander and arable land, grassland, extensive forests and limestone-rich mountain ranges. The SoCuLa project's canon of methods includes workshops in the project regions as well as expert interviews and a literature review. These social science data are combined in an interdisciplinary way together with natural scientists in order to develop a joint picture of nature and society. Thus, it will be possible to further develop research on the multifunctionality of ecosystems.
Background
Global biodiversity loss continues unabated. Unsustainable land use is a direct driver of this development, as The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has shown with the help of a comprehensive meta-analysis. However, the existing global targets for biodiversity conservation are hardly implemented by the member countries, if at all. A prominent example is the failure to meet the UN Aichi Targets adopted at the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2010. In order to find causes and solutions for the lack of implementation, insights into societal developments is central. The behavior of society must be given greater consideration. Developments such as demographic change, digitalization or changes in values and norms also influence the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services. These changes influence land use at different levels. The project therefore focuses on identifying and analyzing these drivers and looks for approaches on how cultural landscapes can be sustainably shaped in the future.
Research and project partners
- University of Bergen, Norway
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre SBiK-F, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Funding
The project “Socio-cultural Dynamics of German Cultural Landscapes – A Future-oriented Perspective” is funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Biodiversity Exploratories (DFG Priority Program SPP 1374), Project Number 512359495
Duration
Contact person
Project team
Project Links
Related projects
- AJAP II – Environmentally friendly and sustainable control of the Asian bush mosquito
- Gender and Environmental Awareness
- AquaticPollutantsTransNet – Knowledge transfer for the reduction of pollutants and pathogens in the water cycle
- Drugs for man and the environment?
- Exploratory Studies on SÖF
- Scientific research support for the Trialogue on Germany’s “Energiewende” of the HUMBOLDT-VIADRINA School of Governance
- Substitution of Environmental Relevant Flame Retardants
- Biodiversity and Climate: Socio-ecological Biodiversity Research
- BioKompass – Communication and participation for the societal transformation towards bioeconomy
- BIOZ – Environmentally friendly control of West Nile virus transmitting mosquitoes
- Capital4Health – Transdisciplinary research for preventive healthcare
- ChemKom – Strategic science communication on the risks of perpetuity chemicals
- Dilemmas of sustainability – Meta-criteria for sustainability
- DINA – Diversity of Insects in Nature protected Areas
- Gender Impact Assessement for the BMU
- EKLIPSE – Knowledge and Learning Mechanism on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
- Eliminating micropollutants in sewage plants
- ENABLElocal – Enabling use of biodiversity monitoring data in local conservation management
- ENGAGE – Commitment to sustainable public welfare
- Evalunet - Evaluation Network for Transdisciplinary Research
- FlutNetz – Improving access to medical emergency care during flood disasters in Bangladesh
- GeisTreich – Geisenheim Transfer Program for Biodiverse and Multifunctional Viticulture
- Gender Impact Assessment of the EU-Programme "Enviroment and Sustainable Development"
- Gender Impact Assessment for the City of Bremen
- Gender Mainstreaming in the National Park Eifel
- Gender Mainstreaming in two Saxon Hospitals
- Gender equality as a contribution to successful climate policy
- Meta-Analysis of Gender and Research in Europe
- Gender, Sustainable Consumption and Environmental Load
- Societal impacts of research institutions: ARL Effectiveness Study
- gwTriade – Integrative monitoring of groundwater quality
- IMAGINE – Integrated Management of Green Infrastructure
- IMPACT – Corporate Social Responsibility in the EU
- INTAFERE – Integrated Analysis of Organic Impurities in Rivers
- Transdisciplinary Cognitive Integration
- KomKlAn – Status and Progress of Municipal Climate Adaptation in Germany
- Communication Strategies for the Handling of Pharmaceuticals
- Conflicts over the forest of the future
- LIMO – Land Use and Integrated Modelling
- LIRA 2030 – Fostering Transdisciplinarity in Africa
- MediPlanB – Effects of indigenous medicinal plants on health and biodiversity
- MORE STEP – Mobility at Risk: Sustaining the Mongolian Steppe Ecosystem (Phase I)
- MORE STEP – Mobility at Risk: Sustaining the Mongolian Steppe Ecosystem (Phase II)
- MORE STEP – Mobility at risk: Sustaining the Mongolian Steppe Ecosystem
- NaCoSi – Sustainability controlling of the domestic water management
- NamTip: Desertification in drylands – a Namibian tipping point (pre-phase)
- NamTip: Understanding and Managing Desertification Tipping Points – A Namibian Perspective
- NiddaMan – Sustainable Water Resources Management in the Nidda Catchment Area
- NormA – Normative Conflicts in the Field of Biodiversity
- OPTIMASS – Sustainable Management of Savanna Ecosystems
- Optimisation of the T-Net-Box
- ORYCS – Wildlife-based management strategies in Namibia
- Pharmas – Ecological and human health risk assessment of antibiotics and anticancer drugs found in the environment
- PlaNE – Planetary Health and Sustainable Nutrition
- PLASTRAT – Reduction of plastic discharges in lakes and running waters
- PlastX – Microplastics in bodies of running water
- PlastX – Plastic waste in seas and oceans
- Platform tdAcademy for transdisciplinary research and studies
- Quali-Set-Praxis - Practical Quality Assurance & Management in Health Promoting Settings
- Concept for the Framework Programme "Social-ecological Research" SÖF
- RARE - Corporate Social Responsibility in Europe
- regulate – Sustainable Groundwater Management in Europe
- Repack-network: sustainable food packaging
- RobustNature – Robustness of Nature-Society Systems in the Anthropocene
- SASSCAL – Research Infrastructure in Africa
- SASSCAL – Water-related vulnerabilities and risk in Southern Africa
- SAUBER+ Innovative concepts for wastewater from public health sector facilities
- SCIP Plastics – Strengthening Waste Prevention in Khulna and Reducing Marine Plastic Pollution
- SLInBio – Urban lifestyles and the valorization of biodiversity: dragonflies, grasshoppers, bumblebees and Co
- SoCoDES – Social-ecological dynamics of ecosystem services
- Social Dimensions of Sustainability
- Scientific Back-Up for the Research Project EPSECC
- Tracking down micropollutants
- start – Management Strategies for Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water
- start2 – Management Strategies for Hormonally Active Agrochemicals
- Sustainability as a Concept in the Social Sciences
- tdPrax – Strengthening the Practice of Transdisciplinarity
- tdPrax2 – transdisciplinary concepts and methods for research and higher education
- Transdisziplinary Integration - Cooperation and Concepts
- Transdisciplinarity in biodiversity research
- Transdisciplinarity in climate change adaptation research
- TransImpact – Effective Transdisciplinary Research
- TransRisk – Pollutants as a risk to the water cycle
- TRAPA India – Transition pathways for solving urban wastewater problems in Indian cities
- Environmental Risks and Pharmaceuticals: The Key Role of Pharmacies
- Support for the Projects for Sustainable Economies
- Forecasts of Social-Ecological Transformations
- Weschnitz Dialog: Communication and participation in the management of restoration measures along the river Weschnitz
- Effective policy advice through sustainability research
- Knowledge Communication
- Knowledge transfer of the results of basic scientific research
- Target Group Orientation and Gender Specific Design for Consumer Policies
- Conflicts of objectives between the application of medications and environmental protection
- Vision for Biodiversity