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Calls for new models of knowledge production demand more interdisciplinary research in order to: develop holistic solutions, increased stakeholder participation, to consider a plurality of perspectives, and to support a more deliberative democracy approach. However, knowledge production debates have rarely explored the synergies offered through combinations of different research attributes. We develop the concept of 'participatory interdisciplinarity' to explore the engagement of a wide range of stakeholders by groups of researchers from different disciplines. This paper examines the benefits and challenges of: interdisciplinarity, stakeholder participation, the integration of interdisciplinarity and participation. We conclude that participatory interdisciplinary approaches can quickly improve understanding and communication amongst both researchers and stakeholders involved in management, with less evidence of immediate instrumental benefits. We outline how 'participatory interdisciplinarity' can assist in breaking down barriers between traditional knowledge roles (researcher/stakeholder) and knowledge forms (academic/local) and in activating more integrated environmental management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Transkei region of the Eastern Cape has received little attention from mammalian ecologists. This paper describes the presence and absence of mammalian species in Fremont, Pondoland and south coast indigenous forests using variable width transects and explores the causes of observed differences. The region maintains a rich and diverse mammalian fauna, although differences between forest types exist. Ungulates (bushbuck, Tragelaphus scriptus; common duiker, Sylvicapra grimmia; and blue duiker, Cephalophus monticola)and fossorially-foraging (bushpigs, porcupines and moles/molerats) species are relatively more abundant in south coast forests than in Afromontane or Pondoland forest types. This may be explained by the management practices of these nature reserves compared to state forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The challenges to forest health from climate change, globalization, contemporary trade practices and new recreational patterns require effective biosecurity. We asked: How is the biosecurity border for tree health understood and enacted by state and non-state actors? What are the consequences for tree health? Semi-structured interviews (N = 10) were conducted with scientists and other relevant actors (N = 21). The border was understood variously as: a biophysical boundary, often the coast; a geopolitical boundary, usually of the European Union; the points of main inspection focus; dispersed nodes of inspection; a 'pre-border' outside of UK; or by the location of detection activities. A wide range of state, non-state and hybrid groups are engaged in border practices. These practices have been altered due to trade and climate changes, are subject to cost and resource priorities and reflect particular knowledge flows and the biological nature of the agents. We suggest that there is an 'everyone' as well as 'everywhere' border that demands clarification of risks, roles and responsibilities, and we offer practical recommendations. We conclude that tree health border challenges are a manifestation of wider sustainability issues that enable us to explore human–nature relationships, democratic engagement and the pursuit of more sustainable futures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]