Katrin Prager is an interdisciplinary social scientist with a background in landscape planning, environmental management, and participatory agri-environmental policy making. She is a Honorary Associate and former leader of the Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences Group (SEGS) department. Her work centres on the human dimensions of land management and the environmental consequences of land use on landscape, soils, biodiversity and water. She uses mixed-method approaches (qualitative and quantitative) to understand problems around landscape management and governance at different scales and the links between policies and actions on the ground.
Research
Katrin’s research interests relate to the interaction between social and ecological systems, institutions and governance in landscape and environmental management, as well as land manager attitudes and behaviour. Research interests include:
- community engagement in natural resource management and rural development
- participatory processes in agri-environmental policy making and implementation
- adoption of soil and water conservation practices
- citizen science and knowledge exchange.
Her blogs include Children as Researchers, an inventory of agricultural advisory services, researcher-practitioner discussion group (HLUEDG), and measuring interdisciplinarity.
Ongoing and recent projects
- The development of co-creative capacity for addressing socio-environmental problems (2016-2017) – funded by SESYNC (Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center, USA), lead: Allison Metz (National Implementation Research Network, North Carolina)
- DeerUnit – Delimiting functional management units for partially migratory deer populations (2014-2018). I coordinate the workpackage on incentives and barriers to collaborative, cross-boundary deer management.
- PRO AKIS – Prospects for Farmers’ Support: Advisory Services in European AKIS (2012-2015). See also the Research brief on AKIS in the UK.
- Scottish Government Strategic Research Programme funded research (2011-2016):
- Theme 3 “Land use” – in particular 3.6 Understanding land managers’ attitudes and behaviour towards the management of environmental assets and responding to climate change
- Theme 8 “Vibrant rural communities” – in particular 8.2 Governance and decision making for community empowerment in rural communities.
Past research
- DICE – “Developing an Interdisciplinary Culture of Excellence” – James Hutton Institute Seedcorn funding (2012-2014) – with an international workshop in March 2015 “Working together for better outcomes: learning from different perspectives to improve delivery of solutions to land and natural resource challenges”. Find the full report here.
- How can we employ citizen science to determine the extent of soil erosion in Scotland? (SNIFFER), 2014, see report
- LandscapePartners – The contribution of multi-stakeholder partnerships to sustainable landscape management, funded by EU FP7 (Marie Curie – IEF – fellowship), 2010-2012.
- Scotland’s Environment Web (SEWeb) – Citizen Science and public engagement workstream (LIFE+ funded project run by SEPA), 2012, see report.
- Valuing and Assessing Peatland Ecosystem Services, a Valuing Nature Network (VNN) funded project, see blog.
- Sustainable Agriculture and Soil Conservation (SOCO), EU-funded, 2008-2009.
- Comparing approaches to Landcare and natural resource management in Germany and Australia, DAAD-funded, 2006-2007.
Publications
The following Publications have not yet been migrated to the James Hutton Institute's Pure service and relate to the research outputs from the two legacy organisations: The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute and The Scottish Crop Research Institute.
Journals
- Hagemann, N.; Prager, K. (2011) Shortcomings of political instruments for agricultural soil conservation., Berichte uber Landwirtschaft, 89, 331-350.
- Prager, K. (2011) Adaptives Management in Naturschutz und Landschaftspflege – Die Rolle von Gruppen und Verbanden in Europa (Adaptive management in nature conservation and landscape management – The role of groups and associations in Europe., Natur und Landschaft, 86, 343-349.
- Prager, K.; Helming, K.; Hagedorn, K. (2011) The challenge of developing effective soil conservation policies (editorial)., Land Degradation and Development, Special Issue, The Challenge of Effective Soil Conservation Policies, 22, 1-4.
- Prager, K.; Hagemann, N.; Schuler, J.; Heyn, N. (2011) Incentives and enforcement: the institutional design and policy mix for soil conservation in Brandenburg (Germany)., Land Degradation and Development, Special Issue, The Challenge of Effective Soil Conservation Policies, 22, 111-123.
- Prager, K.; Schuler, J.; Helming, K.; Zander, P.; Ratinger, T.; Hagedorn, K. (2011) Soil degradation, farming practices, institutions and policy responses: An analytical framework., Land Degradation and Development, Special Issue, The Challenge of Effective Soil Conservation Policies, 22, 32-46.
- Prager, K.; Vanclay, F. (2010) Landcare in Australia and Germany: Comparing structures and policies for community engagement in natural resource management., Ecological Management and Restoration, 11, 187-193.
- Prager, K. (2010) Local and regional partnerships in natural resource management: The challenge of bridging institutional levels., Environmental Management, 46, 711-724.
- Prager, K. (2010) Applying the institutions of sustainability framework to the case of agricultural soil conservation., Environmental Policy and Governance, 20, 223-238.
Prior to appointment
- Compton, E.; Prager, K.; Beeton, R.J.S. (2009) Landcare bowling alone: Finding a future in the “fourth” phase., In: Contested Country: Local and Regional Environmental Management in Australia (eds. M.B. Lane, C. Robinson and B. Taylor). CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne, pp147-160.
- Gay, S.H.; Louwagie, G.; Sammeth, F.; Ratinger, T.; Marechal, B.; Prosperi, P.; Rusco, E.; Terres, J.; van der Velde, M.; Baldock, D.; Bowyer, C.; Cooper, T.; Fenn, I.; Hagemann, N.; Prager, K.; Heyn, N.; Schuler, J. (2009) Final report on the project – Sustainable Agriculture and Soil Conservation (SoCo)., European Commission, Luxembourg.
- Prager, K.; Freese, J. (2009) Stakeholder involvement in agri-environmental policy making – Learning from a local- and a state-level approach in Germany., Journal of Environmental Management, 90, 1154-1167.
- Prager, K. (2009) Landschaftspflege durch Verbände in Australien und Deutschland – Landcare in Australia and Germany – Comparison of the landcare groups and Landschaftspflegeverbande., Naturschutz und Landschaftsplanung, 41, 89-96.
- Prager, K.; Hagemann, N.; Helming, K.; Heyn, N.; Sattler, C.; Schuler, J.; Zander, P. (2008) Case Study Report Uckermark, Germany. WP2 – Case studies on soil/ land management and policy measures., WP2 – Case Studies on Soil/ Land Management and Policy Measures. SoCo Project.
- Prager, K.; Nagel, U.J. (2008) Participatory decision-making on agri-environmental programmes – A case study from Sachsen-Anhalt (Germany)., Land Use Policy 25, 106-115.
- Hauesler, S.; Prager, K.; Nagel, U.J. (2007) Interessenvertretung im Agrarumweltbereich – Fallstudie Brandenburg., SUTRA-Working Paper 12, Humboldt University, Berlin, (DFG-Forschergruppe 497).
- Prager, K. (2007) Communication processes in agri-environmental policy development and decision making., Series Kommunikation und Beratung 75. Weikersheim, Margraf.
- Thiessen, S.; Prager, K.; Nagel, U.J. (2006) Mitwirkung von Umweltverbaenden an der Gestaltung von Agrarumweltprogrammen auf Ebene der Bundeslaender., SUTRA-Working Paper 11. Humboldt University, Berlin, (DFG-Forschergruppe 497).
- Prager, K.; Nagel, U.J. (2005) Kommunikationsbeziehungen der Amter fur Landwirtschaft und Flurneuordnung im Bereich der Agrarumweltprogramme. Fallstudie Sachsen-Anhalt., SUTRA-Working Paper 7, Humboldt University, Berlin, (DFG-Forschergruppe 497).
- Prager, K.; Nagel, U.J. (2004) Communication processes in agro-environmental policy development and decision-making. Case study Sachsen-Anhalt., SUTRA-Working Paper 2, Humboldt University, Berlin, (DFG-Forschergruppe 497).
- Nagel, U.J.; Aenis, T.; Dosch, A.; Prager, K.; Toussaint, V. (2004) Zur wirkungsanalyse transdisziplinarer forschung., Ein Untersuchungskonzept der Nachhaltigkeit des Landnutzungsprojektes GRANO. Weikersheim, Margraf.
- Prager, K. (2002) Akzeptanz von Mabnahmen zur Umsetzung einer umweltschonenden Landbewirtschaftung bei Landwirten und Beratern in Brandenburg., Series Kommunikation und Beratung 48. Weikersheim, Margraf.
Books / chapters
- Prager, K.; Posthumus, H. (2010) Socio-economic factors influencing farmers’ adoption of soil conservation practices in Europe., In: Napier, T. (ed.). Human Dimensions of Soil and Water Conservation: A Global Perspective. Nova Science Publishers, USA. Chapter 12, pp203-223.
- Louwagie, G.; Kutter, T.; Schuler, J.; Helming, K.; Gay, S.H.; Prager, K. (2010) Implementing policies for soil and water conservation in European Union agriculture., In: Napier, T. (ed.). Human Dimensions of Soil and Water Conservation: A Global Perspective. Nova Science Publishers, USA. Chapter 13, pp225-245.
Conference papers
- Macleod, C.J.A.; Black, H.I.J.; Brown, K.; Blackstock, K.L.; Dawson, J.J.C.; Holmes, B.; Langan, S.J.; Marshall, K.; Martin-Ortega, J.; Munoz-Rojas, J.; Morris, S.; Prager, K.; Rivington, M.; Waylen, K.; Vinten, A.J.A.; Gordon, I.J. (2011) What is required for greater levels of interdisciplinary science in a research institute?, 6th International Conference on Environmental Future: Interdisciplinary Progress in Environmental Science and Management, Newcastle, UK, 18-22 July 2011.
- Prager, K. (2011) Using and sharing social research in school., CRFR (Centre for Research on Families and Relationships) 10th Anniversary National Conference, John McIntyre Conference Centre,
University of Edinburgh, 30 November 2011. - Prager, K. (2011) Landcare groups in Germany – rural governance or implementation tool?, Royal Geographical Society with IBG Annual International Conference 2011, Session on Sustainability, Land and Power, Convenors Keith Halfacree and Rob McMorran, RGS-IBG, London, 31 August – 2 September 2011.
- Prager, K. (2011) The resilience of the social system as a component of social-ecological systems., Nordic Environmental Social Science Conference, 10th, Stockholm, Sweden, 14-16 June 2011. Workshop 10 – Landscape dynamics and sustainable resource use: On theories, concepts and methodological tools for integrative studies of human society and nature.
- Prager, K. (2010) Encouraging collaboration for the provision of ecosystem services across multiple scales., Presentation at the International Workshop “Challenges for a Systemic Environmental Monitoring and Adequate Indicators”, Italo-German Centre for European Excellency, Villa Vigoni, Italy, 7-10, October 2010.
- Prager, K.; Prazan, J.; Penov, I. (2010) Soil conservation in transition countries – the role of institutions., International Society of Ecological Economics (ISEE) Advancing Sustainability in a Time of Crisis, Oldenburg/Bremen, Germany, 22-25 August 2010, pp137.
- Prager, K.; Posthumus, H. (2010) Adopting sustainable soil management – the role of socio-economic factors., Annual International Sustainable Development Research Conference, 16th, “Sustainable Agriculture”, The Kadoorie Institute, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, 30 May – 1 June, 2010. ISBN 978-988-18934-1-3
- Prager, K. (2010) Collective efforts to manage cultural landscapes., International Workshop “Social-Ecological Resilience of Cultural Landscapes”, Berlin, Germany, 15-16 June 2010.
