A rose by any other name? Evaluating integrated landscape approaches in the tropicsJames Reed, Josh van Vianen, Jos Barlow, Terry Sunderland

Global Landscapes Forum, Marrakesh, 16th November 2016

What are landscape approaches and how effectively have they been implemented in the tropics?

Landscape approaches are the latest in an evolution of integrated attempts to reconcile C&D.

1980s 1990s 2000s 2010 - present

1980s: Integrated Rural Development 1998: Integrated

Natural Resource Management (INRM)

1985 onwards: Integrated Conservation & Development projects (ICDPs)

Contributing Sciences:Ecosystem ManagementLandscape EcologyIsland biogeography

Conservation rooted frameworks e.g. “Ecosystem Approach”

1992: “Landscape Approach” first documented (Barrett 1992)

(Integrated) Landscape Approach frameworks

Key findings from the “theory” literatureOptimizing adoption of landscape approaches:• evaluating progress within a landscape is fundamental to

determining where gains or losses are being made• hybrid, multi-level and cross-sectoral governance structures

that integrate internal traditional knowledge and external institutional and financial support are increasingly preferable

• must acknowledge the need for contextualisation and not subscribe to panaceas

• inclusive, participatory stakeholder negotiation can help align local socio-cultural and global environmental concerns

• should recognise dynamic processes and perverse outcomes

See: Reed et al. 2016 - Integrated landscape approaches to managing social and environmental issues in the tropics: learning from the past to guide the future

Geographic distribution of landscape approaches

1 (5 countries represented)2 (1)

3 (2)4 (1)

Geographic distribution (grey literature)

Quality of the evidencePeer reviewed articles

Grey literature (web screening)

Grey literature (document screening)

Totals

Number of case studies

24 97 53 174

Number reported success

13 (54%) 46 (47%) 20 (38%) 79 (45%)

Reliable data provided

6 (46%) 8 (17%) 1 (5%) 15 (19%)

Environmental and socio-economic impacts

Factors influencing “success”

Influence of governance structure

Key findings from the literature

Current barriers to effective implementation:

• the ongoing development of theory and conceptualization may be stimulating time lags

• the proliferation of terms associated with landscape approaches may be impeding policy and practice progress

• operating silos persist at all levels and scales• engaging multiple stakeholders is all too often seen as

a box-ticking exercise to satisfy project requirements• monitoring remains the least well developed area of

landscape approach application

Conclusions and recommendations

Landscape approaches remain contentious and under-theorized

There is good evidence of “landscape approaches” being implemented within the tropics but weak evidence of effectiveness

Multi-level engagement seems fundamental to success

Attempts to implement must be contextualized and willing to embrace complexity

Metrics need to continue to develop

Future outputs and research opportunities

A toolkit for landscape approach implementation

A synthesis of landscape approach frameworks

Analysis of stakeholder perceptions in a landscape approach

Evaluation of landscape approach in practice

Assessment of landscape approach investments

Thanks for listening!For further information:James Reed: j.reed@cgiar.orgTerry Sunderland: t.sunderland@cgiar.org