Large scale restoration of agroecosystems – Opportunities and Challenges of participatory monitoring.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2wlH2NrnZU&w=700&h=395]

Restoration practices must be designed in environmentally, socially and economically efficient ways in order to enhance long term farmer adoption. Putting together farmers’ experiences and scientific knowledge through participatory monitoring can help to find the most feasible solutions to develop resilient agroecosystems. However, involving multiple stakeholders in research can be challenging and requires careful design of collaborative monitoring adapted to the local context.

In this Digital Summit, three cases of participatory montoring used to foster agroecosystem restoration will be shared. The case studies present differing methods that have been used in research in three ecosystems: African thickets and forests, Mediterranean drylands in Spain, and the subtropical Atlantic rainforest in Brazil. After considering the strengths and lessons learnt from these case studies, we will facilitate a discussion about plausible strategies, benefits, challenges and limitations of participatory monitoring to facilitate knowledge exchange, foster the restoration of agroecosystems, and promote science with impact.

Speakers:

• Moderator: Dr. Joris de Vente, Spanish National Research Council (CEBAS-CSIC)
• MSc Raquel Luján Soto, Spanish National Research Council (CEBAS-CSIC) & Institute of Sociology and Peasant Studies (ISEC) – University of Cordoba.
• Mr. Piet Krueger, Farmer participating in Living Lands restoration initiative (South Africa).
• Dr Lindsay Stringer, University of Leeds
• MSc Heitor Mancini Teixeira, WUR (NL) and University of Viçosa (Brasil)

This Digital Summit is hosted by GLF and initiated by J. de Vente and R. Lujan Soto from the Spanish National Research Council as a partner in the ENABLE consortium and supported by a research grant from Fundación la Caixa.