Tobias Plieninger

Join us for a symposium on "When Farmers Steward Forests: Social-Ecological Perspectives on the State & Trajectories of Domesticated Forests" at the FORESTT Conference in Metz in Oct 27! With J. Blanco, M. Deconchat & A. Pantera. forestt-international-conference.colloque.inrae.fr/scientific-p...

Local people's relational & intrinsic values matter for the conservation & restoration of urban waterscapes in Indian megacities. Our recent study of the lakes, ponds & riverfronts of Bengaluru, Hyderabat, Kolkata & Mumbai, led by K. Chowdhury, in @esandpeople.bsky.social. 🔗 doi.org/10.1080/2639...

How to prevent wildfires? Wildfires in the Mediterranean region are increasing in frequency and intensity. Researchers at our Uni & Kassel call for a new approach to planning resilience by diversifying landscapes: www.uni-goettingen.de/en/3240.html..., iScience: doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2026.116741

Wie kann man soziale, ökologische u ökonomische Vorteile durch kooperative Agrarumweltmaßnahmen & Co-Design auf Landschaftsebene erzielen? #Kooperativ Annika Hass, Isabelle Arimond, S. Schüler, @plieningerlab.bsky.social & @catrinwestphal.bsky.social conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

After 17 toolkits on participatory research methods published, what is our conclusion of their impact? Their contribution may not be immediate transformation itself, but the creation of relationships, trust & collective learning as basis of future transformation.🔗https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.35.3.8

Forest patches in farming landscapes are islands of old-growth structures & key reservoirs of forest biodiversity. Our paper shows how landscape context shapes old-growth habitats & predicts their abundance. Led by P. Hansen, with @andreasmoelder.bsky.social & M. Tiebel. 🔗 doi.org/10.1186/s135...

Finally, a new journal that is fully focused on landscape approaches and multifunctionality: CABI Multifunctional Landscapes. The journal website is now open for submissions. www.cabidigitallibrary.org/journal/cabi...

#Relationality has become central to social-ecological research - but what does relational thinking actually mean? In our recent Editorial of People & Nature, we offer practical suggestions for recognizing & implementing deeper relationality in research. 🔗 doi.org/10.1002/pan3...

Old-growth forest structures in small-scale private forests are strongly shaped by landscape context and can be reliably predicted using freely available spatial data. Our new paper together with @plieningerlab.bsky.social ➡️ rdcu.be/fxynT #Forestry #Conservation #LowerSaxony #Biodiversity

Mediterranean grassroots initiatives are building wildfire-resilient landscapes through grazing, agroforestry, prescribed burning & more. They now need investment & long-term support to scale. Our new review: doi.org/10.1016/j.is...

How do farmers view soil conservation? Our Q-sorts study in 🇲🇦 🇪🇸 🇹🇳 reveals diverse perspectives - from #ConservationAgriculture to crop diversification and conventional tillage. Recognising these views is key to co-designing effective soil conservation. 🌱 #ConServeTerra doi.org/10.1080/2168...

To catalyse #TransformativeChange, landscape planning needs to: ➡️ Include diverse actors & knowledge systems ➡️ Better link planning with action for restoration & sustainable use ➡️ Be embedded in broader governance change Our paper in @esandpeople.bsky.social, Albert et al: 🔗 doi.org/10.1080/2639...

#news Eine neue Studie zeigt: Traditionelle Landwirtschaft kann Ernährung sichern und zugleich Ökosysteme, Biodiversität und kulturelle Identität bewahren. Dafür wurden 22 landwirtschaftliche Weltkulturerbe-Systeme in 13 Ländern untersucht. 🔗 Mehr zur Studie: www.uni-goettingen.de/de/3240.html...

Traditionally farmed landscapes produce food while protecting nature & keeping cultural traditions alive. Our study of how Globally Important Agric.l Heritage Systems integrate natural & cultural heritage. Paper: ecologyandsociety.org/vol31/iss2/art3/ Summary: uni-goettingen.de/en/3240.html?id=8206

🌿🐺Sharing landscapes with wildlife: Our editorial in People & Nature. Livestock depredation is only one among many pressures on pastoralism. Coexistence with large carnivores requires not only compensation or fencing, but broader systemic societal-policy changes. 🔗https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.70366

We are looking for an inter- and transdisciplinary sustainability scientist for our research project "A social-ecological analysis of co-production of Mediterranean terrace landscapes". This is a 3-year postdoc position (100%). Application deadline: 30.06.26. drive.google.com/file/d/1l1e_...

From A (like 🎨Arts-based methods) to V (like 🎥Video development): Our Participatory Research Methods for Sustainability toolkits are now complete🎉. Check out toolkit #17 on #Storytelling by M. Jay et al. 🔗 Storytelling toolkit: doi.org/10.14512/gai... 🔗 All 17 toolkits: gaia.oekom.de/index.php/ga...

“Urban foraging is one of the things that keeps people connected to their local ecosystems, it gives you a sense of place and cohesion with your neighbourhood” (S. Dhyani). Great report on food gathering from blue spaces in India's megacities. @mongabay.com. india.mongabay.com/2026/05/the-...

To establish agroforestry in degraded, tree-less agricultural landscapes is a challenge. Can farmers' voices, expressed in poets, help? Find out in Claudia Heindorf's beautifully visualised field report from Türkiye, Morocco & Tunisia. #PeopleNatureLandscapesBlog. medium.com/people-natur...

#IntegratedLandscapeApproaches that mitigate wildfires through pastoralism, tree crops, agroforestry & traditional forest uses are on the rise across the Mediterranean. Nice to see the food- & landscape-related co-benefits of these initiatives covered in @nytimes.com. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/25/w...

#TransformativeChange toward sustainability takes place in the personal, political & practical spheres. In this new study, we use such lens to identify complex legal barriers & enabling factors for the scaling of #Agroforestry in Germany. 3rd PhD paper of Marina Klimke. doi.org/10.1007/s104....

I'm happy to join the Editorial Board of @esandpeople.bsky.social. E&P has developed into a central journal of the social-ecological community. I appreciate its author-friendly approach & its coverage of unconventional topics & regions. If you attend the ESP Prague conference, visit the E&P booth!

Motivations, practices & perceived benefits & barriers shape farmers'. Our study on a mental modeling workshop series with pioneer farmers in the Mediterranean. We find that soil health & other on-farm benefits are key motivators for transitioning to #ConservationAgriculture. doi.org/10.1007/s116...

How do mental models shape the way people understand food systems? Maria Chiara Camporese, Chaima Mobarak & Roxane Bradaczek report on their experiences from the Malmö Agroecology Forum in our #PeopleNatureLandscapesBlog. medium.com/people-natur...

Traditional irrigation systems have shaped Mediterranean mountains, plains & oases - supporting agricultural production, biodiversity & cultural heritage. We're happy to share our review of community-based stewardship of traditional irrigation systems. doi.org/10.1016/j.co...

Using the opportunity to highlight our study on peatlands & people. Claudia Heindorf et al. elicited societal values of a peat landscape under transformation in the form of participant-voiced poems. Top cited in @britishecologicalsociety.org's "People & Nature". doi.org/10.1002/pan3...

🧑‍🌾🐃🌾🐸 FAO-Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems introduce a cultural heritage perspective to #IntegratedLandscapeManagement. In this study, we identify 4 #GIAHS types, varying in how they balance food production & nature conservation. 1st PhD paper by MC Camporese. doi.org/10.5751/ES-1...

🥀 #Natura2000 protects the crown jewels of Europe's nature. How can this protected area network be future-proofed against environmental backlash? Here are some ideas how a biocultural perspective may help. 👉 Press release: www.uni-goettingen.de/en/3240.html... 🔗 Full paper: doi.org/10.1111/con4...

Reciprocity (the mutal care between humans & ecosystems) is a core value of a nature-positive society. Here, we disentangle the multiple dimensions of reciprocity between farmers in Myanmar & farm trees. @khant-htet.bsky.social @laurakmoch.bsky.social @esandpeople.bsky.social doi.org/10.1080/2639...

Repeat photography is a simple but effective method for visualising changes & assessing long-term developments of landscapes. Participatory research methods for sustainability Toolkit #16, now out in GAIA. By Matthias Bürgi, Elena Siegrist, Susan Lock & Tamara Estermann. doi.org/10.14512/gai...

🫎 🐸🌳Happy to share a Perspective on how a biocultural approach can strengthen the Natura 2000 network. It may help future-proof protected areas in times of populism, environm. backsliding & land-use conflicts. With M. Jay & @thartel.bsky.social. @consletters.bsky.social. 🔗doi.org/10.1111/con4.70038

New paper out in @consletters.bsky.social. We propose 5 leverage points for maintaining biodiversity in N2K sites: people, network design, monitoring, funding, and research. Nice collaboration with @plieningerlab.bsky.social and Marion Jay. Link: conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

What motivates actors to collaborate in #IntegratedLandscapeManagement? The work group “Navigating trade-offs & synergies between biodiversity & society in protected multifunctional landscapes” is happy to present its first output. With F. Turkelboom, M. Torralba et al. doi.org/10.5751/ES-1...

Protected areas are boundary objects that facilitate multiple connections between people and nature. Marion Jay showcases narratives of nature experiences by visitors & users of Natura 2000 reserves in Germany in our #PeopleNatureLandscapesBlog. medium.com/people-natur...

🌿@ipbes.net defined archetypes of human-relationships, the "Life Frames" (living in, as, from & with nature). How do life frames define the perception of nature's values by residents around protected areas? Our new study, out now in "Biological Conservation", led by M. Jay. 🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...

Congrats to Abul Polas for defending his PhD on "A people-centered approach to counter ecosystem degradation & support restoration" at @unikassel.bsky.social: 📍Sense of place: doi.org/10.1080/2639... 🌱Degradation/restoration: doi.org/10.1016/j.fo... 🌿Human-nature-connections: doi.org/10.1111/rec....

Degraded nature is increasing Europe's exposure to risks. The EU #NatureRestorationRegulation is thus not an environmental luxury, but provides basic risk management, says this interesting position paper from @easac.bsky.social. easac.eu/publications...

Interested in learning about #TransformativeChange of agriculture toward sustainability? At @unikassel.bsky.social we have an exciting interdisciplinary Master programme "Agriculture, Ecology & Societies". Application deadline for international candidates: 01.03.26

Paludiculture (wet agriculture) can align peatland restoration with farming, yet remains in a niche in Germany. Our new PLOS Sustainability & Transformation study examines pioneer farmers’ motivations & barriers. With M. Merkelbach, @laurakmoch.bsky.social & C. Heindorf. doi.org/10.1371/jour...

3 days to go to the International Year of Rangelands & Pastoralists! Some work from our group: 🌱🐄Biocultural diversity & livestock: doi.org/10.1016/j.an... 🌿🌍High nature value farming: doi.org/10.1002/pan3... 🏷️🐑Geographic Indication: doi.org/10.1080/1747... 🏜️🤝Pastoral values: doi.org/10.1016/j.la...

A powerful call by Amitav Ghosh for locally led climate solutions. In the Sundarbans of Bangladesh & India this means moving away from embankment construction, shrimp farming & assisted migration, toward community-based agroecology approaches. www.equator.org/articles/bey...

Many Indigenous philosophies acknowledge respect & reciprocity between people & nature. Affective ties to land & home are also at the heart of Tamazirt thinking of Amazigh communities in Morocco. Tamazirt could serve as an Indigenous anchor point for rural revitalisation. 🔗 doi.org/10.1007/s132...

How do multiple & interconnected social-ecological crises (water scarcity, economic crisis, sociocultural value crisis) affect traditional rural lifeways & drive land abandonment and migration decisions in Morocco's High Atlas? Our new paper, led by @laurakmoch.bsky.social. 🔗 doi.org/10.1007/s132...

"Iran’s greatest current existential crisis is what hydrologists are calling its rapidly approaching water bankruptcy." Great essay on Iran's existential water crisis & how restoration of ancient qanat water collection technologies could provide a sustainable solution. e360.yale.edu/features/ira...

Wie lassen sich Europas #Agrarlandschaften so wiederherstellen, dass die #Ökosysteme und auch die #Gesellschaft profitieren? Forschende haben Empfehlungen für eine sozial inklusive Umsetzung der neuen EU-Verordnung veröffentlicht. Mehr: www.uni-goettingen.de/de/3240.html...

The EU #NatureRestorationRegulation may sound dry, but it can inspire ideas for reconnecting people with nature. Our policy article outlines how to foster active learning, cultural values, caring attitudes, land-use synergies & collaboration. doi.org/10.1111/rec.... www.uni-kassel.de/uni/aktuelle...

@ipbes.net flags conserving & regenerating places of value to nature & people as key for #TransformativeChange. Our India study shows urban lakes, ponds & canals act as such places, supporting livelihoods while shaping #BioculturalDiversity & urban #FoodSystemSustainability. doi.org/10.1038/s442...

Urban Blue Spaces: the overlooked rivers, lakes and wetlands in cities. Researchers surveyed 1,200 people in 4 cities in India and found foraging to be widespread, providing valuable food, income, culture, connections: www.uni-goettingen.de/en/3240.html... #NatureCities: doi.org/10.1038/s442...