Human Dimensions of Coral Reef Social-Ecological Systems

John N Kittinger,Larry B Crowder,Edward W Glazier,Elena M Finkbeiner

doi:10.5751/es-05115-170417

Abstract

Kittinger, J. N., E. M. Finkbeiner, E. W. Glazier, and L. B. Crowder. 2012. Human dimensions of coral reef social-ecological systems. Ecology and Society 17(4): 17. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-05115-170417

Highlights

Coral reefs are among the richest and most diverse ecosystem types found in the global ocean, but are among the most threatened (Hoegh-Guldberg 1999, Hughes et al 2003, Pandolfi et al 2003)
We synthesize existing concepts related to social-ecological systems (SESs) and present a human dimensions framework that explores the linkages between social system structural traits, human activities, ecosystem services, and human well-being in coral reef SESs
Human societies in tropical regions worldwide depend heavily on the critical ecosystem goods and services provided by these environments, and the degradation of resource pools places these populations at considerable risk (Moberg and Folke 1999, Whittingham et al 2003, Bell et al 2009)

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Coral reefs are among the richest and most diverse ecosystem types found in the global ocean, but are among the most threatened (Hoegh-Guldberg 1999, Hughes et al 2003, Pandolfi et al 2003). RECIPROCITY IN SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL LINKAGES Relationships between people and oceans are complex and multidimensional (Shackeroff et al 2009, Samonte et al 2010), but these social-ecological relationships can be characterized at the macro level as comprising two primary reciprocal interactions These interactions include: anthropogenic impacts and modifying actions; and ecosystem goods and services provided to individuals, communities, and coastal societies (Fig. 1). While potentially illustrative for assessing global-scale relationships between ecosystems and human well-being, these linkages need to be articulated in greater detail to understand social-ecological dynamics at lower-level scales (e.g., for coastal communities) and for specific contexts and resource systems This framework recognizes the importance of ecosystem services as directly and indirectly supporting human wellbeing, without explicitly describing these linkages, which are likely to vary across scales and cases due to a variety of contextual factors (Daw et al 2011). There is a need to explore more fully the complexity of factors that mediate the linkages between ecosystem services and human well-

Ecosystem service or benefit Food and resource security

Biogeochemical cycling

Proximate level

Underlying level

CONCLUSIONS