scholarly journals Embracing thresholds for better environmental management

2015 ◽  
Vol 370 (1659) ◽  
pp. 20130276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan P. Kelly ◽  
Ashley L. Erickson ◽  
Lindley A. Mease ◽  
Willow Battista ◽  
John N. Kittinger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Ecosystem Structure ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Social Ecological Systems ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
Review Management ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
And Function

Three decades of study have revealed dozens of examples in which natural systems have crossed biophysical thresholds (‘tipping points’)—nonlinear changes in ecosystem structure and function—as a result of human-induced stressors, dramatically altering ecosystem function and services. Environmental management that avoids such thresholds could prevent severe social, economic and environmental impacts. Here, we review management measures implemented in ecological systems that have thresholds. Using Ostrom's social–ecological systems framework, we analysed key biophysical and institutional factors associated with 51 social–ecological systems and associated management regimes, and related these to management success defined by ecological outcomes. We categorized cases as instances of prospective or retrospective management, based upon whether management aimed to avoid a threshold or to restore systems that have crossed a threshold. We find that smaller systems are more amenable to threshold-based management, that routine monitoring is associated with successful avoidance of thresholds and recovery after thresholds have been crossed, and that success is associated with the explicit threshold-based management. These findings are powerful evidence for the policy relevance of information on ecological thresholds across a wide range of ecosystems.

Visions for the Future

2019 ◽  
pp. 31-62
Author(s):  
Bruce Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Social Ecological Systems ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
Strong Sustainability ◽  
The Future

In this chapter, the characteristics of a vision for a region, organization, or group are discussed, and then attention turns to examining the roles of forecasting and backcasting, and scenarios to anticipate the future. Subsequently, the characteristics of both sustainable development and resilience as possible visions to guide resource and environmental management are examined. In the context of sustainable development, the distinction between weak and strong sustainability is reviewed. Next, attention turns to the implications of the Anthropocene for achieving sustainable development and resilience. The concept of the rule of hand is explored, which suggests that normally not more than three to five variables are significant when trying to understand complex social-ecological systems, followed by consideration of how both adaptation and transformation can become strategies to address complexity and uncertainty. Kathryn Bellette provides a guest statement focused on implementing a strategy for sustainable development in metropolitan Adelaide, Australia.

scholarly journals A social-ecological systems approach for environmental management

2016 ◽  
Vol 178 ◽  
pp. 83-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arika Virapongse ◽  
Samantha Brooks ◽  
Elizabeth Covelli Metcalf ◽  
Morgan Zedalis ◽  
Jim Gosz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Social Ecological Systems ◽  
Social Ecological

scholarly journals Importance and Utilization of Theory-Based Evaluations in the Context of Sustainable Development and Social-Ecological Systems

2022 ◽  
pp. 223-235
Author(s):  
Takaaki Miyaguchi
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Critical Realism ◽  
Evaluation Criteria ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Social Ecological Systems ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
Development Evaluation

AbstractNumerous challenges confront the task of evaluating sustainable development—its complex nature, complementary evaluation criteria, and the difficulty of evaluation at the nexus of human and natural systems. Theory-based evaluation, drawn from critical realism, is well suited to this task. When constructing a program theory/theory of change for evaluating sustainable development, concepts of socioecological systems and coupled human and natural systems are useful. The chapter discusses four modes of inference and the application of different theory-based evaluation approaches. It introduces the CHANS (coupled human and natural systems) framework, a holistic, analytical framework that is useful in evaluating such complex, social-ecological systems and resonates with the challenging elements of sustainable development evaluation.

scholarly journals Inferring Models with Alternative Stable States from Independent Observations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward W. Tekwa ◽  
Martin Krkošek ◽  
Malin L. Pinsky
Keyword(s):  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Alternative Stable States ◽  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Process Models ◽  
Stable States ◽  
Multiple Attractors ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Social Ecological Systems ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
Independent Observations

AbstractMultiple attractors and alternative stable states are defining features of scientific theories in ecology and evolution, implying that abrupt regime shifts can occur and that outcomes can be hard to reverse. Here we describe a statistical inferential framework that uses independent, noisy observations with low temporal resolution to support or refute multiple attractor process models. The key is using initial conditions to choose among a finite number of expected outcomes using a nonstandard finite mixture methodology. We apply the framework to contemporary issues in social-ecological systems, coral ecosystems, and chaotic systems, showing that incorporating history allows us to statistically infer process models with alternative stable states while minimizing false positives. Further, in the presence of disturbances and oscillations, alternative stable states can help rather than hamper inference. The ability to infer models with alternative stable states across natural systems can help accelerate scientific discoveries, change how we manage ecosystems and societies, and place modern theories on firmer empirical ground.

Resource and Environmental Management

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
Adaptive Management ◽  
Stakeholder Engagement ◽  
Ecosystem Approach ◽  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Social Ecological Systems ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
Course Of Action ◽  
Small Set

Change. Complexity. Uncertainty, Conflict, Ambiguity. Intractability. Wicked problems. Ethics, Integrity. All these terms capture much of what resource and environmental managers must address in determining the most appropriate course of action relative to social-ecological systems. Often, no obviously correct strategy or response is identifiable. Instead, options exist, each with strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately a decision must be taken, reflecting scientific and experiential understanding as well as values and priorities of societies and stakeholders. The intent in this book is to raise awareness about the need to recognize such attributes of resource and environmental management, and to provide concepts, approaches, and methods to help in developing solutions. At the outset, the importance of developing a vision is highlighted. In defining the scope of problems and opportunities, it is argued that a holistic or ecosystem approach should be interpreted as an integrated rather than a comprehensive approach, with the focus on a small set of variables and relationships having significant impact on the functioning of an ecosystem, and amenable to being managed. An adaptive management approach is also strongly encouraged, to learn from experience. Part of learning will arise through stakeholder engagement. Disputes may emerge, and need to be resolved. Finally, implementation of policies and plans can encounter many obstacles, emphasizing the need to become aware of and overcome them, and then monitor and assess outputs and outcomes, in order to adapt to changing circumstances.

Engaging Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in Environmental Management Could Alleviate Scale Mismatches in Social–Ecological Systems

BioScience ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (8) ◽  
pp. 699-707 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark R Herse ◽  
Phil O’B Lyver ◽  
Nigel Scott ◽  
Angus R McIntosh ◽  
Simon C Coats ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Adaptive Responses ◽  
Social Ecological Systems ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
Ecological Feedbacks ◽  
Fine Resolution

Abstract Scale mismatches in social–ecological systems constrain conservation by obscuring signals of environmental change, which could otherwise feed back to inform adaptive responses and solutions. We argue that engaging indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLC) in place-based environmental management could generate the fine-resolution information and workforce needed to alleviate scale mismatches. We illustrate our argument using a case study initiated by Māori in Aotearoa/New Zealand and demonstrate that the current broad scales of hunting regulation and assessment in black swan (kakī anau, Cygnus atratus) management could obscure local ecological drivers of populations. Many IPLC can facilitate adaptive place-based management by continually monitoring ecological feedbacks (e.g., population numbers, habitat conditions) at fine resolutions through customary resource use and observations. However, disregard for IPLC rights, scepticism of traditional ecological knowledge, restricted opportunity to connect with resources, compartmentalization of resource management, and insufficient funding limit IPLC engagement and must be overcome to alleviate scale mismatches.

scholarly journals Relationality and Social–Ecological Systems: Going Beyond or Behind Sustainability and Resilience

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raul P. Lejano
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Systems ◽  
The State ◽  
Ecological System ◽  
Social Ecological Systems ◽  
Relational Analysis ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
The Rich ◽  
And Function

Sustainability and resilience are most often thought of as systems concepts that evaluate the state and function of objects of interest as well as the system as a whole. In this article, we shift the focus toward the “space in between”—i.e., the relationships among objects in the system. The article develops the concept of relationality, which provides a new lens to understanding what social and material processes drive or impede the functioning and sustainability of a social–ecological system (SES). Relationality seeks to understand a system not so much as a set of interacting objects but a web of relationships. By foregrounding relationships, we are better able to understand the rich ground of practice that guides a system in ways that the formal rational designs do not explain. Several examples are drawn from the literature that suggests how a relational analysis might proceed and what social–ecological phenomena we can better explain by this means. The article ends with a note on how the promise of relational analyses also bears in it its challenges.

Systems theories

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc J. Stern
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Real World ◽  
Common Pool Resources ◽  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Effective Governance ◽  
Social Ecological Systems ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
Real World Problem

This chapter covers systems theories relevant to understanding and working to enhance the resilience of social-ecological systems. Social-ecological systems contain natural resources, users of those resources, and the interactions between each. The theories in the chapter share lessons about how to build effective governance structures for common pool resources, how to facilitate the spread of worthwhile ideas across social networks, and how to promote collaboration for greater collective impacts than any one organization alone could achieve. Each theory is summarized succinctly and followed by guidance on how to apply it to real world problem solving.

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