Abstract ID: 3.11162 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Biosphere reserves (BRs) are role models for sustainable development and have evolved into multifunctional areas that go beyond nature protection. They address various topics like quality economy, education for sustainable development, and climate change adaptation and mitigation. Since the Sevilla Strategy (1996), BRs are expected to transform from their past role as field education sites to sites of inter- and transdisciplinary knowledge co-creation, incorporating endogenous knowledge. However, the extent to which BRs have established this role and the nature of science-society networks within them remain unclear. This study conducts a Social Network Analysis based on 50 qualitative interviews from five mountainous BRs in Austria, Switzerland, and Germany. The results provide insights into: i) the social and scientific actors involved in BR-related research collaborations, ii) the initiators of these collaborations, iii) the thematic focus and types of collaboration, and iv) the role of different forms of proximity (institutional, cognitive, organizational, geographic) in shaping science-society research collaborations in mountainous BRs. The study reveals that a diverse range of social and scientific actors are involved in BR-related research collaborations. The initiators of these collaborations vary, with most driven by BR management, followed by research institutions, local stakeholders or policy-makers. The thematic focus of the collaborations spans various areas, whereby the main focus is on biodiversity and nature conservation, sustainable development, agriculture, tourism, and others. Different forms of proximity play a significant role in shaping these collaborations. Cognitive proximity, which refers to familiarity with BR topics and relevant expertise, was mentioned as most influential when choosing the collaboration partner. This is followed by organizational proximity referring to institutionalized research collaborations. Social proximity highlights longstanding research collaboration traditions and trust among the interviewees. Geographical proximity played a subordinate role for the investigated BR-related research collaborations. Based on these empirical investigations, we aim to draw conclusions on the resilience of science-society collaborations in mountainous BRs and the influence of place-specific institutional conditions on the emergence and establishment of these collaborations.