A Participatory Scenario Framework Advances Ecosystem Scenarios as Environmental Futures Approach

Abstract

Ecosystem scenarios describe possible, probable and desirable developments of the natural environment in the future, often assessed from a natural scientific (biophysical) and social scientific (socioeconomic) perspective. Processing relevant systemic and human behavioral parameters as scenario factors or drivers, different frameworks for ecosystem scenario building have been developed, applied, and evaluated in scientific literature. Increasingly, stakeholder participation has proven a central objective and challenge for these frameworks defining process designs in transdisciplinary domains such as science-society or science-policy interfaces. This article presents a conceptual framework to advance ecosystem scenario projects towards improved stakeholder participation, knowledge inclusivity and process reflexivity. The framework combines epistemological and methodological elements from futures studies with established research practices in ecosystem assessment projects. The framework's dynamic, adaptive character adds deliberative and reflexive elements to process design and application for a more inclusive and stakeholder-oriented research practice. Its novelty lies in the continuous configuration of process variables derived from common dichotomous elements of theoretical scenario classification applied in scenario practice. This approach benefits integrated knowledge management and inclusivity within the framework for multi-method, multi-stakeholder, multi-sector and multi-epistemic scenario processes. In a wider scope of environmental futures approaches, this article details the development, conceptual outline and preliminary application of the participatory framework for testing and evaluation in an ongoing ecosystem scenario project.