A Word from the New Book Review Editors

Non peer reviewe

Assessing stakeholder perceptions of landscape and place in the context of a major river intervention : a call for their inclusion in adaptive management

Adaptive management strategies are required to manage multi-actor and multifunctional river landscapes. Such strategies need to be inclusive of perspectives of different stakeholders. We present a case study of a pilot engineering project in the Dutch river Waal, which drastically changed the appearance of the river landscape. We study perceptions of four stakeholder groups (residents, recreational anglers, recreational boaters and shipping professionals) regarding the impacts of this intervention on landscape values, including aesthetics, naturalness, biodiversity, flood safety and accessibility. Results show that stakeholders differ in which functions of the river landscape they found important and how they perceive the longitudinal dams to influence the landscape. They also differ in levels of place attachment and trust in the responsible authority. Shipping professionals stood out for their more negative evaluations of the dams compared to the other stakeholders, while especially residents demonstrated high levels of place identity and connection with nature. Residents also feel that the dams are improving flood risk safety in the area, and they positively evaluate knowledge and skills of Dutch water managers. These results provide water managers with much needed insights into landscape functions valued by different stakeholder groups and those perceived as most endangered by landscape interventions.Peer reviewe

Rethinking tourism conflict potential within and between groups using participatory mapping

Tourism on small tropical islands in the Global South is a balancing act between development to improve local livelihoods and the conservation of fragile coastal and coral ecosystems. The objective of our study is to develop a series of new spatial metrics to support sustainable development through assessing the direction and magnitude of tourism development support and conflict between groups. We surveyed 317 individuals out of an estimated total population of 3300 using public participation GIS (PPGIS) on Tioman Island, Malaysia. Here we present a first example of how nuances in conflict can be articulated spatially across different levels of attitude toward tourism development within and between different segments of the population. Our results suggest that treating a population as homogeneous risks missing place specific development conflicts between segments of the population and locations of agreement where development can be managed sustainably with the support of the community.Peer reviewe

Integrating sense of place in planning and management of multifunctional river landscapes: experiences from five European case studies

River landscapes are complex social-ecological systems with many benefts for people. A common challenge is to integrate social values in river planning and management. In particular, there is a paucity of research on the meaning and signifcance of place in river recreation and how people feel emotionally and spiritually connected to river landscapes. Based on fve European case studies, this study compares diferent methods and approaches for mapping sense of place in river landscapes and subsequently addresses the question of how these studies can inform participatory processes. The case studies are set in diverse geographical, institutional and policy contexts, including the planning and evaluation of river restoration projects in Switzerland, Denmark, Germany and Spain and the monitoring of the efects of newly constructed river dams in the Netherlands. This comparative study is a frst step in understanding the breadth of analytical and spatial approaches that can be used to assess sense of place in river landscapes and their implications for resilient river landscape planning and management

A review of volunteers’ motivations to monitor and control invasive alien species

People make an important contribution to the study and management of biological invasions, as many monitoring and control projects rely heavily on volunteer assistance. Understanding the reasons why people participate in such projects is critical for successful recruitment and retention of volunteers. We used a meta-synthesis approach to extract, analyze and synthesize the available information from 28 selected studies investigating motivations of volunteers to engage in monitoring and control of invasive alien species (IAS). Our findings show how motivations fit three broad themes, reflecting environmental concerns, social motivations, and personal reasons. An important outcome of this study is the description of motivations that are unique to the IAS context: supporting IAS management, protecting native species and habitats, and livelihood/food/income protection or opportunities. In addition, our study reflects on important methodological choices for investigating volunteer motivations as well as ethical issues that may arise in practice. We conclude with a set of recommendations for project design and future research on volunteer motivations in IAS contexts, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with social scientists

Motivations of citizen scientists to engage in projects on invasive alien species

The ongoing transport and spread of alien species worldwide are among the distinguishing characteristics of the Anthropocene. Likewise, despite its long history, citizen science (CS) is increasingly being recognized as a 21st century phenomenon. The critical mass of citizen scientists is evident by the steady increase in the number of projects depending on volunteer participation. The same is true of projects dealing with the problem of invasive alien species (IAS), which rely heavily on volunteers’ help for the initial detection of new invaders and their subsequent control and eradication. However, despite their importance for the success of many CS IAS projects, little is known about the motivations guiding volunteers to participate in IAS projects. Consequently, the goal of this research was to uncover the main motivations leading volunteers to take part in IAS projects and thus ensure a better and more successful design of future IAS CS project initiatives. A meta-synthesis approach was used to search for, analyze and synthesize the results obtained from the selected publications. Relevant studies were searched for using multiple databases (Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar and Google), using a search string encompassing (through a set of relevant synonyms) the three relevant topics: motivations, citizen science and invasive alien species. Filtering of the resulting documents was performed on several levels, aiming to finally include only those studies with empirical evidence pertaining to the participants’ motivations, leading to the final set of 27 relevant publications. A list of 202 statements pertaining to volunteer motivations was retrieved from the selected documents, and the listed motivations were further assigned to broader motivation categories using an iterative coding approach. The process of iterative categorization of the motivation statements yielded 16 different motivations affecting the participation of volunteers in IAS CS actions. These motivations have been further divided into those which are primarily environmental (supporting IAS management, helping the environment and protecting native species and habitats), those with a social connotation (social interaction, community responsibility and contribution to science) and those which are more personal (learning something new, personal and career development, feeling of accomplishment, health and wellbeing, enjoyment and fun). Some of the listed motivations are influenced by more than one aspect. For example, outdoor recreation, contact with nature and attachment to a particular place are motivations which refer to both a personal and an environmental aspect, while wanting to share existing knowledge and livelihood/food/income protection or opportunities are equally part of the social and personal aspect of motivations. An important outcome of this research is its recognition of previously unreported motivations, unique to IAS CS initiatives: 1) supporting invasive alien species (IAS) management, 2) protecting native species and habitats, and 3) livelihood/food/income protection or opportunities, as these aspects could be the cornerstones of future IAS CS project campaign

Storylines for practice: a visual storytelling approach to strengthen the science‑practice interface

A growing number of scientifc publications is available to promote sustainable river management. However, these publications target researchers rather than water management professionals who are responsible for the implementation of management practices. To bridge this science-to-practice gap, we conceptualize and propose a series of steps to prepare efective storylines targeted at a practitioner audience. We developed this approach within a research program that supports integrated and collaborative river management. We prepared three storylines, each based on one scientifc publication. The storylines combined text and interactive visuals using the ESRI StoryMaps tool to make them available online. Via focus groups with 44 participants from research and practice, we evaluated the perceived usefulness of and engagement with the content and design. We collected feedback from participants using a survey as well as via audio and screen recordings. Our fndings show that we should narrow down the audience of the storylines by tailoring them to the needs of project managers rather than specialized advisors. Therefore, the content should ofer more than a visual summary of the research by showing examples of the management application. A more engaging sequence with a clear protagonist is further required to better relate to the problem and the potential application. Although visuals and interactive elements were considered attractive, a multi-disciplinary editorial team is necessary to better complement the visuals’ design to the text. The level of detail of participants’ feedback shows that involving project managers to co-create storylines can be an important step for improvement.Peer reviewe

Metaphors in Invasion Biology: Implications for Risk Assessment and Management of Non-Native Species

Contains fulltext : 161410.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access

Navigating overgrazing and cultural values through narratives and participatory mapping : a socio-cultural analysis of sheep grazing in the Faroe Islands

Long-term livestock grazing has shaped landscapes, biodiversity, societies, cultures, and economies in the North Atlantic over time. However, overgrazing has become a major environmental sustainability challenge for this region, covering the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and Scotland. The objective of this study was to elicit narratives and spatial patterns of local people's management preferences for sheep grazing in the Faroe Islands through a socio-cultural lens. We collected data via a Public Participation Geographic Information Systems (PPGIS) survey with an open question about hopes and concerns for sheep management in the Faroe Islands and a mapping exercise for expressing spatial preferences for sheep management. Four distinct narratives emerged from a qualitative analysis of responses to the open question (n = 184): (1) Sustainable sheep management, (2) Nature without sheep, (3) Sheep as part of Faroese culture, and (4) Sheep as nuisance. Visual inspection of narrative-specific maps with locations where either no or fewer sheep were preferred indicated that sheep management is not simply a 'sheep vs. no sheep' issue but embedded in a more nuanced consideration of the place of sheep in the landscape and society. For example, for some residents sheep-farming is not a commercial enterprise but a social activity and local source of food. Our combined methodological approach using qualitative and spatial data can help researchers in other fields identify the interplay between place-specific areas of grazing management concern and socio-cultural values, enabling more targeted land-use management policies or plans.Peer reviewe