An expert-based reference list of variables for characterizing and monitoring social-ecological systems

The social-ecological system (SES) approach is fundamental for addressing global change challenges and to developing sustainability science. Over the last two decades, much progress has been made in translating this approach from theory to practice, although the knowledge generated is still sparse a...

Descripción completa

Guardado en:

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales:	Manuel Pacheco-Romero, Domingo Alcaraz-Segura, María Vallejos, Javier Cabello
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Resilience Alliance 2020
Materias:	coupled human and natural systems essential social-ecological variables essential variables long-term social-ecological research ltser place-based social-ecological research social-ecological dimensions social-ecological interactions social-ecological monitoring social-ecological system framework social-ecological system functioning Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Ecology QH540-549.5
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/a87e9e4f9bc8484db93ff3a3568356ac
Etiquetas:	Agregar Etiqueta Sin Etiquetas, Sea el primero en etiquetar este registro!

id	oai:doaj.org-article:a87e9e4f9bc8484db93ff3a3568356ac
record_format	dspace
spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:a87e9e4f9bc8484db93ff3a3568356ac2021-12-02T14:14:41ZAn expert-based reference list of variables for characterizing and monitoring social-ecological systems1708-308710.5751/ES-11676-250301https://doaj.org/article/a87e9e4f9bc8484db93ff3a3568356ac2020-09-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol25/iss3/art1/https://doaj.org/toc/1708-3087The social-ecological system (SES) approach is fundamental for addressing global change challenges and to developing sustainability science. Over the last two decades, much progress has been made in translating this approach from theory to practice, although the knowledge generated is still sparse and difficult to compare. To better understand how SESs function across time, space, and scales, coordinated, long-term SES research and monitoring strategies under a common analytical framework are needed. For this purpose, the collection of standard datasets is a cornerstone, but we are still far from identifying and agreeing on the common core set of variables that should be used. In this study, based on literature reviews, expert workshops, and researcher perceptions collected through online surveys, we developed a reference list of 60 variables for the characterization and monitoring of SESs. The variables were embedded in a conceptual framework structured in 13 dimensions that were distributed throughout the three main components of the SES: the social system, the ecological system, and the interactions between them. In addition, the variables were prioritized according to relevance and consensus criteria identified in the survey responses. Variable relevance was positively correlated with consensus across respondents. This study brings new perspectives to address existing barriers in operationalizing lists of variables in the study of SESs, such as the applicability for place-based research, the capacity to deal with SES complexity, and the feasibility for long-term monitoring of social-ecological dynamics. This study may constitute a preliminary step to identifying essential variables for SESs. It will contribute toward promoting the systematic collection of data around most meaningful aspects of the SESs and to enhancing comparability across place-based research and long-term monitoring of complex SESs, and therefore, the production of generalizable knowledge.Manuel Pacheco-RomeroDomingo Alcaraz-SeguraMaría VallejosJavier CabelloResilience Alliancearticlecoupled human and natural systemsessential social-ecological variablesessential variableslong-term social-ecological researchltserplace-based social-ecological researchsocial-ecological dimensionssocial-ecological interactionssocial-ecological monitoringsocial-ecological system frameworksocial-ecological system functioningBiology (General)QH301-705.5EcologyQH540-549.5ENEcology and Society, Vol 25, Iss 3, p 1 (2020)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	coupled human and natural systems essential social-ecological variables essential variables long-term social-ecological research ltser place-based social-ecological research social-ecological dimensions social-ecological interactions social-ecological monitoring social-ecological system framework social-ecological system functioning Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Ecology QH540-549.5
spellingShingle	coupled human and natural systems essential social-ecological variables essential variables long-term social-ecological research ltser place-based social-ecological research social-ecological dimensions social-ecological interactions social-ecological monitoring social-ecological system framework social-ecological system functioning Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Ecology QH540-549.5 Manuel Pacheco-Romero Domingo Alcaraz-Segura María Vallejos Javier Cabello An expert-based reference list of variables for characterizing and monitoring social-ecological systems
description	The social-ecological system (SES) approach is fundamental for addressing global change challenges and to developing sustainability science. Over the last two decades, much progress has been made in translating this approach from theory to practice, although the knowledge generated is still sparse and difficult to compare. To better understand how SESs function across time, space, and scales, coordinated, long-term SES research and monitoring strategies under a common analytical framework are needed. For this purpose, the collection of standard datasets is a cornerstone, but we are still far from identifying and agreeing on the common core set of variables that should be used. In this study, based on literature reviews, expert workshops, and researcher perceptions collected through online surveys, we developed a reference list of 60 variables for the characterization and monitoring of SESs. The variables were embedded in a conceptual framework structured in 13 dimensions that were distributed throughout the three main components of the SES: the social system, the ecological system, and the interactions between them. In addition, the variables were prioritized according to relevance and consensus criteria identified in the survey responses. Variable relevance was positively correlated with consensus across respondents. This study brings new perspectives to address existing barriers in operationalizing lists of variables in the study of SESs, such as the applicability for place-based research, the capacity to deal with SES complexity, and the feasibility for long-term monitoring of social-ecological dynamics. This study may constitute a preliminary step to identifying essential variables for SESs. It will contribute toward promoting the systematic collection of data around most meaningful aspects of the SESs and to enhancing comparability across place-based research and long-term monitoring of complex SESs, and therefore, the production of generalizable knowledge.
format	article
author	Manuel Pacheco-Romero Domingo Alcaraz-Segura María Vallejos Javier Cabello
author_facet	Manuel Pacheco-Romero Domingo Alcaraz-Segura María Vallejos Javier Cabello
author_sort	Manuel Pacheco-Romero
title	An expert-based reference list of variables for characterizing and monitoring social-ecological systems
title_short	An expert-based reference list of variables for characterizing and monitoring social-ecological systems
title_full	An expert-based reference list of variables for characterizing and monitoring social-ecological systems
title_fullStr	An expert-based reference list of variables for characterizing and monitoring social-ecological systems
title_full_unstemmed	An expert-based reference list of variables for characterizing and monitoring social-ecological systems
title_sort	expert-based reference list of variables for characterizing and monitoring social-ecological systems
publisher	Resilience Alliance
publishDate	2020
url	https://doaj.org/article/a87e9e4f9bc8484db93ff3a3568356ac
work_keys_str_mv	AT manuelpachecoromero anexpertbasedreferencelistofvariablesforcharacterizingandmonitoringsocialecologicalsystems AT domingoalcarazsegura anexpertbasedreferencelistofvariablesforcharacterizingandmonitoringsocialecologicalsystems AT mariavallejos anexpertbasedreferencelistofvariablesforcharacterizingandmonitoringsocialecologicalsystems AT javiercabello anexpertbasedreferencelistofvariablesforcharacterizingandmonitoringsocialecologicalsystems AT manuelpachecoromero expertbasedreferencelistofvariablesforcharacterizingandmonitoringsocialecologicalsystems AT domingoalcarazsegura expertbasedreferencelistofvariablesforcharacterizingandmonitoringsocialecologicalsystems AT mariavallejos expertbasedreferencelistofvariablesforcharacterizingandmonitoringsocialecologicalsystems AT javiercabello expertbasedreferencelistofvariablesforcharacterizingandmonitoringsocialecologicalsystems
_version_	1718391742731911168

An expert-based reference list of variables for characterizing and monitoring social-ecological systems

Ejemplares similares