The Clear Project made a presentation during the Landscapes Conference 2024. The conference focused on the future of agricultural landscapes and the role of technology and key actors in their transformation. Discussions centered around the synergies and trade-offs between various environmental goals, such as preventing biodiversity loss, adapting to climate change, conserving soils and their functions, and reducing chemical inputs. The potential of emerging technologies and socio-technological innovations, including agricultural digitalization and biotechnological advancements, was also explored in the context of transforming agroecosystems.
Project Update: Advancing Our Understanding of Opportunities in Agricultural Biodiversity Conservation
This summer (2024), our PhD student, Carla Erismann, has been actively conducting fieldwork across the agricultural landscapes of Brandenburg. She has interviewed a diverse range of stakeholders, including representatives from the Landwirtschaftsamt, professionals in Brandenburg’s Biosphere Reserves, landscape communication experts, and local farmers. These interviews are part of Work Package 2 of the CLEAR project, where we are using the Q method and qualitative interviews to explore challenges and opportunities for biodiversity conservation on agricultural land. Key questions include understanding what works, what needs improvement, and how stakeholders perceive cooperative and result-based measures in agri-environmental schemes. Similar research is being conducted in Scotland and France, with interviews in Scotland happening online to facilitate regional comparisons. This winter, we plan to host online workshops for Scotland and Germany to present preliminary findings and foster stakeholder dialogue. Additionally, an upcoming workshop in Work Package 3 will engage stakeholders in collaborative landscape planning discussions, emphasizing our commitment to inclusive research.
Date: 4th-5th June, 2024
The Clear Project's second annual workshop was held on June 4-5, 2024, in Lyon, France, bringing together partners from the four participating countries. The workshop focused on reviewing the work carried out over the past year, sharing preliminary results, and exploring the links between various tasks. Each work package was presented according to these guidelines, facilitating a comprehensive discussion on progress and the next steps. This gathering reinforced collaboration among partners and set the direction for the project's continued success.
We are pleased to announce that our PhD student, Carla Erismann, recently completed a week-long training course on Factorial Survey Design at GESIS - Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences in Cologne. Led by Professor Kathrin Auspurg from Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) in Munich, the course provided in-depth knowledge and practical skills in this advanced research method. Factorial survey design, or vignette analysis, is increasingly used to study complex issues like agri-environmental programs and environmental justice. By presenting respondents with hypothetical scenarios, this method allows researchers to explore how various factors influence attitudes, decisions, or choices. Carla's newly acquired skills will be essential in our work on Work Package 2 of the CLEAR project, where we are investigating opportunities within agri-environmental programs. The use of factorial survey methods will strengthen our ability to address multifaceted challenges in environmental policy. We look forward to applying these insights to our research and sharing future developments as the project progresses.
Prof. Dr. Sonoko Bellingrath-Kimura
ZALF - Research Area 2, Land use and Governance
Eberswalder str 84, 15374 Muenchenberg Germany
email: 
Tel: +493343282207
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PL