Odyssey of First IALE World Congress in Africa and Opportunities for North-South or South-South Collaboration

Werner Rolf; Joy Obando; Henry N. Bulley; Moses Azong Cho; Yazidi Bamutaze; Robert M. Scheller; Uta Schirpke

doi:10.3097/LO.2023.1119

Authors

Werner Rolf Chair for Strategic Landscape Planning and Management, Technical University of Munich, Germany. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7040-034X
Joy Obando Department of Geography, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
Henry N. Bulley BMCC, The City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
Moses Azong Cho Precision Agriculture Research Group, Advanced Agriculture and Food, CSIR, Pretoria, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4435-5375
Yazidi Bamutaze Department of Geography, Geo-Informatics and Climate Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1744-9827
Robert M. Scheller Department of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7507-4499
Uta Schirpke Department of Geography, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany; Institute for Alpine Environment, Eurac Research, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2075-6118

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2023.1119

Keywords:

Landscape Ecology, Landscape Research, Land Sciences, Publication ethics

Abstract

The landscape ecology community witnessed a landmark event in July 2023 as the 11^th International Association for Landscape Ecology (IALE) World Congress unfolded on the African continent for the first time. This editorial commemorates this historic occasion, tracing the journey from the inception of Africa-IALE initiatives in 2002 to the culmination of the World Congress held in Nairobi, Kenya, almost two decades later. Having previously graced Europe, Northern America, Australia, and Asia, the IALE World Congress embraced Africa, showcasing the global reach and inclusive spirit of landscape ecology. This editorial explores the evolution of Africa-IALE, highlighting the initiatives and the persistent efforts that led to the World Congress in Africa. We firstly delve into the socio-cultural and international significance of this shift, emphasising the unique perspectives and challenges faced by the African landscape ecology community. Secondly, we assess the participants involved in the 11th World IALE Congress, the topics discussed, current trends, and priorities within the global landscape ecology research community. To do so, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of the conference proceedings. Lastly, we reflect on the impacts of this Congress. Our retrospective perspective offers a comprehensive view of the symbiotic relationships among the international landscape ecology community and how landscape ecology has evolved in parallel with emerging challenges and emerging centres of knowledge and leadership.

References

Andersen, B.J. 2008. Research in the journal Landscape Ecology, 1987–2005. Landscape Ecology, 23, 129–134. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-007-9187-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-007-9187-2

Antrop, M. 2007. Reflecting upon 25 years of landscape ecology. Landscape Ecology, 22, 1441–1443. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-007-9170-y DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-007-9170-y

Armenteras, D. 2021. Guidelines for healthy global scientific collaborations. Nat Ecol Evol, 5, 1193–1194. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-021-01496-y DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-021-01496-y

Barrett, G.W., Barrett, T.L., Wu, J., 2015. History of Landscape Ecology in the United States. Springer New York, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2275-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2275-8

Blume, A. 2003. Natural resource management schemes in East-Africa: a human-ecological case study. In: Franks, A., Pearson, D., Waqar, K. (Eds.). Crossing frontiers - Landscape Ecology Down Under, Building Bridges between Cultures, Disciplines and Approaches. Proceedings of 6th IALE World Congress 13-17 July 2003. Darwin, Australia.

Bobrowska, E., Tokarczyk-Dorociak, K., Stemmer, B., Bernstein, F., Kazak, J., 2023. Review of Polish practices used in landscape assessment in the environmental impact assessment with a recommended procedure. Landscape Online, 98, 1117. https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2023.1117 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2023.1117

Bulley, H.N.N., Turner, M.G. 2007. Landscape Ecology and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources: A New Paradigm for Environmental Management in Africa in the 21st Century, Workshop). In: Bunce, R.G.H., Jongman, R.H.G. Hojas, L., Weel S. (Eds.) 25 years of Landscape Ecology: Scientific Principles in Practice. Proceedings of the 7th IALE World Congress 8-12 July 2007. Wageningen, The Netherlands.

Bulley, H.N.N., Uhmed, P., Runesson, U. 2003. Assessment of land cover changes and hydrologic response in Tamne river basin in Ghana, West Africa. In: Franks, A., Pearson, D., Waqar, K. (Eds.). Crossing frontiers - Landscape Ecology Down Under, Building Bridges between Cultures, Disciplines and Approaches. Proceedings of 6th IALE World Congress 13-17 July 2003. Darwin, Australia.

Bunce, R.G.H., Jongman, R.H.G. Hojas, L., Weel S. (Eds.) 2007. 25 years of Landscape Ecology: Scientific Principles in Practice. Proceedings of the 7th IALE World Congress 8-12 July. Wageningen, The Netherlands.

Canhos, V., Chan, L., Giaquinto, F., Kirsop, B., ODonnell, A., Ugonna, J. 1999. Close the South-North knowledge gap. Nature, 397, 201. https://doi.org/10.1038/16562 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/16562

Costanza, J., Armenteras,D., Egerer, M., Fakheran, S., Frazier, A., Mohammadi Hamidi, S., Morzillo, A., Obando, J., Santruckova, M., Scheller, R. 2023. Towards equitable publishing in landscape ecology: identifying barriers and solutions. IALE(eds). Transboundary Resource Management, Climate Change and Environmental Resilience. Proceedings of the 11th IALE World Congress 10.-15. July 2023. Nairobi, Kenya.

Cilliers, S., Putter, J., Morgenthal, T. 2003. Vegetation dynamics of urban biotopes subjected to different management strategies in Potchefstroom. In: Franks, A., Pearson, D., Waqar, K. (Eds.). Crossing frontiers - Landscape Ecology Down Under, Building Bridges between Cultures, Disciplines and Approaches. Proceedings of 6th IALE World Congress 13-17 July 2003. Darwin, Australia.

Dudek-Klimiuk, J., Warzecha, B., 2023. Smart historical gardens. Landscape Online, 98, 1114. https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2023.1114 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2023.1114

Echeverría, C., Boscolo, D., Armenteras, D., Bulley, H. 2023. Key messages from global south landscapes: challenges and opportunities in research from Africa and Latin America regions. IALE (eds). Transboundary Resource Management, Climate Change and Environmental Resilience. Proceedings of the 11th IALE World Congress 10-15 July 2023. Nairobi, Kenya.

Feig, G., Scholes, M., 2003. The effect of altered fire regime on soil microbial community composition and activity in the savannas of the Kruger National Park. In: Franks, A., Pearson, D., Waqar, K. (Eds.). Crossing frontiers - Landscape Ecology Down Under, Building Bridges between Cultures, Disciplines and Approaches. Proceedings of 6th IALE World Congress 13-17 July 2003. Darwin, Australia.

Forman, R. 2015. Launching Landscape Ecology in America and Learning from Europe. In: Barrett, G., Barrett, T., Wu, J. (eds) History of Landscape Ecology in the United States. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2275-8_2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2275-8_2

Francis, R.A., Antrop, M., 2021. A brief history and overview of landscape ecology from: The Routledge Handbook of Landscape Ecology Routledge https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429399480-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429399480

Franks, A., Pearson, D., Waqar, K. (Eds.) 2003. Crossing frontiers - Landscape Ecology Down Under, Building Bridges between Cultures, Disciplines and Approaches. Proceedings of 6th IALE World Congress 13-17 July 2003. Darwin, Australia.

IALE 2003. IALE Bulletin December 2003. International Association for Landscape Ecology. 22, 6.

IALE 2004. IALE Bulletin August 2004. International Association for Landscape Ecology. 23, 3.

Gagné, S.A., Wu, J. 2023. Publishing and disseminating transboundary landscape ecology and landscape architecture research: challenges and opportunities. IALE (eds). Transboundary Resource Management, Climate Change and Environmental Resilience. Proceedings of the 11th IALE World Congress 10-15 July 2023. Nairobi, Kenya.

Groener, S. 2004. The north-south divide in health research publishing: what can smaller journals do? Tropical Medicine & International Health, 9, 935-936. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3156.2004.01314.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3156.2004.01314.x

Jones, B., Fu., B. (Eds.) 2011. Landscape Ecology for a sustainable Environment and Culture. Proceedings of the 8th IALE World Congress 18-21 August 2011. Beijing, China.

Kamau, H.N.; Tran, U.; Biber-Freudenberger, L. 2022. A long way to go: gender and diversity in land use science, Journal of Land Use Science, 17:1, 262-280. https://doi.org/10.1080/1747423X.2021.2015001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1747423X.2021.2015001

Kirchhoff, T., Trepl, L., Vicenzotti, V., 2013. What is Landscape Ecology? An Analysis and Evaluation of Six Different Conceptions. Landscape Research 38 (1), 33–51. https:// doi.org/10.1080/01426397.2011.640751 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01426397.2011.640751

Kot, R., Molewski, P., Juśkiewicz, W., 2023. The concept of the terrestrial–subaqueous topographical and lithological continuum: a case study of the Lake Gopło region (north-central Poland). Landscape Online, 98, 1107. https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2023.1107 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2023.1107

Kuhn, T., Trentlage, J., Burkhard, B., 2023. Matrix-based assessment of spatial correlations between marine uses and ecosystem service supply in German marine areas. Landscape Online, 98, 1112. https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2023.1112 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2023.1112

Manna, A.K., Shannon, K., Meulder, B. de, 2023. Forest figures of the past (and present): Consequences on the future of settling with/in forests of the Garhwal Himalayas, India. Landscape Online, 98, 1115. https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2023.1115 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2023.1115

Markuszewska, I., 2023. “Imagine the landscape”: Challenges of online teaching and learning about landscape during the COVID-19 pandemic – Lessons for the post-pandemic period. Landscape Online, 98, 1111. https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2023.1111 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2023.1111

Marunda, C. 2003. Landscape influences on overland water runoff in the semi-arid save catchment area of Zimbabwe. In: Franks, A., Pearson, D., Waqar, K. (Eds.). Crossing frontiers - Landscape Ecology Down Under, Building Bridges between Cultures, Disciplines and Approaches. Proceedings of 6th IALE World Congress 13-17 July 2003. Darwin, Australia.

Mohammadi Hamidi, S., Rezaei-Pandari, M., Fakheran, S., Fürst, C., 2022. The Gender Gap in Land Sciences: A Review of Womens Presence on the Editorial Boards of Peer-Reviewed Journals. Land. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11111876 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/land11111876

Mogra, S., Khamidi, M.F., Fadli, F., 2023. Insight into vegetation inclusion along urban roads: A pilot study on the preferences of expatriate roadside users in downtown Doha, Qatar. Landscape Online, 98, 1108. https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2023.1108 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2023.1108

MuriukI, G.W., Njoka, T.J., Reid, R.S. 2003. The role of Tsetse control in land-use change in the Lambwe valley, a south- western Kenya rangeland. Franks, A., Pearson, D., Waqar, K. (Eds.). Crossing frontiers - Landscape Ecology Down Under, Building Bridges between Cultures, Disciplines and Approaches. Proceedings of 6th IALE World Congress 13-17 July 2003. Darwin, Australia.

Myga-Piątek, U., Żemła-Siesicka, A., 2023. How has the landscape changed? Landscape transformation analysis of Ogrodzieniec-Podzamcze (POLAND) using landgraphy and landscape stratigraphy methods. Landscape Online, 98, 1110. https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2023.1110 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2023.1110

Nakamura, G., Soares, B.E., Pillar, V.D., Diniz-Filho, J.A.F., Duarte, L. .2023. Three pathways to better recognize the expertise of Global South researchers. NPJ Biodiversity 2, 17. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44185-023-00021-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44185-023-00021-7

Naveh, Z. 1982. Landscape ecology as an emerging branch of human ecosystem science. Advances in ecological research, 12, 189-237. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2504(08)60079-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2504(08)60079-3

Naveh, Z. 1989. The challenges of desert landscape ecology as a transdisciplinary problem-solving oriented science. Journal of Arid Environments, 17(2), 245-253. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-1963(18)30912-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-1963(18)30912-1

Naveh, Z. 2000. Whatisholisticlandscapeecology? Aconceptual introduction. Landscape and urban planning, 50(1-3), 7-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-2046(00)00077-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-2046(00)00077-3

Ojeda Leal, C., 2023. Assessment of Landscape Changes caused by Highway Construction: Case Study of Ruta del Canal Pargua Highway in Chile. Landscape Online, 98, 1113. https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2023.1113 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2023.1113

Olsvig-Whittaker, L., Seligman, N.G. 2005. The expanding universe of Zev Naveh. Israel Journal of Plant Sciences, 53(3-4), 151-153. https://doi.org/10.1560/C32G-QF38-0L51-9PNM DOI: https://doi.org/10.1560/C32G-QF38-0L51-9PNM

Padoa Schioppa, E. et al. (Eds.) 2019. Nature and society facing the Anthropocene - Challenges and Perspectives for Landscape Ecology. Proceedings of the 10th IALE World Congress 1-5 July 2019. Milano, Italy.

Pardela, Ł., Lis, A., Zalewska, K., 2023. Impact of danger, legibility and mystery on visitor’s preference in fortified landscapes compared with park landscapes in urban areas. Landscape Online, 98, 1118. https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2023.1118 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2023.1118

Pukowiec-Kurda, K., 2023. The main processes responsible for landscape transformation in post-industrial urban areas in Central Europe. Landscape Online, 98, 1116. https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2023.1116 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2023.1116

Rolf, W., Schirpke, U. 2022. Fifteen years of Landscape Online: Looking back at the development of an e-journal. Landscape Online, 97, 1106. https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2022.1106 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2022.1106

Rolf, W., Schirpke, U. 2023. The Perspective of a Community Owned Self-Published Open-Access E-Journal - Publishing in the Field of Landscape Ecology. IALE (eds). Transboundary Resource Management, Climate Change and Environmental Resilience. Proceedings of the 11th IALE World Congress 10-15 July 2023. Nairobi, Kenya.

Scheller, R., Shandas, V., Morzillo, A., Kienast, F. (Eds.) 2015. Crossing Scales, Crossing Borders: Global Approaches to Complex Challenges. Proceedings of the 9th IALE World Congress 5-10 July 2015. Portland, Oregon, USA.

Schirpke, U., Ebner, M., Fontana, V., Enigl, K., Ohndorf, M., Pritsch, H., Kurmayer, R., 2023. Climate response of alpine lakes and impacts on ecosystem services. Landscape Online, 98, 1109. https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2023.1109 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2023.1109

Smith, E., Hunt, M., Master, Z 2014. Authorship ethics in global health research partnerships between researchers from low or middle income countries and high income countries. BMC Med Ethics, 15, 42. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6939-15-42 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6939-15-42

Sumathipala, A., Siribaddana, S., Patel, V. 2004. Underrepresentation of developing countries in the research literature: Ethical issues arising from a survey of five leading medical journals. BMC Medical Ethics, 5, 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6939-5-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6939-5-5

Trisos, C.H., Auerbach, J., Katti, M. 2021. Decoloniality and anti-oppressive practices for a more ethical ecology. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 5, 1205–1212. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-021-01460-w DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-021-01460-w

United Nations Environment Programme 2006. Africa Environment Outlook 2: our Environment, our wealth. https://wedocs.unep.org/20.500.11822/9626

Van Eetvelde, V., Aagaard Christensen, A. 2023. Theories in landscape ecology. An overview of theoretical contributions merging spatial, ecological and social logics in the study of cultural landscapes. Landscape Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-023-01736-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-023-01736-5

Victora, C.G., Moreira, C.B., 2006. Publicações científicas e as relações Norte-Sul: racismo editorial? Revista de saude publica, 40, 36–42. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89102006000400006 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89102006000400006

Wu, J. 2015. History and Evolution of the Journal Landscape Ecology. In: Barrett, G., Barrett, T., Wu, J. (eds) History of Landscape Ecology in the United States. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2275-8_5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2275-8_5

Zeller, U., Deckert, J., Eiseb, S., Frisch, J., Giere, P., Hoffmann, A., Koch, F., Marais, E., Mey, W., Muck, C., Plötner, J., Uhlig, M., Vohland, K., Wendt H. 2003. Functional zoodiversity in biomes of southern Africa and their changes by land- use and environment. Franks, A., Pearson, D., Waqar, K. (Eds.). Crossing frontiers - Landscape Ecology Down Under, Building Bridges between Cultures, Disciplines and Approaches. Proceedings of 6th IALE World Congress 13-17 July 2003. Darwin, Australia.