Social–ecological status index: A preliminary study of its structural composition and application

Abstract

Understanding the state of a social–ecological system (SES), a system that includes human and environmental subsystems interacting together, is important for socio-economic development and for natural resources and disaster management. However, what index or measure should be used to show the actual status of an SES remains an important research question. This paper presents the social–ecological status index (SESI), which measures social–ecological status based on social–ecological resilience and pressure. It is derived by using a spatially explicit framework that integrates various geophysical and socio-economic indicators. In this paper, its structural composition is explored and the proposed framework for deriving this index is compared with the current practice of evaluating SESs. Its relationship with certain other indicators is also assessed through a case study, thereby highlighting its application in the provinces of the Philippines. It is found that the SESI does not seem to favor either the human or the environmental dimensions of an SES. This is an important feature, indicating that the SESI is a neutral, more complete, and robust measure for social–ecological status assessment. With the increasing availability of geospatial and socio-economic data, the flexibility and adaptability of the framework allow the proposed index to be applied in other geographic locations, at the same time providing an avenue for its further development.