Social-ecological Systems Research Articles

Development of a fuzzy logic-embedded system dynamics model to simulate complex socio-ecological systems

To respond to the growing challenges posed by adverse environmental impacts and climate change, there is an increasing need for multidisciplinary and comprehensive research to build sustainable socio-ecological systems (SES). System dynamics (SD) has been widely used as a methodology to meet these needs, but the common practice of oversimplifying or subjectively handling complex relationships among various factors often reduces the reliability of the model. Therefore, the objectives of this study were (1) to develop a methodology for integrating fuzzy logic into the SD model to handle relationships among multiple variables systematically and (2) to validate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology through a case study on a simple SES. The developed methodology encompassed procedures for constructing fuzzy logic, including fuzzification, fuzzy inference, and optimization, on the SD platform. The usefulness of this methodology was tested with a fuzzy-SD model for a rice production system, wherein fuzzy logic was applied to capture variations in rice yield based on temperature conditions. As a result of optimizing the fuzzy-SD model, the rice yield inferred based on two types of temperature factors and eight fuzzy rules closely agreed with historical data (mean absolute percent error = 2.15 %). These results suggest that (1) the methodology proposed in this study can intuitively implement the fuzzy-SD model on the SD platform, and (2) utilizing inference through fuzzy logic can be valuable in minimizing errors within the SD model. Our findings can contribute to enhancing the reliability and utility of SD models for SES research by enabling reasonable inference regarding complex relationships among system components.

Socio Economic Factors Contributing to Riparian Ecosystem Degradation along Kaiti River in Makueni County

The degradation of riparian ecosystems threatens the livelihoods of communities that depend on these socio-ecological systems (SES) for their well-being. This is because; riparian ecosystems provide ecosystem services like fodder, timber, soil development, water regulation and habitat for wildlife. The riparian ecosystem in Kenya's Eastern Semi-Arid Region is one of the affected zones and information is required to understand the causes therein. This case study focussed on the Kaiti River in Makueni County to analyse the socio-economic factors leading to its riparian degradation. Data was collected between September 2018 to March 2019 using questionnaires, key informant interviews, focus group discussions and photographs. To analyse the data, SPSS version 26 interface with regression and correlation analysis was used to analyse the causes of riparian ecosystem degradation along the river. Crop farming was found to be a leading cause of degradation (R-Square =0.849, F (1, 99) =9.4495, p-value=0.0003<0.05) showing that farming accounts for 84.9% of the variations in degradation of River Kaiti riparian ecosystem. A calculated beta value implied that a unit raise in crop farming would lead to a rise in the degradation of the River Kaiti riparian ecosystem by 0.782 (p-value=0.001<0.05). The results of the study also revealed that livestock farming (R-Square =0.615, β=0.211, p-value =0.002≤0.05), lack of riparian conservation awareness (R-Square =0.573, β=-0.757, p-value= 0.002<0.05) and Commercial sand harvesting R-Square=0.659, β=0.205, p value=0.000<0.05) significantly contribute to River Kaiti riparian ecosystem degradation. Other causes significantly contributing to degradation (R-Square =0.520, β=0.212, p-value=0.001≤0.05,) were poor natural resource governance, poverty, poor infrastructure, climate change and land use changes. The study concludes that awareness creation and control of human activity in the Kaiti riparian zone would significantly reduce riparian ecosystem degradation. A multi-stakeholder approach whereby the community takes centre stage in monitoring and implementing riparian conservation measures is recommended.

Enhancing sustainability: Exploring the evolution and dynamics of the grassland social-ecological system in Inner Mongolia over the past 260a

Understanding the intricate relationship between social-ecological systems (SES) coupling and long-term regional sustainable development is critical for effective management strategies. While recent research has predominantly focused on human-earth coupling, there is a dearth of knowledge concerning the transition of grassland SES from one regime to another and the underlying drivers. This study employs a comprehensive SES framework to identify and analyze interactions within typical pastoral areas of Inner Mongolia, aiming to shed light on the evolution of the grassland SES over the past centuries. Our research defines five distinct evolutionary phases in the grassland SES since the mid-Qing Dynasty. Each phase is characterized by unique social and ecological features, providing a nuanced understanding of the system's dynamics. We establish empirical links between the phases and their driving forces and impacts by assessing the main changes between these periods. Specifically, our findings reveal instances of negative cross-scale effects emerging during the evolution process. We observe that unreasonable resource utilization and an inability to curb ecological degradation may lead to unsustainable traps, posing challenges to long-term sustainability. To illustrate, during the transition from Phase 3 to Phase 4 in the late 19th century, a shift towards sedentary pastoralism led to increased land degradation due to intensified grazing practices. This unsustainable trajectory highlights the importance of adaptive management strategies to mitigate such negative consequences. This study contributes insights into the social and ecological management of grassland pastoral areas in China and for global analogous regions. By addressing the identified phases and their associated challenges, our research provides a foundation for crafting sustainable policies and practices to ensure the resilience of grassland SES in diverse geographical contexts.

Moral injury in post-9/11 combat-experienced military veterans: A qualitative thematic analysis.

War zone exposure is associated with enduring negative mental health effects and poorer responses to treatment, in part because this type of trauma can entail crises of conscience or moral injury. Although a great deal of attention has been paid to posttraumatic stress disorder and fear-based physiological aspects of trauma and suffering, comparatively less attention has been given to the morally injurious dimension of trauma. Robust themes of moral injury were identified in interviews with 26 post-9/11 military veterans. Thematic analysis identified 12 themes that were subsumed under four categories reflecting changes, shifts, or ruptures in worldview, meaning making, identity, and relationships. Moral injury is a unique and challenging clinical construct with impacts on the individual as well as at every level of the social ecological system. Recommendations are offered for addressing moral injury in a military population; implications for community public health are noted. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Modeling a pastoral social–ecological system and its application to climate risk assessment of traditional livelihoods

Modeling a pastoral social–ecological system and its application to climate risk assessment of traditional livelihoods

Assessing the effectiveness of marine nature-based solutions with climate risk assessments.

Prospective risks from climate change impacts in ocean and coastal systems are urging the implementation of nature-based solutions (NBS). These are climate-resilient strategies to maintain biodiversity and the delivery of ecosystem services, contributing to the adaptation of social-ecological systems and the mitigation of climate-related impacts. However, the effectiveness of measures like marine restoration or conservation is not exempt from the impacts of climate change, and the degree to which they can sustain biodiversity and ecosystem services remains unknown. Such uncertainty, together with the slow pace of implementation, causes decision-makers and societies to demand a better understanding of NBS effects. To address this gap, in this study, we use the risk mitigation capacity of marine NBS as a proxy for their effectiveness while providing a toolset for the implementation of the method. The method considers environmental data and relies on expert elicitation, allowing us to go beyond current practice to evaluate the effectiveness of NBS in reducing habitat or species risks under different future socio-political and climate-change scenarios. As a result, we present a ready-to-use tool, and supporting materials, for the implementation of the Climate Risk Assessment method and an illustrative example considering the application of the NBS "nature-inclusive harvesting" in two shellfisheries. The method works as a rapid assessment that guarantees comparability across sites and species due to its low data or resource demand, so it can be widely incorporated to adaptation policies across the marine realm.

Intensifying spatially compound heatwaves: Global implications to crop production and human population

Recent research has provided crucial insights on regional heatwaves, including their causal mechanisms and changes under global warming. However, detailed research on global-scale spatially compound heatwaves (SCHs) (concurrent heatwaves over multiple regions) is lacking. Here, we find statistically significant teleconnections in heatwaves and show that the frequency of global-scale SCHs and their areal extent have increased significantly, which has led to 50 % increase in the population exposed to extreme heat stresses in the two most recent decades. Crop yields were reduced in most of the years of anomalous heatwaves, which often happen during El-Niños. The internal climate variability appears to significantly influence the inter-annual variability of regional and global heatwave extents. Insights gained here are critical in better quantifying heat stress risks inflicted on socioecological systems.

Cross-Cultural Differences in Food Preferences and Consumption Patterns

Purpose: This study sought to explore cross- cultural differences in food preferences and consumption patterns. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to cross- cultural differences in food preferences and consumption patterns. Preliminary empirical review revealed that cultural heritage profoundly influenced individuals' food preferences and consumption habits, with distinct culinary traditions and family influences shaping dietary behaviors within specific cultural contexts. Globalization and urbanization were found to impact food preferences, yet traditional dietary practices remained resilient. Additionally, socio-economic factors significantly influenced dietary behaviors, particularly in low-income communities. These findings emphasized the importance of recognizing cultural diversity and socio-economic disparities in promoting healthy eating behaviors and improving public health outcomes. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Cultural Anthropology theory, Social Identity theory and Ecological Systems theory may be used to anchor future studies on cross- cultural differences in food preferences and consumption patterns. The study offered valuable recommendations that contributed to theory, practice, and policy in the field of nutrition and public health. By identifying cultural influences on food preferences and consumption patterns, the study enriched theoretical frameworks such as cultural anthropology, social identity theory, and ecological systems theory. Its findings informed the development of culturally sensitive interventions and educational programs, empowering individuals to make healthier food choices while respecting cultural heritage. Additionally, the study's insights guided the formulation of evidence-based policies aimed at addressing diet-related health disparities and promoting food security and nutrition equity on a global scale.

E-WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN UKRAINE: LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND SWOT-ANALYSIS

Background: Waste management has been the subject of interest for both Ukrainian and foreign scientists. While Ukrainian researchers have studied waste management and focused on the viability of waste incineration for economic and environmental protection, foreign scientists have directed their attention towards examining the environmental impact of electronic devices. By analysing complex issues related to social-ecological systems, these foreign scientists have studied e-waste management (EWM) approaches to guarantee environmental sustainability and raise public knowledge of EWM. This comparative scrutiny has revealed a research gap, prompting the need to investigate the current state of the e-waste management system (EWMS) in Ukraine to determine the directions for improving EWM. Methods: To meet the objectives outlined in this paper, various scientific and specialised methods were employed. The structural-functional method was used to consider stakeholders' interests and level of influence in the EWMS by dividing them into four groups. A SWOT analysis was performed to determine the EWMS's opportunities, threats, weaknesses, and strengths. The comparison method was used when Ukraine's regulatory framework in the EWMS was approximated and compared with EU legal actions. Results and Conclusions: The study examined stakeholders' interests and level of influence over EWMS, categorising them into four categories: KEEP INFORMED (mass media), MANAGE CLOSELY (the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers, various ministries, and state organisations in Ukraine), KEEP SATISFIED (the President of Ukraine and Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine), and KEEP INFORMED + TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION (international organisations, non-governmental and public organisations, activists, and environmental organisations). A SWOT analysis revealed the EWM system's advantages, disadvantages, opportunities, and threats. Taking these factors into account will advance the deployment of EWMS in Ukraine and provide insight into the issues impeding its advancement.

Enhancing vulnerability assessment through spatially explicit modeling of mountain social-ecological systems exposed to multiple environmental hazards

The evaluation of the vulnerability of coupled socio-ecological systems is critical for addressing and preventing the adverse impacts of various environmental hazards and devising strategies for climate change adaptation. The initial step in vulnerability assessment involves exposure assessment, which entails quantifying and mapping the risks posed by multiple environmental hazards, thereby offering valuable insights for the implementation of vulnerability assessment methodologies. Consequently, this study sought to model the exposure of coupled social-ecological systems in mountainous regions to various environmental hazards. By a set of socio-economic, climatic, geospatial, hydrological, and demographic data, as well as satellite imagery, and examining 11 hazards, including droughts, pests, dust storms, winds, extreme temperatures, evapotranspiration, landslides, floods, wildfires, and social vulnerability, this research employed machine learning (ML) techniques and the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP). Expert opinions were utilized to guide hazard weighting and calculate the exposure index (EI). Through the precise spatial mapping of EI variations across the socio-ecological systems in mountainous areas, this investigation provides insights into vulnerability to multiple environmental hazards, thereby laying the groundwork for future endeavors in supporting national-level vulnerability assessments aimed at fostering sustainable environments. The findings reveal that social vulnerability and pests receive the highest weighting, while floods and landslides are ranked lower. All hazards demonstrate significant correlations with the EI, with droughts exhibiting the strongest correlation (r > 0.81). Spatial analysis indicates a north-south gradient in forest exposure, with southern regions showing higher exposure hotspots (EI 29.08) compared to northern areas (EI 10.60). Validation based on Area Under Curve (AUC) and Consistency Rate (CR) in FAHP demonstrates robustness, with AUC values exceeding 0.78 and CR values below 0.1. Considering the anticipated intensification of hazards, management strategies should prioritize reducing social vulnerability, restore degraded areas using drought-resistant species, combat pests, and mitigate desertification. By integrating multidisciplinary data and expert opinions, this research contributes to informed decision-making regarding sustainable forest management and climate resilience in mountain ecosystems.

Interactive visual syntheses for social-ecological systems understanding

Many social-ecological systems are in an unsustainable state. Bringing together disjunct published findings on complex interactions in social-ecological systems may enable the identification of leverage points for transformations towards sustainability. However, such interdisciplinary synthesis studies on specific regional social-ecological systems remain rare. Here, we pair a review of systematically identified studies with a cross-impact analysis to create an interactive visual social-ecological systems synthesis on conflicts and synergies between land use, biodiversity conservation, and human wellbeing in north-eastern Madagascar. The interactive visual synthesis (https://visualsynthesis.wyssacademy.org) depicts an archetypical regional landscape with 22 factors comprising physical landscape elements, ecosystem services, wellbeing, human activities, and telecouplings. To understand the connections between these factors, we assess directional causal links based on literature sources. The visual synthesis shows that research has so far focused on links between land use and biodiversity while links to human wellbeing were studied more seldomly. We then identify chains and cycles that emerge from the links between factors and rate them based on their plausibility and relevance. All eight top-rated chains and cycles relate to subsistence and commercial agriculture, revealing promising leverage points at which interventions could improve outcomes for biodiversity and wellbeing. In sum, we show how interactive visual syntheses can be a useful way to make disjunct published findings on regional social-ecological systems more accessible, to find research gaps, and to identify leverage points for sustainability transformations.

Participatory modelling for sustainable development: Connecting coastal and rural social-ecological systems

Integrated planning and informed decision-making require an understanding of the interactions between coastal and rural social-ecological systems and quantification of the impacts of adaptive management across sectors. The Mar Menor lagoon (SE-Spain) provides an example of how a lack of integrated planning can lead to environmental and socio-economic crises. Here we present a systems approach using participatory modelling to identify optimal solutions for the sustainable development of this social-ecological system. Through a participatory process, we co-developed causal loop diagrams that formed the starting point of a System Dynamics model. Model development and its application helped facilitating knowledge exchange between stakeholders, identify challenges and opportunities for sustainable development, and evaluate the socio-economic and environmental impacts of different management and policy solutions. Model results were evaluated using multi-criteria analysis demonstrating its potential application as a decision support system to identify an optimal set of solutions.

Difficulties and Solutions in Caring for Cognitive Disorders in Elderly People with Dementia from the Perspective of Social-ecological System Theory

With the deepening of population aging, the increasing population of cognitively impaired older adults in China has put forward an urgent demand for professional cognitive care. In the context of long-term care insurance policy, this paper will take R agency as an example and construct an analysis framework based on the social-ecological system theory at three levels: micro-system, meso-system, and macro-system. It will analyze the physiology and psychology of dementia elderly from inside to outside, how the sentinel care agency collaborates with the sentinel assessment agency, family, and community, how the LTCI policy support and financial support affect the cognitive intervention for cognitively impaired elderly, to promote the healthy operation of the care ecosystem, analyze the dilemma, summarise and put forward the optimization strategy, and provide the experience of providing care services for other aged care service agencies.

The challenges of navigating different spaces and contexts in collaborative doctoral research in sport coaching

ABSTRACT In this paper, we analyse our experiences as both researchers and supervisors while collaborating with national governing bodies (NGBs) on jointly funded doctoral sport coaching research projects. We share our collective accounts of undertaking applied coaching research. Composite narratives reveal our ambitions for authentic collaboration; the vulnerabilities of the researcher; and the importance of empathy. Using Bronfenbrenner’s theory, we explore how researcher-practitioner PhDs involve movement between complex social-ecological systems. In doing so, we seek to support neophyte researchers and supervisors engaged in collaborative research partnerships. Contributions may also support NGBs and funders who are seeking high quality and contextually situated coaching research.

Inspired to build understanding: learning about sustainability and environmental education from within a virtual world

This study explores the use of virtual worlds, specifically Minecraft, on sustainability education and cognitive skills. Using the Teaching to Inspire model as a lens, we examine how students design sustainable virtual buildings and cityscapes aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the social-ecological systems (SES) framework. Our research demonstrates how virtual experiences can inspire future-thinking mindsets. The findings underscore the significance of curiosity, passion, and drive in the conative domain as housed in promoting student engagement and understanding of sustainability. The study emphasises the crucial role of teachers in facilitating critical thinking, inquiry, and reflection within virtual spaces to create a sense of place and emotional connection. This paper contributes to the existing literature on sustainability education and provides valuable insights into the potential of virtual worlds for environmental education.

A case for stronger integration of physical landscape processes in conservation science and practice.

I argue that the dynamic nature of contemporary, landscape-shaping (geomorphic) processes deserves more consideration in conservation science and practice. In an analysis of a sample of fundamental terms related to geomorphology and area-based conservation in the Web of Science, I found that the terms co-occurred in <2% of the analyzed entries (titles, abstracts, and keywords) from 2000 to 2020. This result is indicative of the rather peripheral attention that, more broadly, landscape-shaping processes seem to receive in the conservation literature. Among conservation scientists and practitioners, landforms that define the physical structure of habitat are often perceived as largely static, whereas the consideration of their dynamic adjustments to geomorphic processes is often limited to extreme events. I use examples derived from river-floodplain environments to illustrate strong, multifaceted, and reciprocal interactions between biota and various erosional and depositional processes. These ubiquitous interdependencies clearly demonstrate that geomorphic processes are an integral part of ecosystem dynamics at time scales relevant for conservation. Crucially, erosional and depositional processes modulate many environmental impacts of past and current anthropogenic activities. I conclude that the absence of a more explicit and widespread consideration of geomorphic processes in conservation science and practice is surprising and detrimental to their effectiveness. I call for bolstered efforts among the conservation and geoscience communities to better integrate landscape dynamics within the field of conservation. The rise of the ecosystem-based and social-ecological systems approaches to conservation and the growth of interdisciplinary geoscience branches (e.g., biogeomorphology, ecohydraulics, and geoconservation) will facilitate such an integration.

Socio-Economic Impacts of Endemic and Epidemic Diseases on Livestock Production Systems in Tanzania

Purpose: The aim of the study was to examine socio-economic impacts of endemic and epidemic diseases on livestock production systems in Tanzania. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: The study revealed that endemic diseases such as brucellosis, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), and contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) pose ongoing challenges to livestock health, productivity, and household livelihoods. Epidemic diseases like avian influenza and peste des petits ruminants (PPR) can cause sudden outbreaks, leading to acute disruptions in production and trade. These disease outbreaks result in various socio-economic consequences, including decreased livestock productivity, loss of income for farmers, increased veterinary and containment costs, and disruptions in domestic and international trade. Additionally, diseases can exacerbate poverty and food insecurity among rural communities reliant on livestock for sustenance and income generation. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Economic theory of disease control &amp; social-ecological systems theory may be used to anchor future studies on socio-economic impacts of endemic and epidemic diseases on livestock production systems in Tanzania. Building technical capacity at the grassroots level empowers communities to implement effective disease management strategies and adopt biosecurity measures. Establishing community-based disease surveillance systems that empower local communities to monitor and report disease outbreaks in livestock populations. Providing financial support and risk-sharing mechanisms mitigate economic losses and encourage proactive disease management practices. Establish data-sharing mechanisms and surveillance networks that facilitate real-time exchange of information on disease outbreaks, epidemiological trends, and economic impacts.

Collective participation in conservation easements in rural China: Evidence from the Qianjiangyuan National Park

Conservation easements (CE), as an emerging conservation strategy in China, have gained successful collective participation within the Qianjiangyuan National Park with all its collectively-owned forestlands under easements. This study uses an analytical framework developed from the social-ecological systems (SES) framework to explore systemic inter-dependencies among social, economic, political, and natural processes that contextualize the agreements and patterns of interaction where collective participation is achieved. The results indicate that broader-scale variables under socio-ecological contexts, by affecting the resource system, government system, actor system variables, and their interactions, play a more important role in CE participation than sole individual variables. At the regional scale, changing socio-political factors have influenced rural communities' resource utilization and reduced economic dependency on logging activities, facilitating CE adoption. Within the focal action situation, collective participation was achieved under the rural governance system in which actors interact to form community-level consensus through rural self-governance and consultation, influenced by the mobilizing power of the authority. The case study in China demonstrates the feasibility of using CE as a forest co-management strategy in densely populated protected areas under a common-property regime and the necessity of considering both regional-scale factors and local dynamics in CE design and implementation.

The social-ecological ladder of restoration ambition.

Expanding in both scope and scale, ecosystem restoration needs to embrace complex social-ecological dynamics. To help scientists and practitioners navigate ever new demands on restoration, we propose the "social-ecological ladder of restoration ambition" as a conceptual model to approach dynamically shifting social and ecological restoration goals. The model focuses on three dynamic aspects of restoration, namely degrading processes, restoration goals and remedial actions. As these three change through time, new reinforcing and balancing feedback mechanisms characterize the restoration process. We illustrate our model through case studies in which restoration has become increasingly ambitious through time, namely forest landscape restoration in Rwanda and grassland restoration in Germany. The ladder of restoration ambition offers a new way of applying social-ecological systems thinking to ecosystem restoration. Additionally, it raises awareness of social-ecological trade-offs, power imbalances and conflicting goals in restoration projects, thereby laying an important foundation for finding more practicable and fairer solutions.

Urban flood risk management needs nature-based solutions: a coupled social-ecological system perspective

A growing number of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) has been advocated for urban flood risk management (FRM). However, whether NbS for FRM (NbS-FRM) achieves both social and ecological co-benefits remains largely unknown. We here propose and use a conceptual framework with a coupled social-ecological perspective to explore and identify such “win-win” potential in NbS-FRM. Through a scoping-review we find that ecological FRM measures are unevenly distributed around the world, and those solely targeting flood mitigation may have unintended negative consequences for society and ecosystems. In elaborating this framework with evidence from the reviewed studies, we find that NbS-FRM has the potential to provide both social and ecological co-benefits, with remaining gaps including a lack of resilience thinking, inadequate consideration of environmental changes, and limited collaborative efforts to manage trade-offs. The proposed framework shows how to move forward to leverage NbS for equitable and sustainable FRM with improved human well-being and ecosystem health.