Tobias Plieninger
@plieningerlab.bsky.social
Professor of Social-Ecological Interactions, University of Kassel & University of Göttingen. Rural landscapes | Ecosystem services | Sustainability. PersOp
www.uni-kassel.de/go/plieninger
www.uni-kassel.de/go/plieninger
3 days to go to the International Year of Rangelands & Pastoralists! Some work from our group:
🌱🐄Biocultural diversity & livestock: doi.org/10.1016/j.an...
🌿🌍High nature value farming: doi.org/10.1002/pan3...
🏷️🐑Geographic Indication: doi.org/10.1080/1747...
🏜️🤝Pastoral values: doi.org/10.1016/j.la...
🌱🐄Biocultural diversity & livestock: doi.org/10.1016/j.an...
🌿🌍High nature value farming: doi.org/10.1002/pan3...
🏷️🐑Geographic Indication: doi.org/10.1080/1747...
🏜️🤝Pastoral values: doi.org/10.1016/j.la...
December 29, 2025 at 6:57 AM
3 days to go to the International Year of Rangelands & Pastoralists! Some work from our group:
🌱🐄Biocultural diversity & livestock: doi.org/10.1016/j.an...
🌿🌍High nature value farming: doi.org/10.1002/pan3...
🏷️🐑Geographic Indication: doi.org/10.1080/1747...
🏜️🤝Pastoral values: doi.org/10.1016/j.la...
🌱🐄Biocultural diversity & livestock: doi.org/10.1016/j.an...
🌿🌍High nature value farming: doi.org/10.1002/pan3...
🏷️🐑Geographic Indication: doi.org/10.1080/1747...
🏜️🤝Pastoral values: doi.org/10.1016/j.la...
Many Indigenous philosophies acknowledge respect & reciprocity between people & nature. Affective ties to land & home are also at the heart of Tamazirt thinking of Amazigh communities in Morocco. Tamazirt could serve as an Indigenous anchor point for rural revitalisation.
🔗 doi.org/10.1007/s132...
🔗 doi.org/10.1007/s132...
December 22, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Many Indigenous philosophies acknowledge respect & reciprocity between people & nature. Affective ties to land & home are also at the heart of Tamazirt thinking of Amazigh communities in Morocco. Tamazirt could serve as an Indigenous anchor point for rural revitalisation.
🔗 doi.org/10.1007/s132...
🔗 doi.org/10.1007/s132...
How do multiple & interconnected social-ecological crises (water scarcity, economic crisis, sociocultural value crisis) affect traditional rural lifeways & drive land abandonment and migration decisions in Morocco's High Atlas? Our new paper, led by @laurakmoch.bsky.social.
🔗 doi.org/10.1007/s132...
🔗 doi.org/10.1007/s132...
December 20, 2025 at 6:30 PM
How do multiple & interconnected social-ecological crises (water scarcity, economic crisis, sociocultural value crisis) affect traditional rural lifeways & drive land abandonment and migration decisions in Morocco's High Atlas? Our new paper, led by @laurakmoch.bsky.social.
🔗 doi.org/10.1007/s132...
🔗 doi.org/10.1007/s132...
The EU #NatureRestorationRegulation may sound dry, but it can inspire ideas for reconnecting people with nature. Our policy article outlines how to foster active learning, cultural values, caring attitudes, land-use synergies & collaboration.
doi.org/10.1111/rec....
www.uni-kassel.de/uni/aktuelle...
doi.org/10.1111/rec....
www.uni-kassel.de/uni/aktuelle...
December 10, 2025 at 10:11 AM
The EU #NatureRestorationRegulation may sound dry, but it can inspire ideas for reconnecting people with nature. Our policy article outlines how to foster active learning, cultural values, caring attitudes, land-use synergies & collaboration.
doi.org/10.1111/rec....
www.uni-kassel.de/uni/aktuelle...
doi.org/10.1111/rec....
www.uni-kassel.de/uni/aktuelle...
@ipbes.net flags conserving & regenerating places of value to nature & people as key for #TransformativeChange. Our India study shows urban lakes, ponds & canals act as such places, supporting livelihoods while shaping #BioculturalDiversity & urban #FoodSystemSustainability. doi.org/10.1038/s442...
December 7, 2025 at 10:57 AM
@ipbes.net flags conserving & regenerating places of value to nature & people as key for #TransformativeChange. Our India study shows urban lakes, ponds & canals act as such places, supporting livelihoods while shaping #BioculturalDiversity & urban #FoodSystemSustainability. doi.org/10.1038/s442...
The #NatureRestorationRegulation is a landmark for EU policy. How can National Restoration Plans boost human–nature relations? Some ideas in our article:
✨Positive restoration stories
🎨Cultural values
🏺Heritage sites/products
🌾Multifunctional landscapes
💡Shared ideas platform
doi.org/10.1111/rec....
✨Positive restoration stories
🎨Cultural values
🏺Heritage sites/products
🌾Multifunctional landscapes
💡Shared ideas platform
doi.org/10.1111/rec....
December 5, 2025 at 9:40 AM
The #NatureRestorationRegulation is a landmark for EU policy. How can National Restoration Plans boost human–nature relations? Some ideas in our article:
✨Positive restoration stories
🎨Cultural values
🏺Heritage sites/products
🌾Multifunctional landscapes
💡Shared ideas platform
doi.org/10.1111/rec....
✨Positive restoration stories
🎨Cultural values
🏺Heritage sites/products
🌾Multifunctional landscapes
💡Shared ideas platform
doi.org/10.1111/rec....
🌍 New study: Foraging in India’s urban blue spaces is widespread yet overlooked.
Surveying 1,200 people in 4 cities, we found that lakes & wetlands provide food, income, culture & social ties.
👉 Recognizing foraging can support more equitable, resilient urban food systems.
🔗 doi.org/10.1038/s442...
Surveying 1,200 people in 4 cities, we found that lakes & wetlands provide food, income, culture & social ties.
👉 Recognizing foraging can support more equitable, resilient urban food systems.
🔗 doi.org/10.1038/s442...
December 3, 2025 at 3:58 PM
🌍 New study: Foraging in India’s urban blue spaces is widespread yet overlooked.
Surveying 1,200 people in 4 cities, we found that lakes & wetlands provide food, income, culture & social ties.
👉 Recognizing foraging can support more equitable, resilient urban food systems.
🔗 doi.org/10.1038/s442...
Surveying 1,200 people in 4 cities, we found that lakes & wetlands provide food, income, culture & social ties.
👉 Recognizing foraging can support more equitable, resilient urban food systems.
🔗 doi.org/10.1038/s442...
Working on #ParticipatoryMapping or #CitizenScience approaches to advance #EcosystemServices? Please submit an abstract to our session at the Ecosystem Services Partnership Europe Conference (Prague, 18.-22.05.26). Submission deadline: 31.12.25. www.espconference.org/europe2026/h...
November 28, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Working on #ParticipatoryMapping or #CitizenScience approaches to advance #EcosystemServices? Please submit an abstract to our session at the Ecosystem Services Partnership Europe Conference (Prague, 18.-22.05.26). Submission deadline: 31.12.25. www.espconference.org/europe2026/h...
Reconnecting people to nature is key for biodiversity action. Our new study identifies 5 ways people relate to #Natura2000:
🐾 Learning
🏞️ Heritage
🪴 Care
🧑🌾 Multifunctionality
👭 Collaboration
Revealing such narratives can build new alliances & place PAs at the heart of society.
doi.org/10.1002/pan3...
🐾 Learning
🏞️ Heritage
🪴 Care
🧑🌾 Multifunctionality
👭 Collaboration
Revealing such narratives can build new alliances & place PAs at the heart of society.
doi.org/10.1002/pan3...
November 25, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Reconnecting people to nature is key for biodiversity action. Our new study identifies 5 ways people relate to #Natura2000:
🐾 Learning
🏞️ Heritage
🪴 Care
🧑🌾 Multifunctionality
👭 Collaboration
Revealing such narratives can build new alliances & place PAs at the heart of society.
doi.org/10.1002/pan3...
🐾 Learning
🏞️ Heritage
🪴 Care
🧑🌾 Multifunctionality
👭 Collaboration
Revealing such narratives can build new alliances & place PAs at the heart of society.
doi.org/10.1002/pan3...
Which innovations around #ForestEcosystemServices are being developed in Europe? And where do we find them? A continent-wide mapping exercise led by Marko Lovric, an output of the SINCERE (sincereforests.eu) & InnoforEst (innoforest.eu) projects. #OpenAccess. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
November 20, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Which innovations around #ForestEcosystemServices are being developed in Europe? And where do we find them? A continent-wide mapping exercise led by Marko Lovric, an output of the SINCERE (sincereforests.eu) & InnoforEst (innoforest.eu) projects. #OpenAccess. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Woodland coppicing is a UNESCO-recognised immaterial cultural heritage & a key driver of forest biodiversity. In parts of Germany, centuries-old forestry cooperatives maintain this traditional practice that has become rare elsewhere. Great visit to the Haubergs-cooperatives of Lahn-Dill region.
November 12, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Woodland coppicing is a UNESCO-recognised immaterial cultural heritage & a key driver of forest biodiversity. In parts of Germany, centuries-old forestry cooperatives maintain this traditional practice that has become rare elsewhere. Great visit to the Haubergs-cooperatives of Lahn-Dill region.
New study: Local peoples’ values & disvalues around #Bannerghatta NP, India. Residents value biodiversity, land & clean air—but experience human–wildlife conflicts. Our study emphasises that inclusive conservation needs consideration of both values & disvalues.
🔗 doi.org/10.1017/S037...
🔗 doi.org/10.1017/S037...
November 11, 2025 at 6:43 AM
New study: Local peoples’ values & disvalues around #Bannerghatta NP, India. Residents value biodiversity, land & clean air—but experience human–wildlife conflicts. Our study emphasises that inclusive conservation needs consideration of both values & disvalues.
🔗 doi.org/10.1017/S037...
🔗 doi.org/10.1017/S037...
New toolkit of our 'Participatory research methods for sustainability' series is out: Q method, a structured approach to account for diverse & conflicting human perspectives. By T. S. Jiren, M. Kernecker & A. Moroder. GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science & Society.
🔗 doi.org/10.14512/gai...
🔗 doi.org/10.14512/gai...
October 22, 2025 at 1:33 PM
New toolkit of our 'Participatory research methods for sustainability' series is out: Q method, a structured approach to account for diverse & conflicting human perspectives. By T. S. Jiren, M. Kernecker & A. Moroder. GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science & Society.
🔗 doi.org/10.14512/gai...
🔗 doi.org/10.14512/gai...
🎉 Our paper just came out! We used #PPGIS to map local values in restoration landscapes in Western #Rwanda — highlighting the vital role of landscapes for farming, resource access & resilience.
Big congrats to Gaelle Ndayizeye on her 1st PhD paper!
👉 doi.org/10.1111/rec....
Big congrats to Gaelle Ndayizeye on her 1st PhD paper!
👉 doi.org/10.1111/rec....
October 10, 2025 at 3:35 PM
🎉 Our paper just came out! We used #PPGIS to map local values in restoration landscapes in Western #Rwanda — highlighting the vital role of landscapes for farming, resource access & resilience.
Big congrats to Gaelle Ndayizeye on her 1st PhD paper!
👉 doi.org/10.1111/rec....
Big congrats to Gaelle Ndayizeye on her 1st PhD paper!
👉 doi.org/10.1111/rec....
Are you a student at @unikassel.bsky.social or @agrarunigoe.bsky.social & interested in learning participatory scenario planning for sustainable agriculture? If yes, please enroll (e.g. by sending me a message) to our course, taking place from 22.10.25 onwards. (The course will be held in German.)
October 1, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Are you a student at @unikassel.bsky.social or @agrarunigoe.bsky.social & interested in learning participatory scenario planning for sustainable agriculture? If yes, please enroll (e.g. by sending me a message) to our course, taking place from 22.10.25 onwards. (The course will be held in German.)
While agroforestry is increasingly mainstreamed, it becomes important to promote diversified & regionally adapted systems. In this review, led by T.H. Le, we point to the history of traditional agroforestry in Europe & to the need for integrating traditional & novel systems. doi.org/10.1007/s104...
September 28, 2025 at 7:11 AM
While agroforestry is increasingly mainstreamed, it becomes important to promote diversified & regionally adapted systems. In this review, led by T.H. Le, we point to the history of traditional agroforestry in Europe & to the need for integrating traditional & novel systems. doi.org/10.1007/s104...
#Hutewälder: Naturschutz durch #Waldweide ist im Kommen. Unsere Interviews mit Tierhalter*innen zeigen, was benötigt wird zur Stärkung der Hutewaldwirtschaft:
🌳Bessere Wirtschaftlichkeit
🌳Modellprojekte & Praxisleitfäden
🌳Vernetzung
🌳Einbindung der Tierhalter*innen
➡️ doi.org/10.1399/NuL....
🌳Bessere Wirtschaftlichkeit
🌳Modellprojekte & Praxisleitfäden
🌳Vernetzung
🌳Einbindung der Tierhalter*innen
➡️ doi.org/10.1399/NuL....
August 4, 2025 at 1:22 PM
#Hutewälder: Naturschutz durch #Waldweide ist im Kommen. Unsere Interviews mit Tierhalter*innen zeigen, was benötigt wird zur Stärkung der Hutewaldwirtschaft:
🌳Bessere Wirtschaftlichkeit
🌳Modellprojekte & Praxisleitfäden
🌳Vernetzung
🌳Einbindung der Tierhalter*innen
➡️ doi.org/10.1399/NuL....
🌳Bessere Wirtschaftlichkeit
🌳Modellprojekte & Praxisleitfäden
🌳Vernetzung
🌳Einbindung der Tierhalter*innen
➡️ doi.org/10.1399/NuL....
#IntegratedLandscapeApproaches are powerful in dealing with complex social-ecological challenges, but often lack attention to #LandscapeJustice. In this synthesis, we identify dimension of landscape injustices, provide a methods overview & reflect on our own experiences.
doi.org/10.5751/ES-1...
doi.org/10.5751/ES-1...
July 28, 2025 at 9:42 AM
#IntegratedLandscapeApproaches are powerful in dealing with complex social-ecological challenges, but often lack attention to #LandscapeJustice. In this synthesis, we identify dimension of landscape injustices, provide a methods overview & reflect on our own experiences.
doi.org/10.5751/ES-1...
doi.org/10.5751/ES-1...
Ziquejie rice terraces in Hunnan province (China) - a globally important agricultural heritage system, recognized by FAO. Forest-covered mountains provide the water for this centuries-old irrigation system based on natural gravity - Chinese version of Japan's #Satoyama landscapes.
July 27, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Ziquejie rice terraces in Hunnan province (China) - a globally important agricultural heritage system, recognized by FAO. Forest-covered mountains provide the water for this centuries-old irrigation system based on natural gravity - Chinese version of Japan's #Satoyama landscapes.
Co-production of rich agrobiodiversity by people & nature in the Shexian dry stone terrace landscape (Hebei, China). Key components of this agricultural heritage system are: Farmers, Chinese red pepper, donkeys/mules, traditional crops & a lot of stones. Paper: doi.org/10.1080/2639...
July 26, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Co-production of rich agrobiodiversity by people & nature in the Shexian dry stone terrace landscape (Hebei, China). Key components of this agricultural heritage system are: Farmers, Chinese red pepper, donkeys/mules, traditional crops & a lot of stones. Paper: doi.org/10.1080/2639...
🚜 New study: Why do farmers join collaborative agri-environmental schemes?
🧑🌾 Farmer interviews show:
🌼 Nature values & admin ease matter most
💶 Financial incentives help—but support, flexibility & peer exchange are key
Paper: doi.org/10.1016/j.jr...
Project: www.uni-goettingen.de/en/628701.html
🧑🌾 Farmer interviews show:
🌼 Nature values & admin ease matter most
💶 Financial incentives help—but support, flexibility & peer exchange are key
Paper: doi.org/10.1016/j.jr...
Project: www.uni-goettingen.de/en/628701.html
July 24, 2025 at 6:03 AM
🚜 New study: Why do farmers join collaborative agri-environmental schemes?
🧑🌾 Farmer interviews show:
🌼 Nature values & admin ease matter most
💶 Financial incentives help—but support, flexibility & peer exchange are key
Paper: doi.org/10.1016/j.jr...
Project: www.uni-goettingen.de/en/628701.html
🧑🌾 Farmer interviews show:
🌼 Nature values & admin ease matter most
💶 Financial incentives help—but support, flexibility & peer exchange are key
Paper: doi.org/10.1016/j.jr...
Project: www.uni-goettingen.de/en/628701.html
China is a leader in conserving agricultural heritage systems. My visit with T. Guo led us to tea gardens in Yunnan province. What looks like an untended plantation is actually a smallholder-managed & incredibly diverse agroecosystem of tea intercropped with buckwheat, flax, maize, sweet potato etc.
July 15, 2025 at 1:09 PM
China is a leader in conserving agricultural heritage systems. My visit with T. Guo led us to tea gardens in Yunnan province. What looks like an untended plantation is actually a smallholder-managed & incredibly diverse agroecosystem of tea intercropped with buckwheat, flax, maize, sweet potato etc.
🌿 New study: What kind of #peatland future do we want—and how do we get there? We co-created mental models with 42 land users to explore how land use affects ecosystem services & well-being. Best future? A mosaic: peatland conservation, extensive grazing & eco-tourism.
🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.je...
🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.je...
July 8, 2025 at 6:18 AM
🌿 New study: What kind of #peatland future do we want—and how do we get there? We co-created mental models with 42 land users to explore how land use affects ecosystem services & well-being. Best future? A mosaic: peatland conservation, extensive grazing & eco-tourism.
🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.je...
🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.je...
#HighNatureValue farming covers ~30% of EU farmland—but it is under threat from abandonment & intensification. Our Pan-European review of 178 studies reveals key patterns in biodiversity, ecosystem services, policy drivers & innovations. Read in "People and Nature":
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/pan3...
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/pan3...
July 7, 2025 at 6:23 AM
#HighNatureValue farming covers ~30% of EU farmland—but it is under threat from abandonment & intensification. Our Pan-European review of 178 studies reveals key patterns in biodiversity, ecosystem services, policy drivers & innovations. Read in "People and Nature":
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/pan3...
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/pan3...
Interested in #Agroforestry, #EcosystemServices & rural-urban dynamics? Apply for a 4-years (65%) PhD position on “Effects of tree-based agriculture on ecosystem services supply, distribution & access in a rurban environment”. Fieldwork takes place in Morocco. euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/358166.
July 4, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Interested in #Agroforestry, #EcosystemServices & rural-urban dynamics? Apply for a 4-years (65%) PhD position on “Effects of tree-based agriculture on ecosystem services supply, distribution & access in a rurban environment”. Fieldwork takes place in Morocco. euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/358166.