@article{Koschke_van der Meulen_Frank_Schneidergruber_Kruse_Fürst_Neubert_Ohnesorge_Schröder_Müller_et al._2014, title={Do you have 5 minutes to spare? -The challenges of stakeholder processes in ecosystem services studies}, url={https://www.landscape-online.org/index.php/lo/article/view/LO.201437}, DOI={10.3097/LO.201437}, abstractNote={<p>Operationalization of the ecosystem services (ES) concept for improved natural resource management and decision support cannot, thus far, be rated as satisfactory. Participation of stakeholders is still a major methodical and conceptual challenge for implementing ES. Therefore, we conducted an online survey and a literature analysis to identify benefits and challenges of the application of ES in participatory processes. The results show that the purpose of stakeholder engagement is very diverse as a result of varying objectives, spatial scales and institutional levels of analysis. The complexity, terminology and (lacking) coherent classification of ES are pivotal aspects that should be accounted for in the design of studies to improve stakeholder participation. Although limitations of time and financial resources are bigger challenges than ES related ones, tailoring communication strategies and information for different stakeholder groups are of major importance for the success of ES studies. Results support the view that the potential benefits of applying ES, e.g., consensus finding, and development of integrated solutions, cannot be realized consistently across the different spatial scales and decision-making levels. Focusing on stakeholder processes represents a means to increase the relevance, reliability and impact of study results and to move participation in ES research from theory to reality.</p>}, journal={Landscape Online}, author={Koschke, Lars and van der Meulen, Suzanne and Frank, Susanne and Schneidergruber, Anna and Kruse, Marion and Fürst, Christine and Neubert, Esther and Ohnesorge, Bettina and Schröder, Claudia and Müller, Felix and et al.}, year={2014}, month={Oct.}, pages={37} }