Linking forest ecosystem processes, functions and services under integrative social–ecological research agenda: current knowledge and perspectives

Abstract

The integrity of forest ecosystems is essential to human well-being, but people's activities are causing rapid changes in forest ecosystems and environmental conditions. Forest ecosystem processes, functions and services are dissimilar concepts in biology and ecology, but they are not naturally disconnected and cannot be disconnected from people's interactions in the concepts of interdisciplinary environmental sciences. This review aims to explore how people's socioeconomic conditions and activities impact forest ecosystem processes, functions and services, and ultimately, human well-being. While there has been an increase in studies on linking forest ecosystem processes and functions in the last two decades, few have explicitly considered their links to people's activities and forest ecosystem services. The current literature on the impacts of people's activities on forest ecosystem conditions (i.e., forest area and species richness) has mostly focused on deforestation and environmental degradation. To better understand the social–ecological consequences on forest ecosystem conditions, it is essential to examine the direct and indirect impacts of people's socioeconomic conditions and activities on forest ecosystem processes, functions, services and stability which should be based on more informative social–ecological indicators. In doing so, I outline the current research knowledge, challenges, limitations and future research directions with conceptual models for linking forest ecosystem processes, functions and services with people's activities and socioeconomic conditions under integrative social–ecological research agenda. This updated social–ecological knowledge would aim to better guide policymakers and forest managers on how to manage and restore forest ecosystems sustainably to meet the needs of current and future generations.