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Keywords = social-ecological system (SES) resilience

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26 pages, 2070 KiB  
Article
Fostering Neighbourhood Social–Ecological Resilience Through Land Readjustment in Rapidly Urbanising Cities in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Case of Nunga in Kigali, Rwanda
by John Mugisha, Ernest Uwayezu, Nelly John Babere and Wilbard Jackson Kombe
Urban Sci. 2025, 9(5), 171; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9050171 - 16 May 2025
Viewed by 2077
Abstract
Rapid urbanisation in Sub-Saharan Africa demands innovative land management strategies that promote sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban development. This study investigates the potential of land readjustment (LR) to foster neighbourhood-scale social–ecological urban resilience (SEUR) through a case study of the Nunga LR project [...] Read more.
Rapid urbanisation in Sub-Saharan Africa demands innovative land management strategies that promote sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban development. This study investigates the potential of land readjustment (LR) to foster neighbourhood-scale social–ecological urban resilience (SEUR) through a case study of the Nunga LR project in Kigali, Rwanda. Grounded in the social–ecological system (SES) theory and operationalised through the social–ecological land readjustment model for resilient neighbourhoods, the research evaluates LR practices against an integrated benchmark framework combining LR aspects, neighbourhood design standards, and resilience attributes. The study uses secondary data, project shapefiles, and key informant interviews to assess how Rwanda’s emerging LR model contributes to resilient neighbourhood development. Findings demonstrate strong community mobilisation and adaptive governance capacity. However, critical resilience dimensions—including modularity, green infrastructure integration, land-use diversity, and adaptive feedback mechanisms—were only partially operationalised. Consequently, while LR improved spatial formalisation and basic infrastructure provision, it fell short of creating a truly resilient, multifunctional neighbourhood ecosystem. These findings highlight the need to reframe LR from a purely technical land management tool into a systemic resilience-building mechanism. Policy recommendations include mandating green/blue infrastructure in LR plans, establishing innovative financing mechanisms, institutionalising adaptive monitoring, strengthening affordability safeguards, and promoting multifunctional spatial layouts. The study contributes to urban resilience and land governance scholarship by offering a context-sensitive, empirically tested model for integrating SEUR principles into LR practice in rapidly urbanising African cities. Future research should pursue longitudinal analyses and dynamics modelling of land readjustment impacts to deepen understanding of urban resilience pathways in the Global South. Full article
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15 pages, 7877 KiB  
Article
Coupling Coordination Relationships Between Water Resource–Water Environment–Social Economy Resilience and Ecosystem Services in Five Provinces of Northwest China
by Shoufeng Wang, Jia He, Yuxuan Zhou and Xueying Liu
Water 2025, 17(8), 1172; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17081172 - 14 Apr 2025
Viewed by 545
Abstract
In the context of global climate change and intensified anthropogenic pressures, the coordinated development of a social-ecological system (SES) faces unprecedented challenges, necessitating an enhanced understanding of complex system interactions to achieve SES sustainability. This study quantified water resource–water environment–social economy resilience (WR-WE-SEr) [...] Read more.
In the context of global climate change and intensified anthropogenic pressures, the coordinated development of a social-ecological system (SES) faces unprecedented challenges, necessitating an enhanced understanding of complex system interactions to achieve SES sustainability. This study quantified water resource–water environment–social economy resilience (WR-WE-SEr) and four ecosystem services (ESs)—water yield (WY), habitat quality (HQ), soil retention (SR), and carbon storage (CS)—in Northwest China from 2010 to 2020. Intersystem interactions were analyzed using resilience theory, the InVEST model, and the coupling coordination degree (CCD) model. The key findings include the following: (1) Spatiotemporal evolution patterns (RQ1): WR-WE-SEr exhibited sustained growth with significant regional disparities (Qinghai > Xinjiang > Gansu > Shaanxi > Ningxia), predominantly driven by resistance-dominated dynamics. ESs showed spatial heterogeneity: WY was concentrated in humid areas but declined temporally, while HQ and CS aligned with vegetation/land cover. All ESs followed a “V”-shaped trajectory of initial decline and recovery, with localized fluctuations but regional stability. (2) Coordinated coupling relationships (RQ2): The CCD between WR-WE-SEr and ESs maintained temporal stability but mirrored ESs’ spatial patterns, characterized by a southeast–northwest diminishing gradient. Coordination hierarchy (CS > HQ > WY > SR) and regional performance (Shaanxi > Ningxia > Qinghai > Gansu > Xinjiang) revealed synergies between system resilience and ES provisioning capacity. Transitional coordination (dissonance to coordination) at the integrated ES level highlighted gradual optimization of human–nature interactions. These findings underscore the need for multidimensional strategies to enhance WR-WE-SE-ES synergies in Northwest China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Water Resources Management, Policy and Governance)
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32 pages, 20401 KiB  
Article
Analyzing Coupling Coordination and Driving Factors of Social–Ecological Resilience: A Case Study of the Lower Yellow River
by Linxiao Zhu, Shuo Sheng, Haokun Gong, Qingming Yang, Xuanfeng Zhang and Huabin Xiao
Sustainability 2024, 16(23), 10456; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162310456 - 28 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 975
Abstract
Flat terrain and economically prosperous downstream regions face significant challenges in achieving a balance between socio-economic development and ecological preservation. The Social–Ecological System (S-ES) serves as a vital framework for quantifying the interactions between human activities and the natural environment, providing insights into [...] Read more.
Flat terrain and economically prosperous downstream regions face significant challenges in achieving a balance between socio-economic development and ecological preservation. The Social–Ecological System (S-ES) serves as a vital framework for quantifying the interactions between human activities and the natural environment, providing insights into the development status of regional social and ecological systems. This study utilizes the Coupling Coordination Degree (CCD) method to construct an S-ES coupling model, integrating correlation analysis, geographic detectors, and grey relational analysis to explore the driving factors influencing Social–Ecological Resilience (S-ER) coordination. The research focuses on 25 counties in Shandong Province, situated in the lower Yellow River Basin, over the period from 2000 to 2022. Key findings include (1) significant spatial clustering, with identifiable hotspots and cold spots in S-ER distribution; (2) substantial changes in S-ER CCD around 2010 and 2020; and (3) persistent mismatches between socio-economic development and ecological improvement, presenting a major challenge for enhancing coordination. These insights provide valuable guidance for sustainable development strategies in the lower Yellow River Basin. Full article
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17 pages, 2132 KiB  
Article
Going with the Flow: How Local Water User Associations Have Shaped Water Resource Management in Chile
by Elisa Blanco and Guillermo Donoso
Water 2024, 16(16), 2329; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16162329 - 19 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1997
Abstract
Effective and sustainable water resource management requires flexibility and adaptation to local contexts. Our study analyzes the emergence and evolution of local water self-governing associations, reviewing how their struggles and conflicts, both with the public sector and among locals themselves, have been pivotal [...] Read more.
Effective and sustainable water resource management requires flexibility and adaptation to local contexts. Our study analyzes the emergence and evolution of local water self-governing associations, reviewing how their struggles and conflicts, both with the public sector and among locals themselves, have been pivotal to achieving agreements and actions towards sustainable water management. Using an adapted version of the Combined Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) and social–ecological system (SES) framework, also known as CIS, we conducted a comparative analysis of two distinct Chilean cases. This research highlights the critical role of historical factors alongside institutional support, political landscapes, and financial realities in shaping current water management practices. The findings suggest that when the actors are aligned and actions are taken to support local water user management, more efficient, sustainable, and less conflict-ridden water resource management occurs. Furthermore, this study reveals how the experiences, struggles, and successes of these local user associations have shaped national policies, particularly regarding the development of monitoring mechanisms and the promotion of public–private cooperation in water governance. These efforts have not only fostered more resilient water management systems but have also demonstrated the power of grassroots organizations in shaping broader sustainable policies. Full article
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16 pages, 260 KiB  
Article
Exploring a Water–Energy–Food (WEF) Nexus Approach to Governance: A Case Study of the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa
by Lourens Swart, Mark Swilling and Amanda Gcanga
Energies 2024, 17(16), 4005; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17164005 - 13 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1600
Abstract
The water–energy–food (WEF) nexus is recognised globally as a framework for sustainable resource management and a potential tool for building resilient social-ecological systems (SES). To verify this, we used a transdisciplinary approach to explore how the WEF nexus approach is understood theoretically and [...] Read more.
The water–energy–food (WEF) nexus is recognised globally as a framework for sustainable resource management and a potential tool for building resilient social-ecological systems (SES). To verify this, we used a transdisciplinary approach to explore how the WEF nexus approach is understood theoretically and practically. The analysis indicated a disparity in how the WEF nexus framework is understood and conceptualised in theory, and the practical implementation of the framework. Given this, the study found it challenging to validate the WEF nexus as a supporting tool for building SES resilience. In line with this, this study argues for a deeper exploration of the practical implementation of the WEF nexus framework in planning, governance and social processes. As such, the study analysed the governance and management systems of the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront (V&A), a precinct in Cape Town that adopted the WEF nexus approach for sustainable management of water, energy, food and waste resources. Using the analysis of V&A Waterfront’s management practices—including the use of the Global Carbon Exchange (GCX) system—from a practical, social and governance perspective, the aim was to understand whether a bridge between WEF nexus theory and governance practice impacts the practical ability to govern for SES resilience. Findings suggest that the nexus governance approach at the V&A Waterfront has implications that strengthen the capacity to govern for SES resilience in the V&A Waterfront context. The conclusion is then made that the nexus governance approach also strengthens the capacity to govern for SES resilience in the Cape Town context. Results also suggest the most crucial element for the success of the nexus governance approach is a material flow analysis (MFA)-based decision support system (DSS) exemplified by GCX Data Analytics Sustainability Hub (DASH-). Full article
32 pages, 6511 KiB  
Article
Rural Environmental Governance: A Communal Irrigation System in Greece through the Social–Ecological System Framework
by Spyridon K. Golfinopoulos and Dimitra Koumparou
Sustainability 2024, 16(15), 6416; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16156416 - 26 Jul 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1810
Abstract
This article delves into the enduring self-governing nature of a traditional irrigation system in a rural community in Greece through the lens of the social–ecological system (SES) framework. The aim is to analyze the variables and interactions that have sustained this community-based governance [...] Read more.
This article delves into the enduring self-governing nature of a traditional irrigation system in a rural community in Greece through the lens of the social–ecological system (SES) framework. The aim is to analyze the variables and interactions that have sustained this community-based governance structure over a century. This study underscores the critical role of social capital, where social networks and effective communication facilitate self-governance in the management of this common pool resource. The findings reveal how actors coordinate social and physical capital when performing daily activities, enabling them to collectively solve common dilemmas. By examining the institutional arrangements and operational dynamics of the irrigation system, the study illuminates the community-led social processes that drive its sustainability. This analysis enhances the understanding of the importance of integrating social and physical capital in governance through collective action to achieve resilience. This study provides insights into alternative pathways for building resilience and discusses an irrigation system as a communal autonomous space that prioritizes social equity, democratic decision-making, and social–ecological contacts. Full article
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23 pages, 3598 KiB  
Article
Towards a Social-Ecological-Entropy Perspective of Sustainable Exploitation of Natural Resources
by Sebastián Michel-Mata, Mónica Gómez-Salazar, Víctor Castaño and Iván Santamaría-Holek
Foundations 2022, 2(4), 999-1021; https://doi.org/10.3390/foundations2040067 - 31 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2398
Abstract
An innovative and integrative modeling strategy for assessing the sustainability and resilience of social-ecological systems (SES) is presented by introducing a social-ecological entropy production (SEEP) method. In analogy to the thermodynamic entropy production of irreversible processes, we discuss a theoretical model that relates [...] Read more.
An innovative and integrative modeling strategy for assessing the sustainability and resilience of social-ecological systems (SES) is presented by introducing a social-ecological entropy production (SEEP) method. In analogy to the thermodynamic entropy production of irreversible processes, we discuss a theoretical model that relates energy and information flow with the cultural and epistemological peculiarities of different communities that exploit the same natural resource. One of the innovative aspects of our approach comes from the fact that sustainability is assessed by a single parameter (SEEP) incorporating the simulation outcomes of all the populations participating in the dynamics, and not only on the fate of the resource. This is significant as far as the non-linearities introduced by the coupling of the different dynamics considered may lead to high sensitivity to small perturbations. Specifically, by assuming two possible types of technical and environmental knowledge-transfer methods [direct (D) and phase-in (P)] within each one of the two communities that exploit and restore a resource, we generate four mathematical models to explore the long-term sustainability scenario due to the intervention, by a new epistemological community, of an initially sustainable resource-community SES. By exploring the space of four key parameters characterizing the degree of technical and environmental knowledge, as well as the rates of social inclusion and knowledge transfer, our simulations show that, from 400 scenarios studied in each case, the P-P model predicts 100% sustainable cases in the use of the resource after the intervention by the second community. The mixed scenarios P-D and D-P predict about 29%, and the D-D scenario only predicts 23% of sustainable cases. Catastrophic outcomes are predicted at about 71% in P-D and D-P scenarios, and about 77% of extinction of the system by exhaustion of the resource and community populations in the D-D scenario. In this form, our theoretical strategy and the knowledge-transfer scenarios studied may help policymakers to find a priori science-based criteria to solve possible controversies arising from social-ecological interventions. Full article
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19 pages, 755 KiB  
Article
River Ecosystem Resilience: Applying the Contingent Valuation Method in Vietnam
by Hao Hong Do and Oliver Frör
Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 12029; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912029 - 23 Sep 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2817
Abstract
Mine water drainage interferes with ecosystems of the discharging river, whilst river ecosystem services in return affect the livelihoods and well-being of adjacent communities. In Ha Long, Vietnam, surface coal mining will be closed after 2025 following the national and provincial strategy toward [...] Read more.
Mine water drainage interferes with ecosystems of the discharging river, whilst river ecosystem services in return affect the livelihoods and well-being of adjacent communities. In Ha Long, Vietnam, surface coal mining will be closed after 2025 following the national and provincial strategy toward sustainable development. This opens up an opportunity to rehabilitate the associated rivers to increase resilience in the surrounding social-ecological system (SES) heavily affected by water pollution from coal mines. Increasing resilience through rehabilitation is costly and policy makers often lack precise enough information on public benefits to make good decisions. In this study, we apply the concept of SESs to analyze the interrelationship between river ecosystems and human society with its institutions and local governance surrounding the Ha Long coal mining area. Applying a contingent valuation survey with 410 households living near to the mining operations, we assess the public benefits resulting from three different but partly combined projects to increase resilience. Results show that households are significantly willing to contribute to all proposed resilience increasing projects. Factors explaining willingness to pay (WTP) are diverse and are found to be related to common institutions and local governance. Through a comparison of the results for the three projects, we find the presence of embedding effects and identify factors leading to upward biased estimates of WTP. Our study contributes to a better understanding and valuation of public benefits in SES necessary for public policy towards increasing resilience in developing countries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Social Ecology and Sustainability)
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20 pages, 1928 KiB  
Article
Concept Mapping: An Effective and Rapid Participatory Tool for Analysis of the Tourism System?
by Chelsea L. Leven and Keith Bosak
Sustainability 2022, 14(16), 10162; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141610162 - 16 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3284
Abstract
Sustainable tourism has grown rapidly in the last 35 years, both on the ground and as an area of academic study. However, the results of sustainable tourism development have proven to be mixed, with many unwanted outcomes stemming from its development in destinations [...] Read more.
Sustainable tourism has grown rapidly in the last 35 years, both on the ground and as an area of academic study. However, the results of sustainable tourism development have proven to be mixed, with many unwanted outcomes stemming from its development in destinations around the world. Recent academic approaches to studying sustainable tourism development are increasingly turning towards social–ecological systems (SESs) thinking in order to embrace the inherent complexity and rapid change found in today’s world. This stems partly from an understanding that tourism is a complex social–ecological phenomenon, and that its success relies on understanding its dynamics in a given location. While SES approaches to understanding complex phenomena such as tourism are well-developed, they tend to be resource-intensive and unwieldy in rapidly changing environments, such as those found in sustainable tourism destinations. Therefore, we hypothesized that a novel form of concept mapping based on an SES perspective and the paradigm of resilience thinking could address limitations in conceptualizing and understanding sustainable tourism as part of a larger SES. In this paper, we outline our method thoroughly, then evaluate concept mapping by assessing its effectiveness as a rapid assessment tool that enhances systems understanding while being easy to use in the field, privileging local knowledge, and emphasizing relationships within the SES. We focus on the method and its applicability rather than the results of the maps themselves. Through a case study in Ometepe, Nicaragua, our results showed that concept mapping revealed key drivers and values within the SES and emphasized the value of participatory and transdisciplinary tourism research. Our study demonstrates that concept mapping is an effective method for rapidly assessing the complexity of a tourism destination in a manner that is accessible, adaptable, and achievable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Tourism, Culture, and Heritage)
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31 pages, 3526 KiB  
Review
Windstorm Impacts on Forest-Related Socio-Ecological Systems: An Analysis from a Socio-Economic and Institutional Perspective
by Federica Romagnoli, Mauro Masiero and Laura Secco
Forests 2022, 13(6), 939; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13060939 - 15 Jun 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3381
Abstract
Windstorms are considered among the most impacting natural events for European forests and related Socio-Ecological Systems (SES). Given that their intensity and frequency are increasing, an in-depth understanding of their impacts is crucial to mitigate risks and potential negative effects. However, so far, [...] Read more.
Windstorms are considered among the most impacting natural events for European forests and related Socio-Ecological Systems (SES). Given that their intensity and frequency are increasing, an in-depth understanding of their impacts is crucial to mitigate risks and potential negative effects. However, so far, scientific research on windstorm impacts has mainly focused on environmental dimensions, while socio-economic and institutional ones are rarely taken into consideration. Our analysis aims at enriching the current scientific knowledge on windstorm impacts on forest SES by providing an overview of the state-of-the-art academic investigations on windstorm impacts on socio-economic and institutional dimensions. Overall, 46 papers were reviewed to identify the most recurrent post-windstorm dynamics and drivers that influence resilience and adaptation of socio-economic, institutional and related governance dimensions of European forest SES. Results show that the current scientific knowledge on socio-economic impacts of windstorms mainly concentrates on forest-related stakeholders and sectors, paying little attention to the broader social, cultural and institutional drivers that contribute to forest SES resilience. Further, cascade effects linking environmental, social and institutional dimensions are poorly analyzed. This restricted focus could lead to an incomplete understanding of the dynamics shaping socio-economic adaptability to windstorms, affecting long-term and sustainable recovery from extreme natural events. To correctly frame effective, intersectoral and coordinated recovery strategies gaining a deeper understanding of human–environment interactions is needed, as well as acknowledging the positive influence of causal relationships in improving forest-related SES resilience. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Economics, Policy, and Social Science)
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14 pages, 1124 KiB  
Article
Application of the Adaptive Cycle and Panarchy in La Marjaleria Social-Ecological System: Reflections for Operability
by Marc Escamilla Nacher, Carla Sofia Santos Ferreira, Michael Jones and Zahra Kalantari
Land 2021, 10(9), 980; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10090980 - 17 Sep 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4617
Abstract
The adaptive cycle and panarchy are recognised tools for resilience assessment prior to establishing new management approaches aligned with Anthropocene needs. This study used the adaptive cycle and panarchy to assess the dynamics of the social-ecological system (SES) of La Marjaleria, Spain, which [...] Read more.
The adaptive cycle and panarchy are recognised tools for resilience assessment prior to establishing new management approaches aligned with Anthropocene needs. This study used the adaptive cycle and panarchy to assess the dynamics of the social-ecological system (SES) of La Marjaleria, Spain, which experienced increasing human pressure and environmental degradation in recent decades, and developed the ‘adaptive curve’ as a novel graphical representation of system change in the presentation of the results. Based on a literature review of historical changes in La Marjaleria, a SES analysis was performed using the adaptive cycle and panarchy, following the Resilience Alliance’s Practitioners Guide. The assessment offered new insights into the social and ecological dynamics of La Marjaleria through identification of causes and consequences from a complex systems perspective. Previous land-use management in the area has generated tensions between different stakeholders and reduced environmental resilience. The systems thinking approach highlighted the complexity of change processes, offering the possibility of new routes for dialogue and understanding. The ‘adaptive curve’ developed as a method of illustrating interactions across scales in this study could be useful for synthesising the results of a panarchy analysis and supporting their interpretation, offering relevant departure points for future planning and decision-making. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers for Soil-Sediment-Water Systems Section)
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17 pages, 2409 KiB  
Article
Who Has Benefited? A Socio-Ecological Chronology of Urban Resilience in the Early Reconstruction of Talca after the 27-F Earthquake, Chile 2010–2012
by Jorge Inzulza Contardo and Pablo Moran Figueroa
Sustainability 2021, 13(6), 3523; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063523 - 22 Mar 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3474
Abstract
This article engages in the understanding of resilience from the perspective of socio-ecological systems (SES) and the reconstitution of events of recovery and reconstruction in the city of Talca after the 27-F earthquake in Chile, between 2010 and 2012. For such purposes, we [...] Read more.
This article engages in the understanding of resilience from the perspective of socio-ecological systems (SES) and the reconstitution of events of recovery and reconstruction in the city of Talca after the 27-F earthquake in Chile, between 2010 and 2012. For such purposes, we have developed a chronological or timeline-analysis model. This methodology, which uses mostly ethnographic and participant-observation techniques to recapitulate these events, observes the interaction of social agents, elements of the built environment, government institutions, and other institutional functions of the urban domain within the socio-ecological panarchy. The results suggest that key events, such as local government institutional actions, the observation of probable property speculation events, and community agency efforts dismissal, among other factors, could alter both human and natural resilience processes. In turn, this could affect the capacity of this city, its inhabitants, and its social institutions to endure future crises, as a product of deteriorated and maladaptive resilience mechanisms, aside from the natural and geographical conditions of Chile, exposed to future earthquake events. Likewise, the partial loss of the civic environment in this historic city and weakened neighborhood networks, contrasting with the redevelopment of real estate in central areas, altogether portray considerable risks with regard to the (un)generated social mechanisms of resilience, affecting future developments. The final section focuses on discussing these findings and their relevance in integrating a coherent understanding of SES resilience in urban planning and governance practice, especially in cities or urban areas that are prone to natural risks or catastrophes. Full article
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24 pages, 5677 KiB  
Article
Managing Rather Than Avoiding “Difficulties” in Building Landscape Resilience
by Hongzhang Xu, Meng Peng, Jamie Pittock and Jiayu Xu
Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2629; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052629 - 1 Mar 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4534
Abstract
Building landscape resilience inspires the cultivation of the landscape’s capacity to recover from disruption and live with changes and uncertainties. However, integrating ecosystem and society within such a unified lens—that is, socio–ecological system (SES) resilience—clashes with many cornerstone concepts in social science, such [...] Read more.
Building landscape resilience inspires the cultivation of the landscape’s capacity to recover from disruption and live with changes and uncertainties. However, integrating ecosystem and society within such a unified lens—that is, socio–ecological system (SES) resilience—clashes with many cornerstone concepts in social science, such as power, democracy, rights, and culture. In short, a landscape cannot provide the same values to everyone. However, can building landscape resilience be an effective and just environmental management strategy? Research on this question is limited. A scoping literature review was conducted first to synthesise and map landscape management change based on 111,653 records. Then, we used the Nuozhadu (NZD) catchment as a case study to validate our findings from the literature. We summarised current critiques and created a framework including seven normative categories, or common difficulties, namely resilience for “whom”, “what”, “when”, “where”, “why”, as well as “can” and “how” we apply resilience normatively. We found that these difficulties are overlooked and avoided despite their instructive roles to achieve just landscape management more transparently. Without clear targets and boundaries in building resilience, we found that some groups consume resources and services at the expense of others. The NZD case demonstrates that a strategy of building the NZD’s resilience has improved the conservation of the NZD’s forest ecosystems but overlooked trade-offs between sustaining people and the environment, and between sustainable development for people at different scales. Future researchers, managers, and decision-makers are thereby needed to think resilience more normatively and address the questions in the “seven difficulties” framework before intervening to build landscape resilience. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Social Ecology and Sustainability)
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21 pages, 1650 KiB  
Article
Fishery-Based Ecotourism in Developing Countries Can Enhance the Social-Ecological Resilience of Coastal Fishers—A Case Study of Bangladesh
by Mohammad Muslem Uddin, Petra Schneider, Md. Rashedul Islam Asif, Mohammad Saifur Rahman, Arifuzzaman and Mohammad Mojibul Hoque Mozumder
Water 2021, 13(3), 292; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13030292 - 25 Jan 2021
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 10371
Abstract
The importance of recreational fishing, in many coastal areas and less developed nations, is increasing rapidly. Connecting fisheries to tourism can create innovative tourism products and provide new income sources. The present study is the first to explore the concept of coastal fishery-based [...] Read more.
The importance of recreational fishing, in many coastal areas and less developed nations, is increasing rapidly. Connecting fisheries to tourism can create innovative tourism products and provide new income sources. The present study is the first to explore the concept of coastal fishery-based ecotourism (FbE) to enhance the social–ecological resilience of coastal fishing communities in a specific tourist spot in Bangladesh. A combination of primary (quantitative and qualitative) and secondary (literature databases) data sources were used in this study. It applied a social–ecological system (SES) and social–ecological resilience (SER) concept to collect quantitative and qualitative data (120 in-depth individual interviews, four focus group discussions, and strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats-SWOT analyses) and frame their interpretation. The study found that Bangladesh needs to adopt a firm policy to utilize tourism’s potential in national economic development and societal progress. The findings show the considerable potential of the concept that integrates business, education, and an environmental conservation perspective in Bangladesh, specifically for Saint Martin’s Island: 32% of interviewees expressed that increasing employment opportunities and the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) is the primary potential, whereas 31% said it would attract fishing tourists and 23% believed it would develop the local infrastructure and facilities for fishing and tourism. Similarly, most of the respondents (31%) thought that the lack of awareness and promotional activities is the main limitation preventing this initiative from being well accepted. Moreover, based on the findings, specific measures for strengthening the social–ecological resilience of the coastal fishers via FbE at the local level were suggested, including building communal links, developing community infrastructures, revising prevailing rules and regulations, offering alternative means of generating income for fishers during disaster periods, and more active sharing of responsibility between stakeholders and government for the management of FbE. Finally, with its focus on the prospects and challenges of coastal FbE development on Saint Martin’s Island, this article provides a useful reference point for future discourse on similar social and economic strategies. While this study focuses on Bangladesh’s coastal fishing villages, the results are possibly applicable more broadly in similar contexts and developing countries worldwide. Full article
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15 pages, 1382 KiB  
Article
Indigenous Knowledge and Endogenous Actions for Building Tribal Resilience after Typhoon Soudelor in Northern Taiwan
by Su-Hsin Lee and Yin-Jen Chen
Sustainability 2021, 13(2), 506; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13020506 - 7 Jan 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4854
Abstract
Indigenous peoples often face significant vulnerabilities to climate risks, yet the capacity of a social-ecological system (SES) to resilience is abstracted from indigenous and local knowledge. This research explored how the Tayal people in the Wulai tribes located in typhoon disaster areas along [...] Read more.
Indigenous peoples often face significant vulnerabilities to climate risks, yet the capacity of a social-ecological system (SES) to resilience is abstracted from indigenous and local knowledge. This research explored how the Tayal people in the Wulai tribes located in typhoon disaster areas along Nanshi River used indigenous knowledge as tribal resilience. It applied empirical analysis from secondary data on disaster relief and in-depth interviews, demonstrating how indigenous people’s endogenous actions helped during post-disaster reconstructing. With the intertwined concepts of indigenous knowledge, SESs, and tribes’ cooperation, the result presented the endogenous actions for tribal resilience. In addition, indigenous knowledge is instigated by the Qutux Niqan of mutual assistance and symbiosis among the Wulai tribes, and there is a need to build joint cooperation through local residence, indigenous people living outside of their tribes, and religious or social groups. The findings of tribal resilience after a typhoon disaster of co-production in the Wulai, Lahaw, and Fushan tribes include the importance of historical context, how indigenous people turn to their local knowledge rather than just only participating in disaster relief, and how they produce indigenous tourism for indigenous knowledge inheritance. The paper contributes to contemporary tribal resilience research as well as cooperation actions among tribes through indigenous knowledge, all of which exhibit social, nature, and economy resilience from their own indigenous knowledge to address the possibility of governance and disaster adaptation. Full article
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