Formalizing conceptual modeling: An application to Orchard Meadows in Baden- Württemberg

Conceptual modeling is a decisive stage in any modeling process, but especially relevant for the analysis of complex, large systems. Here, researchers must filter out those processes that appear relevant, even before specific research questions can be posed. For this step of conceptual model reduction, we propose an explicit framework. Our research project assessed causes for biodiversity loss in German orchard meadows. A large conceptual model was assembled using literature review and expert interviews, creating an excessively large model. Then, two different approaches were applied to simplify this model and identify policy intervention points. Both approaches yielded different cause-effect explanations and pointed to very different research questions and intervention points. We found that combining an actor-centred approach with a macro-perspective greatly improved the relevance of our conceptual model with respect to policy advice.