Integrating ecosystem services in landscape planning

@phdthesis{af920a56d597455caefa6b228454d1c3,
  title = "Integrating ecosystem services in landscape planning: options, implications, and recommendations ",
  abstract = "Although landscape planning in Europe is well positioned to successfully support decision-making concerning sustainable landscape development, its planning proposals often experience substantial implementation deficits. The concept of ecosystem services could arguably contribute to bridging this knowledge-to-action gap. This cumulative habilitation thesis aims at both exploring potential implications of and deriving recommendations for integrating the ecosystem services concept in landscape planning. The thesis focusses on landscape planning in a European context, and uses the German system as a case study. The research design consist of developing an analytical framework that identifies landscape planning domains in which integrating the ecosystem services could yield changes, and synthesizing insights from 13 journal articles that together comprise this thesis. One of the results of the thesis is that integrating the ecosystem services concept can yield changes in all landscape planning domains considered, but the degree of incurred changes will depend on the specific planning context and instrument considered, as well as the actual definition, framing and application of the ecosystem services concept applied. Theories in landscape planning can change through the introduction of new terms and statements. Changes in the theories of planning may include stronger emphasizing transdisciplinarity and values of ecosystem services as derived from citizen and actor consultation as bases for reasoning planning proposals. Different options and respective implications exist for integrating the ecosystem services concept in landscape planning methods for assessment, target development and the proposition of implementation measures. Planning outcomes may be altered as well, both in terms of the kinds of information generated and the changes induced in the knowledge and relationships of participating actors. The thesis concludes with recommendations for further research, for practical experimentation, and remarks for ways forward in Germany.",
  author = "Christian Albert",
  year = "2019",
  month = may,
  day = "10",
  doi = "10.15488/4780",
  language = "English",
  publisher = "Leibniz Universit{\"a}t Hannover",
  type = "Habilitation treatise",
  school = "Leibniz University Hannover"
}