Relational dimensions for transformation and resilience: exploring inspiration, social capital, and learning in landscape-based initiatives in South Africa

Author(s):
De Villiers, A.C.
Published
2025
Publication type
Doctoral Thesis

Abstract

Landscape restoration has been reinterpreted from a technical project-based intervention to an intentional ongoing process transforming social-ecological systems. The PhD explored the challenges and opportunities of implementing relational thinking and plural valuation to support such an approach to landscape sustainability. The research was designed as a transdisciplinary in-depth case study with Living Lands, a not-for-profit company based in the Eastern Cape. Findings confirmed that slow, embedded, and reflexive processes support sensemaking and social resilience for initiatives, but require careful consideration of synergies, trade-offs, and changes within and between the landscape context and the roles, norms, and expectations of landscape restoration practices, funding, policies, and research.

Plural valuationSocial-ecological restorationTransdisciplinaryRealist evaluationPlacemakingLandscape sustainability
Defense date
2025-01-21
Language
English
Supervisor(s)
Spierenburg, M.J.; Elser, K.J.
Advisor(s)
Cockburn, J.J.
Committee member(s)
Barendregt, B.A.; Grasseni, C.; Horlings, L.G.; West, S.; Vos, A. de
Qualification
Ph.D.
Degree granting institution
Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden
hdl
1887/4177222