Session Poster Presentations

Through long-term presence and active involvement with the land on a mountain pasture in the Slovenian Alps, distinct ways of knowing emerge, are shared, and created between the farming community that grazes cattle on the mountain pasture. These local, site-specific ways of knowing encompass knowledge of vegetation, familiarity with both domestic and wild animals, weather patterns and water resources, past practices or recognition of changes over time, linking the lives of those who use the pasture intricately to the rhythms of their environment.

While the explored ways of knowing are closely tied to local knowledge, they are also affected by the broader social, political, and economic context of the area, with municipal, state, and European policies impacting everyday life and intertwining with the local ways of knowing. In addition to the wider political and socio-historical context, small-scale kinship groups, particularly family-owned farms, serve as part of the formative setting where knowledge is internalised and embodied, shaping the learning processes. A farm, a family that is part of the local community and a mountain pasture are deeply interconnected because mountain pastures are maintained by individuals who reside on family farms, where, in most cases, the same lineage has been caring for them for generations. Finally, the wider social and geophysical environment of the mountain pasture embeds practical knowledge and fosters the learning process. The farming community's ways of knowing are shaped through these interconnected realms. This poster will examine how long-standing community practices, family kinship ties, and broader socio-political influences shape and sustain local, site-specific knowledge essential for the ecological and cultural continuity of a mountain pasture in the Slovenian Alps

Governments, intergovernmental agencies, civil society, and non-governmental organizations are heavily promoting reforestation initiatives. Although this is a global phenomenon, tropical forests are a spot of interest because of the confluence of different interests around their resources and services, which are key to actions against climate change. Reforestation in tropical forests is implemented for a variety of purposes, both to restore biological connectivity between forest lands and to promote economic development. In that sense, reforestation is often carried out on Indigenous or smallholder lands under ecosystem service payment schemes.
A myriad of actors are involved in governance spaces related to reforestation initiatives. However, there are power imbalances among these stakeholder groups, mainly to the disadvantage of the most vulnerable actors: Indigenous peoples and local communities. Understanding the social and political dynamics is key to ensuring the sustainability of these interventions in the medium and long term. However, an understanding of power relations can play the same role, and it also can address issues of rights and social justice.
In this context, this research aims to analyze how governance structures and power dynamics influence the outcomes of a reforestation initiative in an Indigenous territory. This case study, which was conducted using a qualitative approach, is based on a social network analysis and interviews with different types of informants in the Comarca Ngäbe Buglé in Panamá. I will work in close coordination and collaboration with Indigenous representatives, local organizations, and local researchers. The results of this research will support the advancement of restoration social science to meet the multiple interests of Indigenous communities' partners from a rights-based approach. Lessons gained will be useful for any other reforestation project in the tropics with Indigenous peoples or local communities that aims to enhance inclusion and equity in their interventions.

This study examines the governance mechanisms in the Beel (floodplain wetland) fisheries of Bangladesh, with the objective of developing a sustainable management framework for these common pool resources. By employing systematic mapping, conceptual modelling, and causal loop diagrams, the research identifies knowledge gaps and adapts global governance models to the socio-ecological context of the Beel systems. Concentrating on two case studies located in the northwest and northeast regions of Bangladesh, it evaluates the effects of existing policies and management practices on the sustainability of resources and the dynamics among stakeholders. The study's originality is manifested in its integrative approach, which synthesizes global insights with localized adaptations to design a governance model specifically suited to the distinctive requirements of the Beel fisheries. Using a participatory methodology, the research includes policy practitioners, policymakers, local fishers, and community members for co-producing policy recommendations. This collaborative method improves the relevance and practicality of the recommendations presented, thus fostering acceptance at the community level. By addressing sustainability challenges within Beel fisheries, a critical resource for livelihoods, food security, and biodiversity, the study provides actionable insights into governance and offers a transferable framework applicable to other floodplain and wetland fisheries.

While the multifaceted functions of paddy fields distributed in the Asian region are gaining importance, paddy field agriculture in Japan is being diversified with the introduction of crop rotation policies by the national and local governments against the backdrop of declining rice demand and market fluctuations. This study aimed to identify external and internal factors influencing paddy field conversion using a hierarchical linear model in order to identify the requirements for building an agent-based land use model that represents community responses to paddy field conversion measures.
In this study, a survey of farmers' preferences for multiple scenarios was conducted in a region that has begun promoting rice conversion from staple rice, to identify factors that would influence farmers' behavior if the paddy rice conversion policy were changed. The study area was selected by organizing the paddy crop rotation policies of each municipality in Tochigi Prefecture. In Tochigi Prefecture, 60% of the rice produced in the prefecture is sold for commercial use, which has been affected by the decrease in demand, and while the planted area of rice for animal feed has increased and is the largest in Japan, the planted area of high-yielding rice varieties is only 2%. The farmers are also engaged in long-term conversion to wheat, soybeans, and open-field vegetables, which is considered suitable for the target site because of the multiple scenarios that can be considered. The results of the questionnaire survey were used to construct scenarios based on the factors that determine farmers' behavior, and a conjoint analysis was conducted to analyze the impact of the shifting cropping policy on paddy field use.

The Sierra Mazateca, located in Oaxaca, Mexico, is a region that holds profound biocultural significance for the Mazatec people, who regard its forests and mountains as sacred commons. These lands sustain the livelihoods of the Mazatec community and embody a rich cultural heritage deeply intertwined with the region's diverse ecosystems, including tropical and montane mesophyll forests. However, these ecosystems face increasing risks from climate change, which remain poorly understood in this part of the world. Between May and June 2024, intense wildfires swept through the Sierra Mazateca, threatening a humid, fire-independent ecosystem that typically experiences year-round rainfall and has limited historical exposure to fire disturbances.

Our research employs satellite-based indices—the Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR) and the Differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (ΔNBR)—to evaluate fire severity and its impact on vegetation across the Sierra Mazateca. Using Landsat 9 imagery acquired before and after the wildfires, we processed data through QGIS to create thematic maps that classify affected areas by fire severity. These tools allow us to pinpoint the most ecologically impacted zones, providing valuable insights into the extent of damage in a region where natural resources are central to subsistence.

This study highlights the intersection of advanced geospatial technology with Indigenous stewardship of natural resources. By generating actionable data, we aim to support the Mazatec community in fostering ecosystem recovery and resilience. Integrating modern tools with traditional ecological knowledge empowers the community to adapt to contemporary environmental challenges while safeguarding their shared biocultural heritage in the face of uncertain climate changes.

Community governance refers to the way a community reaches collective decision-making on issues related to the use of natural resources, allocation of financial capital, or the solution of conflicts, among others. Some important aspects of community governance are participation, transparency, and the preservation of information. San Jerónimo Purenchécuaro was founded in the 16th century,and it has a particular form of community governance, with records being kept in fragile and unorganised documents.
The objective of this study is twofold. First, I investigate how decision-making processes happen at community level, and address participation and effectiveness of the decision making mechanism. Second, I explore how record keeping is done in the community, to identify present and potential issues that may put records at risk.
The questions I pose are: Can technology enhance the efficiency of community governance, address local issues, and consequently improve the quality of life in the community? And what are the implications for decision-making of technology adoption in decision-making processes, in particularly in the selection of authorities, and local governance structure?
I propose the creation of a communal digital archive for information organisation, preservation, and to contribute to continuity in governance. Additionally, I consider the introduction of new mechanisms for decision-making to address low and unbalanced participation.