Collective methods to weave the pathway from desertification to sustainable development: Participatory Social-Ecological Observatories

Abstract

Drylands cover 40% of the earth's surface and are home to 40% of the human population. In the course of continuous development, drylands evolved as social-ecological systems (SES), which are highly vulnerable to climate change and desertification. To meet the Sustainable Development Goals, new approaches of generating useful knowledge are required. One option is the co-production of action frameworks based on the stewardship of SES, as knowledge systems are woven in partnerships with key sectors. The International Network for the Sustainability of Arid Zones (RISZA by its Spanish acronym) addresses the grand challenges emerging in drylands with a transdisciplinary focus. Our aim is to protect biotic and cultural diversity as an essential foundation for sustainable development. One of RISZA's modus operandi are the Participatory Social-Ecological Observatories (OPSE), understood as living laboratories in real territories, where pathways of action are explored with methodologies such as "participatory rural appraisal". The purpose of the OPSE is to develop action plans that foster social innovations and facilitate the co-management of knowledge of each SSE. The OPSE are face-to-face and virtual sites/spaces, where new knowledge is collected, exchanged and co-generated as an innovation hub for sustainable development in drylands.