Challenges and transformative potentials of co-construction and citizen science on biodiversity and ecosystem services for sustainable transition in cities

• Grant number: 24/18820-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: May 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Angélica Maria Penteado Martins Dias
• Grantee: Caren Queiroz Souza
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 23/12006-5 - URBAN TERRITORIES AND THEIR GREEN AREAS: BIODIVERSITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN COMPLEX ADAPTIVE SYSTEMS, AP.BTA.R

Abstract

The BioFuturo na Cidade project proposes action research to generate changes andknowledge about biodiversity and ecosystem services in urban green areas,of its perception and governance by citizens, public managers and researchersprofessionals. The transformation strategy will be the rapprochement between these social agents(social subsystem) and species, interactions and ecosystem services (natural subsystem)through questions, observations and reflections developed in co-production and citizen science.The potentials and challenges of this transformation, as well as co-production and citizen scienceas educational strategies will also be evaluated in the research. The theoretical framework ofcomplex adaptive systems will provide opportunities for transdisciplinarity by providing a systemic approach, in which the dialogue of different knowledge occurs, without neglecting thespecificities of each type of knowledge and its methodsWe chose to study the urban areas of the four municipalities that host UFSCar because cities are complex adaptive systems in which the relationships between society and nature are often conflicting,as well as its educational potential. Thus, we aim to explore the educational potential of urban territories in the transition to sustainability and propose improvements; promote co-construction and citizen science; investigate biodiversity, ecosystem services and socio-environmental governance of urban green areas as complex adaptive systems; understand how the management and governance of urban green areas align with agreements,broader public guidelines and policies. The synthesis of available knowledge on the study topics will be carried out. Co-construction and citizen science projects in municipalities will prioritize local schools and users of urban green areas, through research carried out jointly by citizen researchers and professionals. The social subsystem will be characterized with a focus on the governance of urban green areas and the perception of citizens, academic researchers and managers regarding biodiversity andecosystem services they maintain