IPSI Case Study Guidelines

Contents
1.

Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1

2.

Scope of IPSI case studies ................................................................................................... 1

3.

Format of IPSI case studies ................................................................................................. 2

4.

Language .......................................................................................................................... 3

5.

Elements of an IPSI case study ............................................................................................ 3

6.

Submission process ........................................................................................................... 4

7.

Author’s responsibilities ..................................................................................................... 4

8.

Use of case studies by the IPSI Secretariat ........................................................................... 4

1. Introduction
The International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (IPSI) collects case studies as one ofits major tools to facilitate sharing of knowledge and experiences related to “socio-ecologicalproduction landscapes and seascapes” (SEPLS). Case studies help members to have a better
understanding of SEPLS-related issues around the world and find commonality and uniquenessin their own and other landscapes and seascapes. Furthermore, it is expected that members
will learn from other cases about challenges faced, useful methodologies and approaches tosolve problems, and unexplored benefits of SEPLS.
Toward this end, the IPSI Operational Guidelines state that IPSI member organizations arerequired to contribute at least one case study report on SEPLS and SEPLS-related activities(Chapter 1.2). All case studies are made freely available on the IPSI website, and constitute acontinually growing body of knowledge useful to policymakers, practitioners, researchers andinterested members of the general public. It is expected that knowledge extracted andsynthesized from the case studies contribute to the various international discussions on therelevant issues such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets,
the Sustainable Development Goals and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.
In addition to being shared on the IPSI website, IPSI case studies have been used forknowledge-management and synthesis activities including:

A systematic analysis of the first 80 IPSI case studies, resulting in a report including anoverview of their characteristics and lessons learned
A publication titled “Contributions of the Satoyama Initiative to mainstreaming
sustainable use of biodiversity in production landscapes and seascapes”
A publication series, the “Satoyama Initiative Thematic Review”

The guidelines below have been designed to help authors submit IPSI case studies easily andwith the required information for greatest effectiveness.

2. Scope of IPSI case studies
IPSI case studies are intended to crystallize IPSI members’ experiences working for SEPLS,
which can vary greatly due to the wide range of different regions and ecosystem types, issues
being addressed, and approaches and methods used. Case studies should therefore address
authors’ experiences and contain useful information about their activities in conserving andrevitalizing SEPLS as well as cautionary points and lessons learned.
IPSI has received case studies on a wide variety of topics to date. Some examples include:Descriptions of community-held common lands
Multi-stakeholder engagement for resource management and conservation
Customary use of biological resources in accordance with traditional cultural practices
Effective approaches to address benefits for both biodiversity and human well-beingthat could be replicated in other areas
Tools or guidelines that contribute to fostering synergies in implementation

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Despite the diversity of members’ activities, authors are encouraged to consider theconceptual framework of the Satoyama Initiative—including its “three-fold approach” and “sixecological and socioeconomic perspectives” (see below)—which illustrates the different
aspects and elements of SEPLS that are important for their conservation and. These elements
should be addressed as much as possible in describing activities, challenges faced, results andachievements, and lessons learned.
The three-fold approach of the Satoyama Initiative is:1) Consolidating wisdom on securing diverse ecosystem services and values,2) Integrating traditional ecological knowledge and modern science to promote
innovations, and
3) Exploring new forms of co-management systems or evolving frameworks of “commons”
while respecting traditional communal land tenure.
The following six ecological and socio-economic perspectives should be considered in following
the above approach:1) Resource use within the carrying capacity and resilience of the environment,
2) Cyclic use of natural resources,
3) Recognition of the value and importance of traditions and cultures,
4) Multi-stakeholder participation and collaboration in sustainable and multi-functional
management of natural resources and ecosystem services,
5) Contributions to sustainable socio-economies including poverty reduction, foodsecurity, sustainable livelihood and local community empowerment, and6) Improved community resilience to achieve multiple benefits through ecosystem-basedapproaches.

3. Format of IPSI case studies
Although authors are encouraged to develop written case study reports, to respond to thediversity of members’ activities and the ways in which they are presented, different formats arealso accepted.
The following may be submitted as IPSI case studies:Written original reports developed according to the guidelines in section 5
Witten documents that are already published on other platforms, with or withoutchanges
Audiovisual materials such as videos

To maintain consistency of information provided in case studies, all case studies in any format
must be accompanied by the “IPSI Case Study Summary Sheet”.
Please note that the IPSI website has limited capacity to store large files such as video files. It ispreferable that audiovisual and similar files be hosted on another server (public video-hostingsites such as YouTube and Vimeo are acceptable), and the link be provided in the “IPSI Case
Study Summary Sheet”.

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4. Language
In principle, English is preferable as it is the common language for IPSI functioning. Case studies
can also be submitted in Spanish or French, as long as they provide a Summary Sheet in English.
Manuscripts by authors whose primary language is not English should be proofread by one
who has a high level of proficiency in English prior to submission as necessary.
Manuscripts should be written in accessible language and concise sentences. Technical terms
or sentences that may not be familiar to laypersons should be explained.

5. Elements of an IPSI case study
Case studies in both manuscript and audiovisual format should include:
1. A completed “IPSI Case Study Summary Sheet”: with as many fields filled in as possible orappropriate
Please include following elements for the case studies in manuscript format:
1.

Title of case study: should be concise and within approximately 20 words

2.

Author(s) and affiliation(s)3.

Main body: text should be approximately 2000 to 4000 words, and should describe as
many of the following elements as possible or appropriate:a. Backgroundb. Socioeconomic, environmental characteristics of the area: including benefits andthreats to human-nature relationshipsc. Objective and rationale: including intended outcomesd. Detailed description of activities: including how the case study is in line with theconceptual framework of the Satoyama Initiative
e. Results and lessons learned: These do not need to be limited to successful cases, butalso failures, as they may enrich knowledge gained. Please include significant factorsthat led to success or failure of any project activities. If the case is ongoing, please
describe the present situation.
f. Key messages

4.

References and bibliography

5.

Figures, tables and photos: included within the main body text, with captions and credits
as appropriate

6.

Web links of any relevant organizations and projects

7.

Recommendations for further reading (if any)

8.

Author’s profile(s): within 50 words

For case studies in audiovisual formats, such as videos and photo stories: Length and style ofaudiovisual case studies up to the author’s discretion, but should include elements a. to f.

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above to the extent possible. If an audiovisual case study lacks some of these elements,additional information can be included as a separate document and/or described in the “IPSI
Case Study Summary Sheet”.
Audiovisual case studies produced for other purposes, but still in line with the Satoyama
Initiative, are welcome. Authors must, however, comply with the principles in section 7,“Author’s responsibilities”, below.

6. Submission process
Please submit case studies to the IPSI Secretariat (isi@unu.edu).
Required submission materials vary according to format:
Manuscript case studies
o IPSI Case Study Summary Sheeto Manuscript** A Microsoft Word file is preferable, but for case studies already published on otherplatforms, for example in PDF format, a URL link included in the “IPSI Case Study
Summary Sheet” is acceptable.

Audiovisual case studies
o IPSI Case Study Summary Sheet** A URL link to material hosted on another platform should be included in the “IPSI
Case Study Summary Sheet”.

All submitted case studies are checked for consistency and completeness by the IPSI Secretariat.
Any necessary amendments will be made in collaboration between the author and theSecretariat.

7. Author’s responsibilities
Authors are responsible for legal undertakings regarding their case study. By submitting a casestudy according to these guidelines, authors ensure and warrant that: The case study is the author’s original work, and does not contain any material that is
plagiarized, libelous, obscene, abusive, defamatory, fraudulent and/or illegal.
 Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to use any work including photos
and figures that is protected by copyright in their case study; and for including acopyright statement.
 Authors are expected to adhere to basic ethical principles, including good-faithefforts to accurately represent cultures, ecosystems, and wildlife. For example, foraudiovisual materials, authors should not harm or unduly affect subjects or theirenvironments for the sake of creating an image.

8. Use of case studies by the IPSI Secretariat
Once checked for consistency and completeness as mentioned above, all IPSI case studies areposted on the IPSI website (http://satoyama-initiative.org/en/casestudies/). Recent case4

studies are also often featured in the IPSI Newsletter.
Submission of a case study does not imply a limitation on authors’ rights to use all or part ofthe data for publication or other purposes elsewhere. However, the Secretariat may use all orpart of the manuscript data, with acknowledgment of the source and/or credit, for activities
related to the Satoyama Initiative, including translation into other languages where necessary.

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