Literature syntheses to inform marine ecosystem management: lessons learned from stakeholder participation

Systematic literature syntheses are a key element in the scientific realm, considering the steadily growing amount of available knowledge. Involving stakeholders in the research process brings a wide range of advantages, like broadening the perspectives on the problem in question, increasing the relevance of results for policy- and decision-making, the public and other end-users and thus enhancing the impact and acceptance of research. While participatory approaches are on the rise, reflections on stakeholder involvement in systematic syntheses on environmental management are scarce. We reflect on the process of involving stakeholders with expertise also from outside academia during three literature syntheses with different foci of marine and coastal ecosystem services in the Baltic Sea. Our analysis is based on notes, e-mails, minutes and recordings of internal project meetings, interviews and workshops involving both researchers and stakeholders. We discuss the challenges the participatory approach introduced and develop lessons learned to support the planning of stakeholder engagement for future literature syntheses. We conclude that stakeholder identification, communication, collaboration and knowledge translation are highly time- and resource-intensive processes. Furthermore, appropriate training and experience are necessary for the design, execution and evaluation of participatory methods tailored to each project stage. Therefore, we underline the importance of adequate consideration of the required resources during project planning and implementation. To encourage and support valuable stakeholder engagement and knowledge exchange between the research community and actors of policy and practice, more appreciation of such efforts by funding institutions and within the wider scientific community is needed

Evidence on the impact of Baltic Sea ecosystems on human health and well-being: a systematic map

Background: While the unique marine and coastal environment of the Baltic Sea provides numerous ecosystem services, its ecosystems are under pressure due to the intensification and diversification of anthropogenic uses. This present work constitutes a systematic map of the evidence of the impacts of ecosystem services and disservices on human health and well-being. The aim is to create a better understanding of the threats of unsustainable management or the benefits of sustainable management of the Baltic Sea and the impacts these may have on the health and well-being of human populations and present these findings to policy advisors. The mapping process is described, and the characteristics of the evidence base are presented. Methods: The applied method has been previously published in a systematic map protocol. Literature searches were carried out in English considering published peer-reviewed literature from traditional scientific journals and scientific reports from the grey literature, using synthesis software. A total of 17 databases were searched. Articles were screened in stages at title and abstract stage, then full-text stage. Geographic limitations were placed on the searches in accordance with research funders call, however, watersheds that had an impact on the Baltic Sea marine and coastal regions were considered. We used the more open PEO format, where population (P) included the human populations within the marine and coastal environment of the Baltic Sea region, exposure (E) related to the Baltic Sea ecosystems services and disservices, and the outcome (O) included all aspects of human health and well-being. After full-text screening articles selected for inclusion were searched for metadata connected to bibliographic information, ecosystem services, health and well-being outcomes and policy relevance. Review findings: Out of 6456 hits only 460 studies discussed either health or well-being indicators to some extent. Of these, only 67 explicitly mentioned ecosystem services and health and well-being indicators. However, few in this subset engaged with the topic of ecosystem services or disservices and health and well-being in depth. Studies are increasingly relating the two concepts but currently it is mainly studies focussed on cultural ecosystem services that deal with the concept of health and well-being to a greater degree. Studies in the medical literature relating to impacts on health from exposure to the Baltic Sea did not relate their findings to ecosystem services. The database of 67 studies is attached as Additional file 5. Conclusions: Ecosystem services play an important role in human health and well-being; however, we found few studies that explicitly examine these impacts in detail. Further research is needed to link the health and well-being outcomes from the Baltic Sea to the ecosystem services supplied and therefore to demonstrate the benefits and disservices provided by the Baltic Sea ecosystems to human populations

When Peace and Quiet Is Not Enough: Place-Shaping and the Role of Leaders in Sustainability and Quality of Life in Rural Estonia and Latvia

Estonian and Latvian rural inhabitants enjoy many factors enhancing the quality of life, such as the peace and quiet of the countryside, fresh food and rural activities. However, these benefits are insufficient to overcome poor employment prospects in rural areas. Place-shaping practices have transformative powers that are instrumental in achieving sustainable change in communities. The process of reappreciating local landscapes creates memories of positive associations with symbolic meaning; it helps inhabitants to strengthen their sense of place identity and re-grounds their appreciation into a specific local context. Sustainable rural futures require conditions where inhabitants feel listened to and that are responsive to their needs. They also require inspirational leaders to facilitate change and create networks of opportunities, linking inhabitants to the outside world and resources. Leaders may play an important role of re-positioning local communities for the future, creating new experiences or new opportunities, which further feeds re-appreciation of place and enhances quality of life. In order to understand the main issues of the rural areas, two villages with active rural projects in Estonia and Latvia were selected to analyse the role that leaders play in the development of the area and the barriers to a more sustainable approach

Kui rahu ja vaikus pole küllalt – uurimus kogukondade väljakutsetest Eesti ja Läti ruraalmaastikes

A thesis for applying for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Landscape Architecture.Estonian and Latvian rural landscapes are not static; they evolve under environmental influences, both natural and socioeconomic. The landscapes have undergone rapid transformation from the collectivised Soviet period to independence and privatisation, followed by changes fuelled by accession to the European Union. The people’s relationship to landscape has also changed as perceptions and values respond to their experiences of landscape changes. Investigations were made in small rural communities examining the landscape values that attach inhabitants to place; the elements shaping landscape identity; place-shaping processes that transform communities; and conflicting views of the landscape-scale wildlife management. Data were collected from stakeholder interviews, workshops and an ongoing observation. This study revealed inhabitants had multiple anchors with varying degrees of attachment to the physical and cultural aspects of landscapes that gave them a sense of place. The inhabitants appreciated the peace and quiet, the quality of life afforded by access to natural food, the freedom to forage and a connection to natural landscapes. Cultural and family networks also gave strength and support to rural lifestyles. In some places, landscape identity was strengthened through place-shaping processes, such as revitalising old or initiating new traditions, leading to rising self-esteem among inhabitants. However, this was not enough to reverse the decline exacerbated by dwindling resources and outmigration. Willingness and ability to participate in landscape-scale management processes varied. A lack of effective dialogue discouraged inhabitants from participating, thus there was a need to listen to those most affected. These findings revealed important networks where planners could engage with local inhabitants and identified possible barriers to participation. Rural landscapes need healthy, thriving communities to provide the food, recreation and renewable energy of the future. Therefore, it is recommended that communities are provided the resources to support them in facing the challenges of an ageing population and draw younger generations to reinvigorate rural landscapes.Eesti ja Läti ruraalmaastikud ei seisa muutumatult, vaid on pidevas arengus. Muutused lähtuvad keskkonnaoludest, nii looduslikest kui sotsiaal-majanduslikest. Maastikud on läbi teinud kiire ülemineku kollektiviseeritud nõukogude perioodist vabaduse ja eraomanduse oludesse, mida on võimendanud Euroopa Liiduga ühinemise järgsed muutused. Inimeste suhe maastikusse on ka teisenenud, kuivõrd taju ja väärtused vastavad maastiku muutustele. Väikestes maa-kogukondades uuriti kohaga siduvaid maastiku väärtusi, identiteeti kujundavaid maastikuelemente, kogukonda teisendavat säästvat kohakujundusprotsessi ja vastanduvaid vaated ulukikorraldusele maastiku tasemel. Andmed koguti asjalistelt intervjuude, seminaride ja vaatluste vahendusel. Uuringud tõid ilmsiks mitmeid ankruid, mis seovad elanikke kohatunde andnud maastike füüsiliste ja kultuuriliste aspektidega. Maakogukondade liikmed hindasid kõrgelt maaelu rahu ja vaikust ning elukvaliteeti, mida andis loomulik toit, vabadus korjata metsaande ja lähedus looduslikule keskkonnale. Maalistele eluviisidele lisasid tugevust kultuurilised ja perekondlikud võrgustikud. Mõnelpool oli maastikuidentiteet tugevam tänu kohaloomele, nagu näiteks vanade või uute traditsioonide ellukutsumine, mille tulemusel tõusis kogukonna eneseväärikus. Sellegipoolest polnud see piisav, et ümber pöörata kahanevatest ressurssidest ja väljarännust põhjustatud allakäiku. Maastiku-taseme korraldustegevuses osalemise huvi ja võimekus oli kogukondades varieeruv. Tõhusa dialoogi puudumine heidutas elanikud kaasamisüritustelt, sel moel olid ära kuulamata need, kes kõige enam abi vajavad. Uuringu tulemused tõid esile võrgustikud, millega planeerijad võiksid arvestada kohalike elanike kaasamisel ning ka võimalikud tõkked osalemisele. Ruraalmaastikud vajavad tervislikke, edualteid kogukondi, et pakkuda ühiskonnale tulevikus toitu, virgestusvõimalust ja taastuvenergiat. Seepärast on soovitatav, et sealsed kogukonnad saaksid vahendeid, et tulla toime väljakutsetega, nagu elanikkonna vananemine ja noore põlvkonna tagasisaamine maamaastike taasjõustamiseks.Publication of this dissertation has been supported by the Estonian University of Life Sciences

Literature syntheses to inform marine ecosystem management: lessons learned from stakeholder participation

ABSTRACTSystematic literature syntheses are a key element in the scientific realm, considering the steadily growing amount of available knowledge. Involving stakeholders in the research process brings a wide range of advantages, like broadening the perspectives on the problem in question, increasing the relevance of results for policy- and decision-making, the public and other end-users and thus enhancing the impact and acceptance of research. While participatory approaches are on the rise, reflections on stakeholder involvement in systematic syntheses on environmental management are scarce. We reflect on the process of involving stakeholders with expertise also from outside academia during three literature syntheses with different foci of marine and coastal ecosystem services in the Baltic Sea. Our analysis is based on notes, e-mails, minutes and recordings of internal project meetings, interviews and workshops involving both researchers and stakeholders. We discuss the challenges the participatory approach introduced and develop lessons learned to support the planning of stakeholder engagement for future literature syntheses. We conclude that stakeholder identification, communication, collaboration and knowledge translation are highly time- and resource-intensive processes. Furthermore, appropriate training and experience are necessary for the design, execution and evaluation of participatory methods tailored to each project stage. Therefore, we underline the importance of adequate consideration of the required resources during project planning and implementation. To encourage and support valuable stakeholder engagement and knowledge exchange between the research community and actors of policy and practice, more appreciation of such efforts by funding institutions and within the wider scientific community is needed