What started as a discussion at the 2019 OSM is now a paper in the Journal of Land Use Science! In it, the authors aim to start a discussion on how to better include culture in land system science (LSS). Through four examples, they show how aspects of culture influence land systems in myriad ways. Building on existing causal land system models, they propose a conceptual framework for the role of culture in land use and summarize promising methodological innovations for exploring it further. They conclude with some thoughts on how the study of culture and its integration through reflexive, locally grounded approaches, while challenging, provides new opportunities for the development of LSS.

10 November 2021
13:00-14:00 CEST (UTC+2)

In September, the Land Matrix Initiative (LMI) launched its third analytical report, Taking stock of the global land rush: Few development benefits, many human and environmental risks. The findings of the report are sobering, in part alarming, and highlight the urgent need to rethink LSLAs, which have reached a staggering total targeted size of 33 million hectares for agricultural and transnational deals.

In this webinar we hear from the scientists behind the report about how they used the Land Matrix database as well as confronted challenges related to the data, including how to make it more representative.

Participants will engage with the team to learn about how they preprocessed the data to accommodate the great diversity represented in the database. Hear about the challenges the researchers face and how they believe they can fix the issues in the future.

11 November 2021
16:00-19:00 CET (UTC+2) / 10:00-13:00 EST (UTC-5) / 12:00-15:00 ART (UTC-3) / 07:00-10:00 PST (UTC-8)

Three of our GLP Working Groups are planning a joint hands-on event to exchange and synthesize insights and observations deriving from the “COVID-19 global shock”. 

The event will be a combination of brief talks and focused discussion. The organizers seek to gather a kaleidoscope of perspectives, insights, and actual experiences in specific land systems. Thus, as part of your active participation in the event, they are asking attendees to contribute a “micro-poster” that answers these two questions:  

• How has the pandemic already affected or is likely to affect the land system you are studying? 
  
• What frameworks, tools, and approaches could you deploy to better detect and evaluate ongoing and future changes that could be attributed to the Pandemic? 

This event is open to all GLP members. Last call for micro-posters!

This event is a collaboration of the GLP Remittance Dynamics and Land Change, Telecoupling Research Towards Sustainable Transformation of Land Systems and Socio-Ecological Land Systems of Latin America Working Groups.

9 November 2021
15:00-18:00 CET (UTC+2)

Human–wildlife interactions (HWIs) have become a frequent phenomenon in peri-urban landscapes (PULs), making them arenas of human-wildlife interactions. There is a need to identify and implement effective governance approaches to avoid conflicts and alleviate the negative impacts of human-wildlife interactions in peri-urban landscapes. The workshop offers a platform for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to exchange and network on human-wildlife interactions in peri-urban landscapes.

This workshop is jointly organised by the GLP’s European Nodal Office and the GLP Integration of Rural and Urban Land Systems Working Group.

An AIMES and GLP associated summer school on "Land Use and ecosystem change" ran between the 9th and 20th of August at the Karlsruhe Institute for Technology in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Twenty-six Masters and PhD students from twelve different countries participated in the 2-week online course, covering a wide range of issues related to ecosystem functioning, socio-ecological systems and land use change.  The summer school involved a mix of webinars, practical exercises and student presentations. Having learned about biophysical and human processes, analysis and modelling techniques, the students went on to explore the role of research in international assessment processes such as the IPCC and IPBES. The summer school is an annual event and is planned to run as an in-person or hybrid event in August 2022. See landchange.earth/online-summer-school-2021 for more information.

Counterurbanization: A neglected pathway of forest transition (Ambio)

Designing effective and equitable zero-deforestation supply chain policies (Global Environmental Change)

Neglect paves the way for dispossession: The politics of “last frontiers” in Brazil and Myanmar (World Development)

Call for Special Issue: "Using Earth Observation System (EOS) to Support Ecosystem Service Assessments in Tropical Forests"
Deadline: 31 March 2022

Call for Transnational Research Proposals: “Supporting biodiversity and ecosystem protection across land and sea”
Deadline for pre-proposals: 30 November 2021