Structure of EFForTS
EFForTS comprises 22 scientific projects (SPs), two management projects (Z01and Z02), one information infrastructure project (INF) and one public relations project (PR). The SPs are organized in a matrix structure, with three Project Groups and four Foci. This matrix structure helps to foster both disciplinary rigour and interdisciplinary cooperation. Each SP has one or more research counterparts from the partner organizations in Indonesia.
In the three Project Groups – (A) Environmental processes, (B) Biota and ecosystem services and (C) Human dimensions – all SPs are categorized according to their main disciplinary area (Fig. 1). Groups A and B include the natural science projects; group C includes the social science projects. Within each Project Group, synergies and complementarities in terms of methodologies and substance are harnessed through regular meetings and seminars.
The integrative projects A07 Knohl/Veldkamp, B10 Wiegand/Ley, B11 Hölscher/Kreft/Wollni and C11 Lay et al. bridging across Project Groups A, B and C are given in a separate box.
Each SP has its own disciplinary perspective, and, at the same time, contributes important elements (such as data about particular ecological or socioeconomic functions) to the broader interdisciplinary perspective of EFForTS.
A unique feature of EFForTS is to combine natural science and socioeconomic perspectives in an integrated framework and to advance the interdisciplinary knowledge base through broader syntheses. This is also fostered through the four Foci, that pursue specific cross-cutting issues. Each SP contributes directly to two or more Foci.
- Focus 1 - Valuation combines all the data and knowledge on ecological and socioeconomic functions for the land-use systems (forest, rubber, oil palm), compares them and analyses trade-offs.
- Focus 2 - Spatial and temporal variability looks more specifically at heterogeneity in ecological and socioeconomic functions within each land-use system and the underlying reasons for this heterogeneity.
- Focus 3 - Scaling-up works towards scaling up the plot, farm and household level results to landscape and broader scales.
- Focus 4 - Towards sustainable land use synthesises the findings and provides science-based knowledge for policy recommendations on future land use that can help to make transformation processes more sustainable in the future.