A Transdisciplinary Framework to Bridge Science–Policy–Development Gaps in Global Land Management Initiatives

Abstract Effective implementation of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) remains a major challenge worldwide because of its weak integration within the domains of science, policy, and development practice. Based on global analyses of soil erosion risk and the degree of implementation of SLM research,...

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Main Authors: Nigussie Haregeweyn, Atsushi Tsunekawa, Ayele Almaw Fenta, Pasquale Borrelli, Panos Panagos, Ermias Aynekulu, Takeshi Abe, Peri Pablo, Simon West
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-08-01
Series:Global Challenges
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202400261
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author Nigussie Haregeweyn
Atsushi Tsunekawa
Ayele Almaw Fenta
Pasquale Borrelli
Panos Panagos
Ermias Aynekulu
Takeshi Abe
Peri Pablo
Simon West
author_facet Nigussie Haregeweyn
Atsushi Tsunekawa
Ayele Almaw Fenta
Pasquale Borrelli
Panos Panagos
Ermias Aynekulu
Takeshi Abe
Peri Pablo
Simon West
author_sort Nigussie Haregeweyn
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Effective implementation of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) remains a major challenge worldwide because of its weak integration within the domains of science, policy, and development practice. Based on global analyses of soil erosion risk and the degree of implementation of SLM research, policies, and practices at the country level, we propose a transdisciplinary framework to address soil erosion through SLM. In the analysis, we used indices of the policy–development, science–policy, and science–development interfaces to evaluate the overall science–policy–development interface (SPDI) in 236 countries. Over 190 countries (81%) were found to be currently facing moderate or high risk of increased soil erosion from two or more erosion processes, and 182 countries (77%) were found to have a SPDI level that was lower than their soil erosion risk implying the urgent need for a transdisciplinary framework that supports the implementation of future soil erosion research and development projects. Our proposed transdisciplinary framework comprises seven stages, starting from “shared research framing” and ending with “ex‐post evaluation”. The framework’s practical application is discussed in the context of a recent project, emphasizing the need for country‐specific studies to develop tailored frameworks.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2056-6646
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publishDate 2025-08-01
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series Global Challenges
spelling doaj-art-168a5f5009f249acb2ad45c0d44db5d62025-08-22T07:44:21ZengWileyGlobal Challenges2056-66462025-08-0198n/an/a10.1002/gch2.202400261A Transdisciplinary Framework to Bridge Science–Policy–Development Gaps in Global Land Management InitiativesNigussie Haregeweyn0Atsushi Tsunekawa1Ayele Almaw Fenta2Pasquale Borrelli3Panos Panagos4Ermias Aynekulu5Takeshi Abe6Peri Pablo7Simon West8International Platform for Dryland Research and Education Tottori University 1390 Hamasaka Tottori 680‐0001 JapanInternational Platform for Dryland Research and Education Tottori University 1390 Hamasaka Tottori 680‐0001 JapanInternational Platform for Dryland Research and Education Tottori University 1390 Hamasaka Tottori 680‐0001 JapanDepartment of Environmental Sciences Environmental Geosciences University of Basel Basel 4056 SwitzerlandEuropean Commission Joint Research Centre Ispra VA I‐21027 ItalyWorld Agroforestry (ICRAF) UN Avenue Nairobi P.O. Box 30677 KenyaInternational Platform for Dryland Research and Education Tottori University 1390 Hamasaka Tottori 680‐0001 JapanInstituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) Santa Cruz Río Gallegos 9400 ArgentinaCrawford School of Public Policy The Australian National University Canberra 2601 AustraliaAbstract Effective implementation of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) remains a major challenge worldwide because of its weak integration within the domains of science, policy, and development practice. Based on global analyses of soil erosion risk and the degree of implementation of SLM research, policies, and practices at the country level, we propose a transdisciplinary framework to address soil erosion through SLM. In the analysis, we used indices of the policy–development, science–policy, and science–development interfaces to evaluate the overall science–policy–development interface (SPDI) in 236 countries. Over 190 countries (81%) were found to be currently facing moderate or high risk of increased soil erosion from two or more erosion processes, and 182 countries (77%) were found to have a SPDI level that was lower than their soil erosion risk implying the urgent need for a transdisciplinary framework that supports the implementation of future soil erosion research and development projects. Our proposed transdisciplinary framework comprises seven stages, starting from “shared research framing” and ending with “ex‐post evaluation”. The framework’s practical application is discussed in the context of a recent project, emphasizing the need for country‐specific studies to develop tailored frameworks.https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202400261desertificationscience–practice interfacescience–policy–development interfacesoil erosionsustainable land management
spellingShingle Nigussie Haregeweyn
Atsushi Tsunekawa
Ayele Almaw Fenta
Pasquale Borrelli
Panos Panagos
Ermias Aynekulu
Takeshi Abe
Peri Pablo
Simon West
A Transdisciplinary Framework to Bridge Science–Policy–Development Gaps in Global Land Management Initiatives
Global Challenges
desertification
science–practice interface
science–policy–development interface
soil erosion
sustainable land management
title A Transdisciplinary Framework to Bridge Science–Policy–Development Gaps in Global Land Management Initiatives
title_full A Transdisciplinary Framework to Bridge Science–Policy–Development Gaps in Global Land Management Initiatives
title_fullStr A Transdisciplinary Framework to Bridge Science–Policy–Development Gaps in Global Land Management Initiatives
title_full_unstemmed A Transdisciplinary Framework to Bridge Science–Policy–Development Gaps in Global Land Management Initiatives
title_short A Transdisciplinary Framework to Bridge Science–Policy–Development Gaps in Global Land Management Initiatives
title_sort transdisciplinary framework to bridge science policy development gaps in global land management initiatives
topic desertification
science–practice interface
science–policy–development interface
soil erosion
sustainable land management
url https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202400261
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