TY - JOUR

T1 - Participatory scenario planning in place-based social-ecological research

T2 - Insights and experiences from 23 case studies

AU - Oteros-Rozas, Elisa

AU - Martín-López, Berta

AU - Daw, Tim M.

AU - Bohensky, Erin L.

AU - Butler, James R A

AU - Hill, Rosemary

AU - Martin-Ortega, Julia

AU - Quinlan, Allyson

AU - Ravera, Federica

AU - Ruiz-Mallén, Isabel

AU - Thyresson, Matilda

AU - Mistry, Jayalaxshmi

AU - Palomo, Ignacio

AU - Peterson, Garry D.

AU - Plieninger, Tobias

AU - Waylen, Kerry A.

AU - Beach, Dylan M.

AU - Bohnet, Iris C.

AU - Hamann, Maike

AU - Hanspach, Jan

AU - Hubacek, Klaus

AU - Lavorel, Sandra

AU - Vilardy, Sandra P.

PY - 2015/1/1

Y1 - 2015/1/1

N2 - Participatory scenario planning (PSP) is an increasingly popular tool in place-based environmental research for evaluating alternative futures of social-ecological systems. Although a range of guidelines on PSP methods are available in the scientific and grey literature, there is a need to reflect on existing practices and their appropriate application for different objectives and contexts at the local scale, as well as on their potential perceived outcomes. We contribute to theoretical and empirical frameworks by analyzing how and why researchers assess social-ecological systems using place-based PSP, hence facilitating the appropriate uptake of such scenario tools in the future. We analyzed 23 PSP case studies conducted by the authors in a wide range of social-ecological settings by exploring seven aspects: (1) the context; (2) the original motivations and objectives; (3) the methodological approach; (4) the process; (5) the content of the scenarios; (6) the outputs of the research; and (7) the monitoring and evaluation of the PSP process. This was complemented by a reflection on strengths and weaknesses of using PSP for the place-based social-ecological research. We conclude that the application of PSP, particularly when tailored to shared objectives between local people and researchers, has enriched environmental management and scientific research through building common understanding and fostering learning about future planning of social-ecological systems. However, PSP still requires greater systematic monitoring and evaluation to assess its impact on the promotion of collective action for transitions to sustainability and the adaptation to global environmental change and its challenges.

AB - Participatory scenario planning (PSP) is an increasingly popular tool in place-based environmental research for evaluating alternative futures of social-ecological systems. Although a range of guidelines on PSP methods are available in the scientific and grey literature, there is a need to reflect on existing practices and their appropriate application for different objectives and contexts at the local scale, as well as on their potential perceived outcomes. We contribute to theoretical and empirical frameworks by analyzing how and why researchers assess social-ecological systems using place-based PSP, hence facilitating the appropriate uptake of such scenario tools in the future. We analyzed 23 PSP case studies conducted by the authors in a wide range of social-ecological settings by exploring seven aspects: (1) the context; (2) the original motivations and objectives; (3) the methodological approach; (4) the process; (5) the content of the scenarios; (6) the outputs of the research; and (7) the monitoring and evaluation of the PSP process. This was complemented by a reflection on strengths and weaknesses of using PSP for the place-based social-ecological research. We conclude that the application of PSP, particularly when tailored to shared objectives between local people and researchers, has enriched environmental management and scientific research through building common understanding and fostering learning about future planning of social-ecological systems. However, PSP still requires greater systematic monitoring and evaluation to assess its impact on the promotion of collective action for transitions to sustainability and the adaptation to global environmental change and its challenges.

KW - Futures research

KW - Methodological insights

KW - Participation

KW - Place-based research

KW - Scenarios

KW - Social-ecological systems

KW - Sustainability Science

KW - Futures research

UR - http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol20/iss4/art32/

U2 - 10.5751/ES-07985-200432

DO - 10.5751/ES-07985-200432

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:84951080054

VL - 20

JO - Ecology and Society

JF - Ecology and Society

SN - 1708-3087

IS - 4

M1 - 32

ER -