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The Ernst Strüngmann Forum Founded on the tenets of scientific independence and the inquisitive nature of the human mind, the Ernst Strüngmann Forum is dedicated to the continual expansion of knowledge. Through its innovative communication process, the Ernst Strüngmann Forum provides a creative environment within which experts scrutinize high-priority issues from multiple vantage points. This process begins with the identification of themes. By nature, a theme constitutes a problem area that transcends classic disciplinary boundaries. It is of high-priority interest, requiring concentrated, multidisciplinary input to address the issues involved. Proposals are received from leading scientists active in their field and are selected by an independent Scientific Advisory Board. Once approved, a steering committee is convened to refine the scientific parameters of the proposal and select the participants. Approximately one year later, the central meeting, or Forum, is held to which circa forty experts are invited. Preliminary discussion for this theme began in 2009, and on August 18–20, 2011, the steering committee meeting was convened. This committee—comprised of Eric Lambin, Cheikh Mbow, Charles Redman, Anette Reenberg, Karen Seto, Thomas Sikor, and Julia Lupp—identified key issues for debate and selected the participants for the Forum, which was held in Frankfurt am Main, from September 23–28, 2012. The activities and discourse surrounding a Forum begin well before participants arrive in Frankfurt and conclude with the publication of this volume. Throughout each stage, focused dialog is the means by which participants examine the issues anew. Often, this requires relinquishing long-established ideas and overcoming disciplinary idiosyncrasies that otherwise might inhibit joint examination. When this is accomplished, a unique synergism results from which new insights emerge. This volume conveys the synergy that arose out of a group of diverse experts , each of whom assumed an active role, and is comprised of two types of contributions. The first provides background information on key aspects of the overall theme. Originally prepared in advance of the Forum, these chapters have been extensively reviewed and revised to provide current understanding on these key topics. The second (Chapters 4, 8, 13, and 16) summarizes the extensive discussions that transpired. These chapters should not be viewed as consensus documents nor are they proceedings; instead, they are intended to transfer the essence of the discussions, expose the open questions that still remain, and highlight areas in need of future enquiry. An endeavor of this kind creates its own unique group dynamics and puts demands on everyone who participates. Each invitee contributed not only their viii The Ernst Strüngmann Forum time and congenial personality, but a willingness to probe beyond that which is evident, and I wish to extend my gratitude to all. A special word of thanks goes to the steering committee, the authors of the background papers, the reviewers of the papers, as well as the moderators of the individual working groups: Cheikh Mbow, Ruth DeFries, Thomas Sikor, and Charles Redman. To draft a report during the Forum and bring it to a final form in the months thereafter is no simple matter, and for their efforts, I am especially grateful to Helmut Haberl, Hallie Eakin, Bradford Gentry, and Christopher Boone. Most importantly , I extend my sincere appreciation to Karen Seto and Anette Reenberg. As the scientific chairpersons for this Forum, their commitment and support ensured a most vibrant intellectual gathering. A communication process of this nature relies on institutional stability and an environment that encourages free thought. The generous support of the Ernst Strüngmann Foundation, established by Dr. Andreas and Dr. Thomas Strüngmann in honor of their father, enables the Ernst Strüngmann Forum to conduct its work in the service of science. In addition, valuable partnerships exist with the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies, which shares its vibrant intellectual setting with the Forum, and the Volkswagen Stiftung, which provided financial support for this theme. Long-held views are never easy to put aside. Yet when this is achieved, when the edges of the unknown begin to appear and gaps in knowledge are able to be defined, the act of formulating strategies to fill such gaps becomes a most invigorating exercise. It is our hope that this volume will convey a sense of this lively exercise. More importantly, we hope that it will spur further enquiry and lead to a better understanding of the challenges that must be addressed , if sustainable land use is to be achieved in this century. Julia Lupp, Program Director Ernst Strüngmann Forum...

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