|
Abstract:
|
"Social-ecological systems exhibit patterns across multiple levels along spatial, temporal, and functional scales. The outcomes that are produced in these systems result from complex, non-additive interactions between different types of social and biophysical components, some of which are common to many systems, and some of which are relatively unique to a particular system. These properties, along with the mostly non-experimental nature of the analysis, make it difficult to construct theories regarding the sustainability of social-ecological systems.This paper builds on previous work that has initiated a diagnostic approach to facilitate
analysis of these systems. The process of diagnosis involves asking a series of
questions of a system at increasing levels of specificity based on the answers to
previous questions. The answer to each question further unpacks the complexity of a
system, allowing an analyst to explore patterns of interactions that produce outcomes. An important feature of this approach is the use of multiple levels of analysis. As this paper will show, this feature can be used to analyze a diversity of environmental problems. Following this discussion, the implications of such a diagnostic approach for future research and pedagogy in the field of environmental management and policy are explored."
|