Re-grounding cumulative effects assessments in ecological resilience

Abstract

Cumulative effects assessments (CEA) evolved to holistically understand and account for the impact of a spectrum of human and natural disturbances on ecosystems. Yet, the practice of CEA has struggled to overcome siloed and reductionist underpinnings common in the impact assessment arena. One way to move CEA towards more integrated approaches is by drawing on the concept of ecological resilience. Despite gaining considerable attention in other academic spheres, however, ecological resilience remains largely unexplored in CEAs. Motivated by this gap, the objective of this article is to explore how CEAs can be reimagined through an ecological resilience lens to cultivate more integrated and holistic CEA practices. We provide a brief synthesis of CEA theory and practice, highlighting where reductionist, disciplinary, and siloed approaches prevail. Then, we explore three shifts that could recast CEA through the concept of ecological resilience: (1) a shift from valued ecological components to values/identity (resilience pivots), (2) a shift from baseline assessments to ecological trajectories, and (3) a shift from management thresholds to safe operating spaces. We argue that intersecting the practice of CEA with the concept of ecological resilience offers a real opportunity to extend beyond simply being passive respondents to an incremental “death by 1000 cuts” to cultivating the conditions needed for ecological adaption and transformation along desirable pathways.