@inproceedings{BerendtPegelBlaskoetal.2020, author = {Berendt, Ferr{\´e}ol and Pegel, Erik and Blasko, Lubomir and Cremer, Tobias}, title = {Bark Characteristics of Scots Pine Logs}, series = {Environmental Sciences Proceedings}, booktitle = {Environmental Sciences Proceedings}, publisher = {MDPI}, issn = {2673-4931}, doi = {10.3390/IECF2020-08020}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-2040}, pages = {1}, year = {2020}, abstract = {The wood of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) shows...}, language = {en} } @article{AschenbrandMichler2021, author = {Aschenbrand, Erik and Michler, Thomas}, title = {Why Do UNESCO Biosphere Reserves Get Less Recognition than National Parks? A Landscape Research Perspective on Protected Area Narratives in Germany}, series = {Sustainability}, journal = {Sustainability}, publisher = {MDPI}, issn = {2071-1050}, doi = {10.3390/su132413647}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-2166}, pages = {18}, year = {2021}, abstract = {This paper explores how landscape research can contribute to our understanding of why integrated protected area concepts like biosphere reserves get less recognition than national parks. In this regard, we analysed policy documents and online communication of biosphere reserves and national parks, conducted qualitative interviews with conservation professionals and volunteers as well as participant observation in order to identify and compare narratives that guide the communication and perception of both protected area categories. The results show how national parks offer a clear interpretation of space by building on landscape stereotypes and creating landscape legibility and experience-ability through touristification. National Parks also experience conflicts about proper management and combine a variety of goals, often including regional development. Nevertheless, their narrative is unambiguous and powerful. Biosphere reserves, on the other hand, have an image problem that is essentially due to the difficulty of communicating their objectives. They confront the difficult task of creating a vision that combines development and conservation while integrating contrarious landscape stereotypes. We argue for a fundamental engagement with protected area narratives, as this improves understanding of protected areas' transformative potential.}, language = {en} } @article{RederMundAlbertetal.2021, author = {Reder, Stefan and Mund, Jan-Peter and Albert, Nicole and Waßermann, Lilli and Miranda, Luis}, title = {Detection of Windthrown Tree Stems on UAV-Orthomosaics Using U-Net Convolutional Networks}, series = {Remote Sensing}, volume = {14}, journal = {Remote Sensing}, number = {1}, publisher = {MDPI}, issn = {2072-4292}, doi = {10.3390/rs14010075}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-2213}, pages = {25}, year = {2021}, abstract = {The increasing number of severe storm events is threatening European forests. Besides the primary damages directly caused by storms, there are secondary damages such as bark beetle outbreaks and tertiary damages due to negative effects on the market. These subsequent damages can be minimized if a detailed overview of the affected area and the amount of damaged wood can be obtained quickly and included in the planning of clearance measures. The present work utilizes UAV-orthophotos and an adaptation of the U-Net architecture for the semantic segmentation and localization of windthrown stems. The network was pre-trained with generic datasets, randomly combining stems and background samples in a copy-paste augmentation, and afterwards trained with a specific dataset of a particular windthrow. The models pre-trained with generic datasets containing 10, 50 and 100 augmentations per annotated windthrown stems achieved F1-scores of 73.9\% (S1Mod10), 74.3\% (S1Mod50) and 75.6\% (S1Mod100), outperforming the baseline model (F1-score 72.6\%), which was not pre-trained. These results emphasize the applicability of the method to correctly identify windthrown trees and suggest the collection of training samples from other tree species and windthrow areas to improve the ability to generalize. Further enhancements of the network architecture are considered to improve the classification performance and to minimize the calculative costs.}, language = {en} } @article{Spies2021, author = {Spies, Michael}, title = {Promises and perils of the China-Pakistan economic corridor: agriculture and export prospects in northern Pakistan}, series = {Eurasian Geography and Economics}, journal = {Eurasian Geography and Economics}, publisher = {Taylor \& Francis}, issn = {1938-2863}, doi = {10.1080/15387216.2021.2016456}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-2259}, pages = {28}, year = {2021}, abstract = {The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a mega-project of primarily infrastructure-related loans and investments in Pakistan. Recently, the official discourse has increasingly shifted to the agricultural sector. For the region of Gilgit-Baltistan bordering China, academic and policy debates highlight the potential boost of fruit exports to China as the most promising opportunity to be leveraged through the CPEC. This paper scrutinizes these promises from a locally grounded perspective, investigating potential benefits and risks for local farmers. To make sense of the complex interplay between external and local actors, interests, markets and (infra)structures, the paper follows an assemblage-inspired approach to map out local trajectories. Contrary to the CPEC narrative, agricultural exports from Gilgit-Baltistan recently came to a halt, due to increasing trade barriers and seemingly competing agricultural developments in neighboring Xinjiang, China. Moreover, the economically most promising local crop for export to China, namely cherries, does not seem too promising for the majority of small farmers. There are other commodities with export potential, but overall, prospects appear to be limited. There is a need for a deeper engagement with the inherent complexities of CPEC trajectories, particularly in regards to local farming contexts in Pakistan and relevant developments in China.}, language = {en} } @article{SpiesSchickKaromatovetal.2021, author = {Spies, Michael and Schick, Axel and Karomatov, Sharofiddin and Bakokhoja, Bobozoda and Zikriyokhon, Khaidarov and Jobirov, Shonazar and Bloch, Ralf and Ibisch, Pierre L.}, title = {Adapting a Participatory and Ecosystem-Based Assessment Impacted by the Pandemic: Lessons Learned With Farmers in Tajikistan}, series = {Frontiers in sustainable Food Systems}, journal = {Frontiers in sustainable Food Systems}, number = {5}, publisher = {Frontiers}, issn = {2571-581X}, doi = {10.3389/fsufs.2021.750252}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-2263}, pages = {15}, year = {2021}, abstract = {The paper presents a systemic and participatory assessment approach and scrutinizes how methodological changes necessitated during the Covid-19 pandemic implicated the process and its outcomes. The approach was applied in rural Tajikistan to evaluate changes effected by a development project that promoted the enhancement of biodiversity and ecosystem services in agrarian landscapes. The central building block of the assessment consisted of participatory workshops in 2018 and 2020 with farmers and other stakeholders to develop a systemic knowledge map and to evaluate the promoted strategies based on local expertise. The methodological basis was MARISCO (adaptive MAnagement of vulnerability and RISk at COnservation sites), a holistic and participatory approach to ecosystem-based assessment and management that requires well-trained facilitators. While the activities in 2018 could be implemented as planned, major changes in the work plan were necessary in 2020 due to severe travel restrictions and social distancing rules. Conducting virtual workshops was not possible, as it would have excluded key stakeholders from the process. Instead of conducting a comprehensive assessment workshop guided by two German MARISCO facilitators as originally planned, a series of short and small workshops could be realized. These workshops were facilitated by Tajik scientists after receiving virtual training from their German colleagues. Although it was possible to bring the assessment to a satisfactory conclusion, the methodological changes revealed significant drawbacks. Radical simplifications of the methods were necessary that led to reduced depth of the assessment and missed learning opportunities for participants. Limited experience in workshop guidance by the new facilitators posed challenges to the participatory process and the quality of its outcomes. While the adapted method created training effects that would otherwise have been missed, it also put additional pressure on the capacities of local partners. Our experience during the pandemic offers valuable lessons learned for future applications of systemic-participatory approaches. Whereas, a complete shift to remote applications is problematic, there is a need to put greater emphasis on capacitating local partners. Methodological trade-offs are necessary for partially remote working processes, but principles of participation and systemic thinking should not be compromised.}, language = {en} } @article{VoigtSpies2020, author = {Voigt, Katja and Spies, Michael}, title = {Female Education and Social Change: Changing Perceptions of Women's Roles in Society in the High Mountains of Northern Pakistan}, series = {Mountain Research and Development}, volume = {2020}, journal = {Mountain Research and Development}, number = {40(4)}, publisher = {International Mountain Society}, address = {Switzerland}, issn = {0276-4741}, doi = {10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-20-00028.1}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-2294}, pages = {8}, year = {2020}, abstract = {This article investigates the emergence of female education and its social impacts in a remote and male-dominated mountain community through a case study of Nagar District in northern Pakistan. Drawing on qualitative interviews with 24 women from different educational backgrounds and 15 selected male informants, the study reveals a notable increase in educational opportunities for girls and young women within a relatively short time span, and shows how these changes have affected local perceptions of women's social roles. While there are mixed opinions about the usefulness of education for girls—some find that educated women are better housewives and mothers, while others highlight career opportunities for women—female education has clearly contributed to an increase in self-determination of women. Young women now marry later and have fewer children, parents give their daughters more freedom, and education has contributed to an increase in female mobility and to a more confident and visible role of women in community life. While other aspects of social change also play critical roles, this study shows that female education is one important element in the development of a more equitable society in mountains and elsewhere.}, language = {en} } @article{WergGrothmannSpiesetal.2020, author = {Werg, Jana Lorena and Grothmann, Torsten and Spies, Michael and Mieg, Harald A.}, title = {Factors for Self-Protective Behavior against Extreme Weather Events in the Philippines}, series = {Sustainabilty}, journal = {Sustainabilty}, number = {12(15)}, publisher = {MDPI}, issn = {2071-1050}, doi = {10.3390/su12156010}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-2306}, pages = {24}, year = {2020}, abstract = {We report the results on factors for self-protective behavior against weather extremes such as extreme heat events, drought, and heavy precipitation. Our research draws on the Model of Private Proactive Adaptation to Climate Change (MPPACC). We developed a survey instrument incorporating the main aspects of the MPPACC and other factors from related research work that are assumed to explain why some people show self-protective behavior while others do not. The interview survey was conducted with a non-random sample of 210 respondents from three Philippine cities, namely Baguio, Dagupan, and Tuguegarao. The results reveal the importance of adaptation appraisal, including the perceived feasibility of self-protective measures, the perceived adaptation knowledge, and, with limitations, the perception of actions taken by neighbors or friends. We also show that perceptions of past weather trends are closely linked to risk perception but are only partly corroborated by weather station data. Implications for fostering self-protective behavior are making use of time windows right after an extreme weather event and focusing on enhancing adaptation appraisal.}, language = {en} } @article{SpiesAlff2020, author = {Spies, Michael and Alff, Henryk}, title = {Assemblages and complex adaptive systems: A conceptual crossroads for integrative research?}, series = {Geography Compass}, volume = {2020}, journal = {Geography Compass}, number = {14}, publisher = {Wiley}, issn = {1749-8198}, doi = {10.1111/gec3.12534}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-2319}, pages = {13}, year = {2020}, abstract = {In human geography and beyond, assemblage thinking has increasingly gained attention as a perspective from which to investigate the emergence and dynamics of more-than-human entanglements. Similarly, in the interdisciplinary field of social-ecological systems analysis, theories of complex adaptive systems have been employed to investigate how social and ecological dynamics and actors interact with each other on different scales. Nonetheless, despite the success of these conceptual perspectives in their respective research fields, there have been few attempts so far to bring these theoretical strands together to explore their common ground and investigate how they could cross-fertilize each other. This contribution seeks to address this gap, by investigating the ontological compatibility of these two approaches and exploring the potential for meaningful syntheses that could be utilized for integrative research—combining perspectives, approaches, and methods taken from social and environmental sciences for the analysis of human-environmental relations. Based on a comparative discussion of four selected "guiding principles" found in assemblage thinking and complex adaptive systems, namely, socio-nature, emergence/historicity, relationality, and self-organization, we find not only significant common ground between the two perspectives but also discrepancies that may be utilized for cross-fertilization. In particular, we argue complex adaptive systems would benefit from a deeper engagement with society-nature theorizations found in the assemblage literature, while assemblage thinking could borrow from complex adaptive systems to broaden its conception of how elements relate to and co-function with each other.}, language = {en} } @article{RuppertWelpSpiesetal.2020, author = {Ruppert, Daniel and Welp, Martin and Spies, Michael and Thevs, Niels}, title = {Farmers' Perceptions of Tree Shelterbelts on Agricultural Land in Rural Kyrgyzstan}, series = {Sustainabilty}, volume = {2020}, journal = {Sustainabilty}, number = {12}, publisher = {MDPI}, issn = {2071-1050}, doi = {10.3390/su12031093}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-2323}, pages = {18}, year = {2020}, abstract = {The reestablishment of agroforestry systems in Central Asia, combining crop production with protective tree shelterbelts, provides significant potential to improve farming systems. This includes increasing crop yields, additional income from timber, as well as reducing soil degradation and wind erosion. Thus, adopting shelterbelts as a form of pro-environmental behavior provides a number of socio-economic benefits, although some trade-offs need to be considered as well. This paper investigates factors that shape the perception of—and attitude towards—the establishment of tree shelterbelts by farmers in two case study regions in Kyrgyzstan. Applying a conceptual framework distinguishing between extrinsic and intrinsic factors, research methods included semi-structured interviews with farmers and local policy makers. The results show spatial differences in the perception of shelterbelts, both on the regional and on the village scale. In general, shelterbelts were negatively perceived by more than half of the farmers. The main concern raised by farmers was the shading of crops by shelterbelts, resulting in a decrease of yield. In addition, small field sizes and potential conflicts with neighbors were key concerns. Furthermore, rules set by local self-government bodies were inconsistent with the legislative framework, posing significant restrictions to the adoption of sustainable land use practices.}, language = {en} } @article{SanneAhnErcanPfriem2020, author = {Sanne, Moritz and Ahn-Ercan, Gudrun and Pfriem, Alexander}, title = {A Mathematical Solution for Calculating the Springback of Laminated Beech Stacks Molded within the Elastic Range}, series = {Forests}, journal = {Forests}, number = {11 (7)}, publisher = {MDPI}, issn = {1999-4907}, doi = {10.3390/f11070725}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-2335}, pages = {12}, year = {2020}, abstract = {The springback effect in molded wood laminations within the elastic range has, to date, not yet been mathematically described. Once cured, residual internal stresses within the laminations cause the final form to deviate from that of the die. Test pieces of beech laminations of 1 mm, 2 mm and 4 mm thicknesses and stack sizes of between 2 and 16 laminations were used. The elasticity value of each stack was obtained using non-glued laminations in a three-point bending test within the elastic region. The laminations were glued with polyurethane resin and mounted in a radius form die. The stress induced by the die onto the stack is within the elastic region of the material without any prior chemical or physical plasticisation of the wood. After curing was complete and the laminations removed from the die, the actual radius was calculated using a circular equation within the CAD program, using three measurement points taken from the stack. The radius of the die within the limits of this study has a negligible effect when predicting the springback of the stack. The exponential correlation between springback and the number of laminations, was used to calculate the springback effect on molded laminated stacks.}, language = {en} }