Joan David Tàbara

J. David Tàbara obtained his Phd in the field of environmental sociology in 1995 at the Department of Sociology of the University of Barcelona and holds degrees in economics, environmental economics and business administration. At present, he is a senior researcher at the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST) of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) where he also lectures Environmental Sociology, Integrated Assessment methods and public participation in Sustainability Science. Formerly he was a lecturer in environmental management and politics at the Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona and also worked for the Institute of Advanced Social Research of the Spanish Higher Council of Scientific Research (IESA-CSIC). He is founding member of the Research Committee on ‘Environment and Society’ of the International Sociological Association (ISA -RC-24) and a main coordinator of the sessions on ‘Contributions of Sociology to Sustainable Societies’ organised within the 1st World Forum of Sociology (Barcelona, September 2008). He is also a member of the Spanish Scientific Committee of the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change.

Among others, he has been involved in the following international and EU research projects: GOVERNANCE AND THE ENVIRONMENT with the United Nations University (1995-1996), ULYSSES (Urban Lifestyles, Sustainability and Integrated Environmental Assessment 1996-1999), FIRMA (Freshwater Integrated Resource Management with agents; 1999-2003), on agent-based participatory modelling, HARMONICOP (Harmonising collaborative learning, 2002-2005), on social learning in river basin management, PEG (Precautionary Expertise on GM crops; 2001-2004) on Precaution and Integrated Assessment of agricultural GM crops in Europe, SUSTAINABILITY ADVANCED TEST, on developing an inventory for sustainability assessment tools, and MATISSE on Tools and methods for Integrated Sustainability Assessment (2005-2008), being the case study leader for the case of water (www.matisse-project.net). He has carried out research and published extensively on socioenvironmental theory and integrative environmental methods, with particular attention to questions of public perception, social learning, communication and public participation for sustainability. At present, he works in the EU project ADAM (Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies. Supporting European Climate Policy ADAM project, www.adamproject.eu).

Selected Publications

1.    Tàbara, J. D. & Ilhan A. 2008. ‘Culture As Trigger For Sustainability Transition in the Water  Domain. The case of the Spanish water policy and the Ebro river basin’. Regional Environmental Change. Vol 8(2): 59-71.

2.    Tàbara, J. D., E. Roca, C. Madrid, P. Valkering, P. Wallman &  P. Weaver. 2008. ‘Participatory Integrated Sustainability Assessment of Water Systems. Lessons from the Ebro River Basin’. International Journal on Innovation and Sustainable Development, 3(1/2):48-69.

3.    Puy, N., J. D. Tàbara, J. Bartroli-Molins, J. Bartroli-Almera & J. Rieradevall 2008. Integrated Assessment of forest bioenergy systems in Mediterranean basin areas. The case of Catalonia and the use of participatory IA-focus groups. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 12(5):1451-1464.

4.    Roca, E. Gamboa, G. & J. D. Tàbara. 2008. Assessing the multidimensionality of coastal erosion risks. Public participation and Multicriteria Analysis (MCA) in a Mediterranean Coastal system. Risk Analysis, 28(2):399-412.

5.    Pahl-Wostl, C., J. D. Tàbara, R. Bouwen, M. Craps, A. Dewulf, E. Mostert, D. Ridder, T.  Taillieu, 2008. The importance of social learning and culture for sustainable resources management. Ecological Economics, 64(3):484-495.

6.    Tàbara, J. D. and C. Pahl-Wostl 2007. Sustainability Learning in Natural Resource Use and Management. Ecology and Society, 12 (2): 3. [online] URL: www.ecologyandsociety.org/viewissue.php

7.    Mostert, E., C. Pahl-Wostl, Y. Rees, B. Searle, J. D. Tàbara, and J. Tippett. 2007. Social learning in European river-basin management: barriers and fostering mechanisms from 10 river basins. Ecology and Society 12(1): 19. [online] URL: www.ecologyandsociety.org/viewissue.php

8.    Tàbara, J. D. 2007. ‘A new climate for Spain: A Late Accommodation of Environmental Foreign Policy in a Federal State’. In Paul Harris (Ed.) Europe and Global Climate Change: Politics, Foreign Policy, and Regional Cooperation. p. 161-184. Cheltelham, UK, Northhamptom, MA, USA: Edward Elgar

9.    Weaver, P. M.,  A. Haxeltine, M. van de Kerkhof and J.  D. Tàbara 2006. ‘Mainstreaming action on climate change through participatory appraisal’. International Journal on Innovation and Sustainable Development. 1(3):238-259.

10.    Hare, M.P., Barreteau, O., Beck, M.B., Cogan, V., Mostert, E., Letcher, C. Pahl-Wostl, R., Ridder, D. &  Tàbara, J. D.. 2006. 'Methods for stakeholder participation in water management'. In C. Giupponi, A. Jakeman, D. Karssenberg and Hare, M.. Sustainable Management of Water Resources: an Integrated Approach. Cheltenham and Camberley in the UK and Northampton, MA, USA: Edward Elgar Publishing Company.