Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research in Practice: Lessons from Inter- and Transdisciplinary Research in the Austrian Eisenwurzen

Simone Gingrich, Martin Schmid, Thomas Dirnböck, Iwona Dullinger, Rita Garstenauer, Veronika Gaube, Helmut Haberl, Martin Kainz, Daniel Kreiner, Renate Mayer, Michael Mirtl, Oliver Sass, Thomas Schauppenlehner, Andrea Stocker-Kiss and Martin Wildenberg
Additional contact information
Simone Gingrich: Institute of Social Ecology, Alpen-Adria Universitaet, 1070 Vienna, Austria
Martin Schmid: Institute of Social Ecology, Alpen-Adria Universitaet, 1070 Vienna, Austria
Thomas Dirnböck: Department for Ecosystem Research and Environmental Information Management, Environment Agency Austria, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Iwona Dullinger: Institute of Social Ecology, Alpen-Adria Universitaet, 1070 Vienna, Austria
Rita Garstenauer: Zentrum für Migrationsforschung, 3109 St. Pölten, Austria
Veronika Gaube: Institute of Social Ecology, Alpen-Adria Universitaet, 1070 Vienna, Austria
Helmut Haberl: Institute of Social Ecology, Alpen-Adria Universitaet, 1070 Vienna, Austria
Martin Kainz: WasserCluster Lunz–Biologische Station, Danube University Krems, 3293 Lunz am See, Austria
Daniel Kreiner: Department of Nature Conservation/Research, Gesäuse National Park, 8911 Admont, Austria
Renate Mayer: Agricultural Research and Education Center Raumberg-Gumpenstein, 8952 Irdning-Donnersbachtal, Austria
Michael Mirtl: Department for Ecosystem Research and Environmental Information Management, Environment Agency Austria, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Oliver Sass: Department of Geography and Regional Science, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
Thomas Schauppenlehner: Institute for Landscape Development, Recreation and Conservation Planning, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1180 Vienna, Austria
Andrea Stocker-Kiss: Department for Ecosystem Research and Environmental Information Management, Environment Agency Austria, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Martin Wildenberg: Research Centre of Expertise RCE-Vienna, Institute for Ecological Economics, Vienna University of Economics and Business, 1020 Vienna, Austria

Sustainability, 2016, vol. 8, issue 8, 1-14

Abstract: Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research (LTSER) is an inter- and transdisciplinary research field addressing socio-ecological change over time at various spatial and temporal scales. In the Austrian Eisenwurzen region, an LTSER platform was founded in 2004. It has fostered and documented research projects aiming at advancing LTSER scientifically and at providing regional stakeholders with relevant information for sustainable regional development. Since its establishment, a broad range of research activities has been pursued in the region, integrating information from long-term ecological monitoring sites with approaches from social sciences and the humanities, and in cooperation with regional stakeholders. Based on the experiences gained in the Eisenwurzen LTSER platform, this article presents current activities in the heterogeneous field of LTSER, identifying specific (inter-)disciplinary contributions of three research strands of LTSER: long-term ecological research, socio-ecological basic research, and transdisciplinary research. Given the broad array of diverse contributions to LTSER, we argue that the platform has become a relevant “boundary organization,” linking research to its regional non-academic context, and ensuring interdisciplinary exchange among the variety of disciplines. We consider the diversity of LTSER approaches an important resource for future research. Major success criteria of LTSER face specific challenges: (1) existing loose, yet stable networks need to be maintained and extended; (2) continuous generation of and access to relevant data needs to be secured and more data need to be included; and (3) consecutive research projects that have allowed for capacity building in the past may be threatened in the future if national Austrian research funders cease to provide resources.

Keywords: long-term socio-ecological research (LTSER); long-term ecological research (LTER); transdisciplinary cooperation; Eisenwurzen LTSER platform (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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