Practice Abstract - Research and innovation

Visualising the multifunctionality of agroforestry systems with citizen science (Network: Germany | IfLS and agroforst-monitoring)

A team from the University of Münster developed a citizen science approach for monitoring agroforestry systems. Their aim is to encourage cooperation between agriculture, science and civil society and jointly generate new knowledge. A crucial role herein assumes civil society by involving volunteers in scientific activities - irrespective of their prior knowledge. With the approach being particularly practical, citizen scientists and farmers communicate intensively, enabling on-site studies to be adapted to the agricultural management cycles. This creates cooperation at eye level. Moreover, the joint learning is central in understanding different points of view, be it with regard to livestock and plants, farming methods and decisions or biodiversity.
The advantages are obvious: on the one hand, the generation of important data on agroforestry systems. On the other hand, the sensitisation of all stakeholders to each other's concerns leads to a joint dialogue in order to develop solutions for existing challenges.
The MIXED project supported the agroforestry monitoring approach, which explicitly is not a project outcome. The entire conception, elaboration, and implementation as well as any rights rest with the University of Münster and agroforest-monitoring.
For more information, see here: https://agroforst-monitoring.de/
Source Project
MIXED - Multi-actor and transdisciplinary development of efficient and resilient MIXED farming and agroforestry systems
Ongoing | 2020-2025
Main funding source
Horizon 2020 (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
Geographical location
Denmark
Project details

Project Keywords