Environmental Science

Article Review
Title: Integrated landscape approaches to managing social and environmental issues in the
tropics: learning from the past to guide the future

Summary of the Article

A landscape approach is defined in the article as, “a framework to integrate policy and
practice for multiple competing land uses through the implementation of adaptive and integrated
management systems.” This framework includes principles that serve as a basis in developing
approaches that address global challenges of poverty alleviation, food security, climate change,
and biodiversity loss. Five researchers aim to formulate an in depth solution that can contribute
to the mitigation of the risks by studying different literature related to this.
The research included a thorough review on the available information on the (1)
integrated landscape management theory, (2) the landscape approach, (3) the key aspects of an
effective landscape approach, (4) the barriers to implementation of the landscape approach, and
(5) the link between the landscape approach and global policy dialogues.
To sum up the article, the researchers had concluded that by adapting a landscape
approach as a solution and by using available observations and realizations in the review, there is
a big potential for the stakeholders, either external or internal, to not only benefit from the
actions, but also for the world to be renewed from the abuse of humans.

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Article

The article was filled with information which was helpful and satisfied the researchers’
objectives. Various areas of the thesis were tackled, allowing the readers to understand how the
researchers were able to arrive at their conclusion. Readers who were inexperienced to the topic
were provided with language that was easy to understand. I believe that one of the best points
talked about in the paper was that of the barriers to the implementation of landscape approaches.
This is because it was shared in a manner that is understandable and direct.
Personally, I could not think of a possible weakness of the article simply because as I
have read and annotated, I have understood the points raised and literature explained clearly. But
if I were to think of one weakness, among only little, it would be that of how they had connected
the principles of landscape approaches to only some of the governing developmental goals that
contribute to the decrease of the effects of global challenges. However, they were able to provide
a comprehensive and brief background on the two bases, which is a good point.
Reflection on the Article
As soon as I had begun reading the article, the thought that, “focusing on solving one
problem may worsen another,” struck my mind. Was it possible for that to happen, I thought.
However, as I continued on with the article, the importance of integration between the solutions
to the four major global challenges (poverty, food security, climate change, and biodiversity loss)
was revealed to me. I was also impressed by how much resources they had gathered in order to
address the questions and mishaps of the landscape approach.
The landscape approach, as I have understood, is a tool of high potential as it aims to
address the challenges we face today at a larger scale. It also aims to answer to the needs of
every stakeholder. It surprised me that the important point on the involvement and engagement
and external and internal stakeholders was also tackled in the article as I thought that this was
something that was involuntarily included in the planning of the approach. The way external
individuals communicate and monitor the internal is also an important aspect, as I have learned.
It is important that they, through identification and management of social conflict, make sure that
the internal stakeholders are aware and fully understand that by adapting a landscape approach,
both parties would benefit.
I was also enlightened by how the researchers believed that this study of a number of
literatures, which may seem simple, can make a difference to how future solutions would be
formed and adapted by the public. By their observation and rigorous study of the available
literature that talk about landscape approaches and various areas under the topic, they have
addressed many questions that seem to pull the approach away from being used. They also have
educated me on its importance as we get on with our journey to a much more sustainable
lifestyle that aims to satisfy and address all the parties and challenges involved, respectively.