Virtual participatory mapping of nature-based solutions in the Grande de Tárcoles River basin, Costa Rica: Connecting diverse knowledge systems in a context of physical immobility

authored by

Barbara Schröter, Sarah Gottwald, Karina Castro-Arce, Eva Hartkopf, Bernardo Aguilar-González, Christian Albert

Abstract

Co-design processes are of key importance in planning and implementing Nature-based Solutions (NBS), but require boundary management between diverse holders of local, practical and scientific knowledge. Participatory and map-based planning tools, such as Geodesign workshops, can facilitate such boundary management through mobilising knowledge holders, and translating and negotiating between different perspectives. The COVID-19 pandemic hindered physical mobility, but offered an, albeit unintended, opportunity to explore new ways of virtual mobility for facilitating boundary management in NBS co-design through digital participatory tools. This short communication aims to demonstrate how a spatial planning process for NBS can be facilitated in an online context. We draw on an international case study for co-designing NBS in Costa Rica, conducted during the severe lock-down restriction of the COVID-19 pandemic. This novel approach showcases how physical presence and movement is replaced by virtual mobility enabled through an online geographic map-based environment that allowed participants to communicate their opinions and co-create local and regional NBS actions. The case study included developing and testing a co-design tool to understand and map local perceptions of social-ecological problems, and an actual co-design process for siting NBS options and jointly exploring their implications. We present two levels of the process: 1) the adaptation of the co-design tool, and 2) the use and usefulness of the co-design tool. Our evaluation shows that the tool served its purpose well and provided useful support to local stakeholders. We recommend to test further strategical combinations of in-person and virtual methods in NBS co-design processes to improve NBS planning and implementation.

External Organisation(s)

Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)
Leuphana University Lüneburg
Ruhr-Universität Bochum

Type

Article

Journal

Science of the Total Environment

Volume

872

ISSN

0048-9697

Publication date

10.05.2023

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Pollution, Waste Management and Disposal, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Chemistry

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162195 (Access: Closed)