Project description
Modelling the social-environmental interrelationships in a biosphere reserve
The Gerês-Xurés Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (RBTGX) is situated on the border shared by Spain and Portugal. Despite its geographical division, it remains united through its shared natural and cultural characteristics. The MSCA-funded SSpaceGX project will explore the social dimension of nature conservation within the RBTGX. This will be achieved by introducing an innovative methodology for traditional social space studies, allowing for the incorporation of environmental factors into the analysis of social dynamics. The project’s objective is to create a model that captures the intricate interplay between social and environmental aspects within a biosphere reserve. This will be developed based on a non-intrusive approach to assessing living conditions.
Objective
The project aims to analyze the social space of nature conservation in the Gerêz-Xurés Transboundary Biosphere Reserve at the borders of Portugal and Spain. To do so, it will be necessary to incorporate an entirely new methodology into classical social space studies in order to account for the environmental dimensions of social dynamics. Specifically, advanced geo-spatial analysis combined with ethnographic approaches, will be added to geometric data analysis (mainly, the established methodology for the social space construction). This contribution is based on the parameters of a non-intrusive approach to living conditions proposed by Virgilio Borges' research team at the Institute of Sociology in the University of Porto (Ramos et al, 2021) . The inclusion of the environment into the social space of nature conservation will lead to the development of a new approach to current ecological problems. As a result, the research findings will provide alternatives to understand, prevent, and manage the main conflicts facing sustainable development in the Gerêz-Xurés Transboundary Biosphere Reserve. In sumary, the social space of nature conservation aims to model the social-environmental interdependencies surrounding a biosphere reserve by a strong synergy of spatial, statistical, and ethnographic methodologies. This social space can be replicated, compared, and improved in its operation in other biosphere reserves of the world.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European FellowshipsCoordinator
4099-002 Porto
Portugal