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Socio-Ecological Systems Sustainability

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Social Ecology and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2021) | Viewed by 101856

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Isabel Banos-González

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Science Education, University of Murcia, 30100 Espinardo, Spain
Interests: socio-ecological systems; environmental modelling; GIS, sustainability; science education
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Julia Martínez-Fernández

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Fundación Nueva Cultura del Agua / Sustainability Observatory of Murcia Region, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
Interests: socio-ecological systems; sustainable water management; water indicators
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The present Special Issue will focus on socioecological systems sustainability.
In order to address the sustainability of socioecological systems (SES), which can be defined as integrated systems of ecosystems and human society with reciprocal feedback and interdependence, a holistic approach seems to be required.

Unsustainable trends in the evolution of these social and ecological systems seem to have increased awareness about the need to move faster toward the implementation of more sustainable approaches. Despite this, the real application and acceptance of sustainable policies in socioecological systems is quite far from what is required.

Several barriers and difficulties explain this gap between knowledge and action. The major obstacles are related to the complex nature of socioecological systems, the lack of adequate approaches and tools to understand, assess, and communicate the best options for more sustainable systems and to share visions among policy makers, stakeholders and society, regarding key sustainability issues.

The aim of this Special issue is to present an up-to-date overview on these issues, from a broad perspective, including conceptual, methodological, and case-based perspectives. Covered topics include theoretical aspects of SES; inter and transdisciplinary approaches for sustainability; modeling socioecological systems; advanced methodologies and tools to better define, select, and implement measures aimed at improving sustainability in real contexts; as well as educational approaches aimed at understanding the complexity of socioecological systems, both in formal or informal education; and education for sustainability (EfS). Papers on conceptual and methodological issues, as well as practical examples and real-case analyses are welcome.

Papers selected for this Special Issue will be subject to a rigorous peer-review procedure with the aim of rapid and wide dissemination of research results, developments, and applications.

Dr. Isabel Banos-González
Dr. Julia Martínez-Fernández
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Modeling socioecological systems
  • Education for sustainability
  • Interdisciplinary approaches for sustainability
  • Participatory assessment of sustainable policies and measures
  • Science for sustainability
  • Sustainability indicators
  • Socioecological systems and models

Published Papers (26 papers)

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21 pages, 129887 KiB  
Article
Adding Emergence and Spatiality to a Public Bad Game for Studying Dynamics in Socio-Ecological Systems (Part I): The Design of Musa-Game for Integrative Analysis of Collective Action in Banana Disease Management
by Julissa Alexandra Galarza-Villamar, Mariette McCampbell, Cees Leeuwis and Francesco Cecchi
Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 9370; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169370 - 20 Aug 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2916
Abstract
Human decision-making plays a critical and challenging role in the prevention and control of public bads within socio-ecological systems. Farmers daily confront dilemmas regarding public bad management, such as infectious diseases in their crops. Their decisions interplay with multiple factors and may create [...] Read more.
Human decision-making plays a critical and challenging role in the prevention and control of public bads within socio-ecological systems. Farmers daily confront dilemmas regarding public bad management, such as infectious diseases in their crops. Their decisions interplay with multiple factors and may create the risk conditions in which a public bad can occur (e.g., a disease outbreak). This article presents an experimental board game method (DySE) and its contextualized version (Musa-game) to study the effect of individual and collective human actions on creating or preventing a public bad. The DySE method and the Musa-game add emergence and spatiality (both attributes of SES) to the study of public bads and collective action problems. This methodological proposal allows us to build a contextual understanding of how individual and collective actions of various entities lead to typical system outcomes, i.e., conditions that are (un)favourable to pathogens, and individual decisions about infectious disease management. To conceptualize our method, we used the case of Banana Xanthomonas Wilt disease in Rwanda. This research is published as a diptych. Part I (this article) covers the conceptualization and design of Musa-game. Part II presents empirical findings from testing Musa-game with farmers in Rwanda and recommendations for using the method. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Ecological Systems Sustainability)
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27 pages, 4080 KiB  
Article
A Public Bad Game Method to Study Dynamics in Socio-Ecological Systems (Part II): Results of Testing Musa-Game in Rwanda and Adding Emergence and Spatiality to the Analysis
by Julissa Alexandra Galarza-Villamar, Mariette McCampbell, Andres Galarza-Villamar, Cees Leeuwis, Francesco Cecchi and John Galarza-Rodrigo
Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 9353; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169353 - 20 Aug 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2821
Abstract
This article is the second in a series of two and presented findings from field-testing an experimental boardgame (Musa-game) with banana farmers in four villages in Eastern Rwanda. The conceptualization and design of the Musa-game were described in Part I. Musa-game gives insights [...] Read more.
This article is the second in a series of two and presented findings from field-testing an experimental boardgame (Musa-game) with banana farmers in four villages in Eastern Rwanda. The conceptualization and design of the Musa-game were described in Part I. Musa-game gives insights into how farmers’ individual and collective decision-making and actions regarding management of a public bad interplay with other factors and characteristics of the socio-ecological system (SES). A public bad is a non-rivalrous, non-excludable issue that causes loss of social-welfare of individuals and communities. The method contributes contextual understanding about the emergence of phenomena that arise from the interactions between human and non-human actors. Musa-game was framed to study one public bad challenge in particular: the infectious crop disease Banana Xanthomonas Wilt disease (BXW). Findings increased the knowhow about the emergence and governance of conditions that hinder or enhance the spread of infectious diseases like BXW. Analysis of qualitative and quantitative data suggested that individual farmers’ actions were influenced by perceptions of risk, affecting both individual and collective disease management. Additionally, the used experimental treatments allowed us to evaluate the influence of communication on risk-governance strategies. It appears that a combination of possession of technical knowledge about the disease, opportunities to communicate about the disease, and a collective disease management strategy enables the best individual actions and collective performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Ecological Systems Sustainability)
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22 pages, 3846 KiB  
Article
Socio-Ecological Systems (SESs)—Identification and Spatial Mapping in the Central Himalaya
by Praveen Kumar, Christine Fürst and P. K. Joshi
Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 7525; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147525 - 06 Jul 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3047
Abstract
The Himalaya is a mosaic of complex socio-ecological systems (SESs) characterized by a wide diversity of altitude, climate, landform, biodiversity, ethnicity, culture, and agriculture systems, among other things. Identifying the distribution of SESs is crucial for integrating and formulating effective programs and policies [...] Read more.
The Himalaya is a mosaic of complex socio-ecological systems (SESs) characterized by a wide diversity of altitude, climate, landform, biodiversity, ethnicity, culture, and agriculture systems, among other things. Identifying the distribution of SESs is crucial for integrating and formulating effective programs and policies to ensure human well-being while protecting and conserving natural systems. This work aims to identify and spatially map the boundaries of SESs to address the questions of how SESs can be delineated and what the characteristics of these systems are. The study was carried out for the state of Uttarakhand, India, a part of the Central Himalaya. The presented approach for mapping and delineation of SESs merges socio-economic and ecological data. It also includes validation of delineated system boundaries. We used 32 variables to form socio-economic units and 14 biophysical variables for ecological units. Principal component analysis followed by sequential agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis was used to delineate the units. The geospatial statistical analysis identified 6 socio-economic and 3 ecological units, together resulting in 18 SESs for the entire state. The major characteristics for SESs were identified as forest types and agricultural practices, indicating the influence and dependency of SESs on these two features. The database would facilitate diverse application studies in vulnerability assessment, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and other socio-ecological studies. Such a detailed database addresses particularly site-specific characteristics to reduce risks and impacts. Overall, the identified SESs will help in recognizing local needs and gaps in existing policies and institutional arrangements, and the given methodological framework can be applied for the entire Himalayan region and for other mountain systems across the world. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Ecological Systems Sustainability)
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18 pages, 1130 KiB  
Article
The Role of Socio-Economic Determinants of Horse Farms for Grassland Management, Vegetation Composition and Ecological Value
by Cecilia Frauke Hüppe, Anja Schmitz, Bettina Tonn and Johannes Isselstein
Sustainability 2020, 12(24), 10641; https://doi.org/10.3390/su122410641 - 19 Dec 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2120
Abstract
Socio-economic context is increasingly seen as a decisive factor for sustainable agricultural land use. The high prevalence of part-time farming and frequent lack of formal agricultural education within the equine sector are often seen as reasons why horse-grazed pastures do not fulfill their [...] Read more.
Socio-economic context is increasingly seen as a decisive factor for sustainable agricultural land use. The high prevalence of part-time farming and frequent lack of formal agricultural education within the equine sector are often seen as reasons why horse-grazed pastures do not fulfill their biodiversity potential. In spite of the substantial variability within horse farming, little is known about the relationship of socio-economic determinants with vegetation characteristics of horse-grazed grasslands. We surveyed 122 horse farms in Germany, classifying them into four socio-economic classes according to farm income type and farm managers’ agricultural education. We recorded farm structure parameters, grassland management practices and vegetation characteristics. Socio-economic class partly explained the great variability in farm structure that we observed. In contrast to our expectation, income type and agricultural education did not distinctly affect grassland management and were neither directly nor indirectly related to vegetation characteristics. Part-time farming and lack of agricultural education thus did not adversely affect the ecological value of horse-grazed grasslands. By contrast, both farm structure and paddock level management affected grassland vegetation and ecological value. Therefore, the socio-economic context of horse farms should be addressed in further research with strategies targeting the development of sustainable grassland management in horse keeping. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Ecological Systems Sustainability)
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16 pages, 3373 KiB  
Article
What Do Students Know about Rivers and Their Management? Analysis by Educational Stages and Territories
by Rubén Ladrera, Pablo Rodríguez-Lozano, Iraima Verkaik, Narcís Prat and José Ramón Díez
Sustainability 2020, 12(20), 8719; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12208719 - 21 Oct 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3537
Abstract
The overall purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge that students have about the ecosystem concept of rivers and their sustainable management. A survey of nine questions gathered responses from 3447 students at three different Spanish education levels (Primary, Secondary, and [...] Read more.
The overall purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge that students have about the ecosystem concept of rivers and their sustainable management. A survey of nine questions gathered responses from 3447 students at three different Spanish education levels (Primary, Secondary, and bachelor’s degree in Primary Education) and six different geographic territories in the Iberian Peninsula. Respondents showed a limited understanding of rivers, much simpler than the ecosystem concept, which was related to proposals of unsustainable management of these ecosystems. Although the results were analogous among territories, undergraduate students had a more complex concept of rivers as well as more sustainable ideas regarding their management compared with Primary and Secondary Education students. This study demonstrates the lack of knowledge transfer between science and students regarding river ecosystems. Current educational programs should be adapted to address, even at early stages of education, the sustainability challenges around river ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Ecological Systems Sustainability)
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38 pages, 7496 KiB  
Article
A Twitter-Lived Red Tide Crisis on Chiloé Island, Chile: What Can Be Obtained for Social-Ecological Research through Social Media Analysis?
by Aldo Mascareño, Pablo A. Henríquez, Marco Billi and Gonzalo A. Ruz
Sustainability 2020, 12(20), 8506; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12208506 - 15 Oct 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3562
Abstract
Considering traditional research on social-ecological crises, new social media analysis, particularly Twitter data, contributes with supplementary exploration techniques. In this article, we argue that a social media approach to social-ecological crises can offer an actor-centered meaningful perspective on social facts, a depiction of [...] Read more.
Considering traditional research on social-ecological crises, new social media analysis, particularly Twitter data, contributes with supplementary exploration techniques. In this article, we argue that a social media approach to social-ecological crises can offer an actor-centered meaningful perspective on social facts, a depiction of the general dynamics of meaning making that takes place among actors, and a systemic view of actors’ communication before, during and after the crisis. On the basis of a multi-technique approach to Twitter data (TF-IDF, hierarchical clustering, egocentric networks and principal component analysis) applied to a red tide crisis on Chiloé Island, Chile, in 2016, the most significant red tide in South America ever, we offer a view on the boundaries and dynamics of meaning making in a social-ecological crisis. We conclude that this dynamics shows a permanent reflexive work on elucidating the causes and effects of the crisis that develops according to actors’ commitments, the sequence of events, and political conveniences. In this vein, social media analysis does not replace good qualitative research, it rather opens up supplementary possibilities for capturing meanings from the past that cannot be retrieved otherwise. This is particularly relevant for studying social-ecological crises and supporting collective learning processes that point towards increased resilience capacities and more sustainable trajectories in affected communities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Ecological Systems Sustainability)
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17 pages, 308 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Education for Sustainable Development on Romanian Economics and Business Students’ Behavior
by Liana Badea, George Laurențiu Șerban-Oprescu, Silvia Dedu and Grigore Ioan Piroșcă
Sustainability 2020, 12(19), 8169; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12198169 - 03 Oct 2020
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 4222
Abstract
Education for sustainable development (ESD) has presented long-lasting interest for researchers and policy makers. Despite a significant body of research, more in depth empirical studies are required for a better understanding of how sustainable development goals are applied in higher education and how [...] Read more.
Education for sustainable development (ESD) has presented long-lasting interest for researchers and policy makers. Despite a significant body of research, more in depth empirical studies are required for a better understanding of how sustainable development goals are applied in higher education and how sustainable behavior could be shaped via ESD. The need for this kind of research arises from, first, the scarceness of existing studies that explore economic and business higher education, and, second, the necessity to properly assess the connection between ESD principles and students’ behavior. Following this rationale, the present paper aims to provide an overview of how students’ sustainable behaviors are shaped via their perception of sustainable campus initiatives, teaching staff involvement and curricula. Statistical and econometric analysis applied on data collected via a survey on students from Bucharest University of Economic Studies (N = 1253) provides findings on the extent to which the awareness of sustainable development-specific issues acquired through education leads to sustainable behavior among students. According to the results, we argue that an increasing share of sustainable development topics combined with teaching staff involvement to raise awareness of sustainability issues are crucial to students’ sustainable behavior. However, on-campus actions are unlikely to change behavior unless they are optional rather than compulsory. Our findings ratify that, since education is one of the main drivers of sustainable development, there is an urgent need for coherence in shaping higher education according to sustainability issues. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Ecological Systems Sustainability)
19 pages, 1428 KiB  
Article
Towards a Visual Typology of Sustainability and Sustainable Development
by Jonathan R. Barton and Felipe Gutiérrez-Antinopai
Sustainability 2020, 12(19), 7935; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12197935 - 25 Sep 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3894
Abstract
Representations of sustainability and sustainable development, as images, figures, and models have received relatively little attention in the literature, compared with textual definitions. However, there has been a concerted effort by authors to communicate complexity to specialized and wider audiences over the past [...] Read more.
Representations of sustainability and sustainable development, as images, figures, and models have received relatively little attention in the literature, compared with textual definitions. However, there has been a concerted effort by authors to communicate complexity to specialized and wider audiences over the past fifty years. The purpose of this article is to present a taxonomy of visual representations of sustainability and sustainable development that reveal the conceptual diversity and complexity of these metanarratives of the dynamics of socio-ecological systems (SES). Using an exploratory and interpretive methodology, the principal objective is to describe and interpret the core traits of 18 different representations, which reflect the hybrid nature of sustainability and sustainable development depictions, but also allow them to be categorized into six main types. This exercise is based on the review of images used in the secondary literature on sustainability and sustainable development, and also websites that have compiled sets of images. The shared roots or common traits of the six main types are to be found in the principles of complexity, nonlinearity, holism, projection, and praxis. These roots reflect not only the dynamics of SES, but also how these system representations change according to their purposes and etiologies which are, in turn, defined by the academic, public, and private actors who design them. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Ecological Systems Sustainability)
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15 pages, 286 KiB  
Article
Geoethics for Nudging Human Practices in Times of Pandemics
by Eduardo Marone and Martin Bohle
Sustainability 2020, 12(18), 7271; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187271 - 04 Sep 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3721
Abstract
Geoscientists developed geoethics, an intra-disciplinary field of applied philosophical studies, during the last decade. Reaching beyond the sphere of professional geosciences, it led to professional, cultural, and philosophical approaches to handle the social-ecological structures of our planet ‘wherever human activities interact with the [...] Read more.
Geoscientists developed geoethics, an intra-disciplinary field of applied philosophical studies, during the last decade. Reaching beyond the sphere of professional geosciences, it led to professional, cultural, and philosophical approaches to handle the social-ecological structures of our planet ‘wherever human activities interact with the Earth system’. Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 and considering geoscientists’ experiences dealing with disasters (related to hazards like tsunamis, floods, climate changes), this essay (1) explores the geoethical approach, (2) re-casts geoethics within western philosophical systems, such as the Kantian imperatives, Kohlberg scale of moral adequacy, Jonas’ imperative of responsibility, and (3) advances a ‘geoethical thesis’. The latter takes the form of a hypothesis of a much broader scope of geoethics than initially envisioned. That hypothesis appears by suspecting a relationship between the relative successes in the COVID-19 battle with the positioning of agents (individual, collective, institutional) into ethical frameworks. The turmoil caused by the COVID-19 pandemic calls for the transfer of experiences between different disciplinary domains to further sustainable governance, hence generalizing the geoethical approach. It is emphasized that only when behaving as responsible and knowledgeable citizens then people of any trade (including [geo-]scientists) can transgress the boundaries of ordinary governance practices with legitimacy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Ecological Systems Sustainability)
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22 pages, 2606 KiB  
Article
Variability of Water Balance under Climate Change Scenarios. Implications for Sustainability in the Rhône River Basin
by Pedro Pérez-Cutillas, Pedro Baños Páez and Isabel Banos-González
Sustainability 2020, 12(16), 6402; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12166402 - 09 Aug 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3056
Abstract
The Rhône basin is considered a complex river socio-ecological system, which houses numerous socioeconomic activities closely linked to its river courses, as well as competition between the different users of these water resources. Likewise, its increasing vulnerability to climate change highlights the need [...] Read more.
The Rhône basin is considered a complex river socio-ecological system, which houses numerous socioeconomic activities closely linked to its river courses, as well as competition between the different users of these water resources. Likewise, its increasing vulnerability to climate change highlights the need to assess the potential effects of a set of climate scenarios to assist the management of these resources. With this aim, we have analysed the effects of five scenarios on different environmental zones of the basin characterised by altitudinal features, using the “Water Yield” hydrological module of the InVEST model. The model outputs show that the Rhône basin will have significant discharge water variations and changes in the seasonality of the hydrological regime, being able to trigger serious economic and environmental effects under the simulated scenarios. Regarding these altitudinal environmental zones, results show important differences in the final water balance, resulting in the mountain and subalpine zones being the most affected by these scenarios. The uncertainty in the availability of water resources and the need for its sustainable management will require the establishment of important adaptations to the new challenges imposed by these scenarios, particularly in alpine zones, due to its sensitivity and fragility to climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Ecological Systems Sustainability)
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17 pages, 1297 KiB  
Article
Unveiling Cacao Agroforestry Sustainability through the Socio-Ecological Systems Diagnostic Framework: The Case of Four Amazonian Rural Communities in Ecuador
by Jilmar Castañeda-Ccori, Anne-Gaël Bilhaut, Armelle Mazé and Juan Fernández-Manjarrés
Sustainability 2020, 12(15), 5934; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12155934 - 23 Jul 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4527
Abstract
Cacao cultivation is rapidly increasing in Latin America under the influence of public policies and external markets. In Ecuador, the cultivated surface of high quality cacao trees has doubled in the last 50 years, creating great expectations in neighboring countries. Here, we investigated [...] Read more.
Cacao cultivation is rapidly increasing in Latin America under the influence of public policies and external markets. In Ecuador, the cultivated surface of high quality cacao trees has doubled in the last 50 years, creating great expectations in neighboring countries. Here, we investigated the social-ecological sustainability of cacao-based agroforestry systems in four rural Amazonian highlands communities in eastern Ecuador, close to the region where cacao was once domesticated. Kichwa- and Shuar-speaking groups were interviewed by adapting Ostrom’s institutional diagnostic framework for social-ecological systems. Through a set of specifically created indicator variables, we identified key interactions and outcomes to understand the fragility and the sustainability of those communities. The studied communities were fairly young, with land rights secured less than 30 years ago in most cases. Per-family surfaces were very restricted (typically one hectare) and plots were divided between cash producing crops and their own home food. The small production per household goes through a precarious commercialization by both intermediaries and cooperatives, making the cacao bean production merely sufficient for pocket money. Ties with specialist producers in one community close to the capital has promoted the use of native cacao lines. Elsewhere, improved varieties of high productivity are planted along native trees being commercialized indistinctly. The continuity of these communities currently depend on a reorganization of their demography with parts of the population working elsewhere, as cacao bean production alone will continue to be insufficient, and will compete with their food self-sufficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Ecological Systems Sustainability)
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13 pages, 2579 KiB  
Article
Are Non-Perennial Rivers Considered as Valuable and Worthy of Conservation as Perennial Rivers?
by Pablo Rodríguez-Lozano, Cleo Woelfle-Erskine, Michael T. Bogan and Stephanie M. Carlson
Sustainability 2020, 12(14), 5782; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12145782 - 17 Jul 2020
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5501
Abstract
Non-perennial rivers, watercourses that cease to flow at some point in time and space, are widespread globally but often lack effective protections. Although it is thought that these ecosystems are undervalued by society, empirical studies exploring people’s perceptions of non-perennial rivers are uncommon. [...] Read more.
Non-perennial rivers, watercourses that cease to flow at some point in time and space, are widespread globally but often lack effective protections. Although it is thought that these ecosystems are undervalued by society, empirical studies exploring people’s perceptions of non-perennial rivers are uncommon. We carried out an image-based survey at three U.S. universities to measure students’ perception of riverscapes according to seven characteristics: aesthetics, naturalness, habitat for biodiversity, habitat for fish, need of human intervention, importance for human well-being, and conservation value. Our results showed that non-perennial rivers are generally considered less valuable and worthy of conservation than their perennial counterparts. Furthermore, several factors influenced peoples’ perception of non-perennial rivers, including where they live, their educational history, how often they visit rivers, their leisure activities, and whether they live close to a river. Our findings suggested the need to improve people’s perceptions of non-perennial rivers as a step toward increased protection for these ecosystems. This current challenge demands combined actions by researchers from diverse disciplines and professionals working from different perspectives, including policymakers and educators. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Ecological Systems Sustainability)
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19 pages, 611 KiB  
Article
A Serious Board Game to Analyze Socio-Ecological Dynamics towards Collaboration in Agriculture
by María Elena Orduña Alegría, Niels Schütze and Samuel C. Zipper
Sustainability 2020, 12(13), 5301; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12135301 - 30 Jun 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4383
Abstract
Climate change exacerbates water scarcity and associated conflicts over water resources. To address said conflicts and achieve sustainable use of water resources in agriculture, further development of socio-ecological adaptations are required. In this study, we evaluate the ability of MAHIZ, a serious board [...] Read more.
Climate change exacerbates water scarcity and associated conflicts over water resources. To address said conflicts and achieve sustainable use of water resources in agriculture, further development of socio-ecological adaptations are required. In this study, we evaluate the ability of MAHIZ, a serious board game, to analyze socio-hydrological dynamics related to irrigated agriculture. Gameplay involves the player’s decision-making with associated impacts on water resources and crop productivity in diverse climate and policy scenarios. We evaluated MAHIZ as (1) an innovative science communication and sustainability education approach, and (2) a data collection method to inform socio-hydrological theory and models. Analysis of 35 recorded game sessions demonstrated that MAHIZ is an effective education tool about the tragedy of commons in agrohydrology and was able to identify important decision-making processes and associations between critical social parameters (e.g., communication, trust, competence) and the evolution of collective action. MAHIZ has an open game design, so the approach can be adapted for both scientific insight and outreach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Ecological Systems Sustainability)
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20 pages, 3842 KiB  
Article
Socio-Ecological Controversies in the News as Trigger of a Model-Based Inquiry Instructional Sequence about the Effect of Global Warming on the Great Barrier Reef
by M. Rut Jiménez-Liso, Manuela González-Herrera and Isabel Banos-González
Sustainability 2020, 12(11), 4676; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12114676 - 08 Jun 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3894
Abstract
The use of socio-ecological controversies, such as global warming, in classrooms has been suggested to increase students’ awareness about complex issues, although detailed analysis of their implementation in classrooms are still scarce. This research shows a model-based inquiry approach (MBI) instructional sequence, using [...] Read more.
The use of socio-ecological controversies, such as global warming, in classrooms has been suggested to increase students’ awareness about complex issues, although detailed analysis of their implementation in classrooms are still scarce. This research shows a model-based inquiry approach (MBI) instructional sequence, using scientific news as a trigger, aimed at addressing a global problem on a real socio-ecological system: the effect of global warming on the Great Barrier Reef. Its implementation in a lower secondary school classroom allowed the assessment of the effectiveness of the instructional sequence designed, based on students’ perception of what secondary school students have learned and felt. Results show that the MBI instructional sequence seems to have favored the mobilization of students’ alternative conceptions about global warming, coral reefs, and symbiotic relationships. In addition, it contributed to increasing the students’ awareness of the problem of global warming and its effects on an essential socio-ecological system, such as coral reefs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Ecological Systems Sustainability)
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18 pages, 337 KiB  
Article
Incomegetting and Environmental Degradation
by Ossi I. Ollinaho and V. P. J. Arponen
Sustainability 2020, 12(10), 4007; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12104007 - 14 May 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3649
Abstract
Drawing on Alfred Schütz’s thought, as well as on a number of modern pragmatists and practice theorists, we theorize incomegetting—referring to practices of getting income, typically salaried work—as the paramount structurer of everyday life and, therefore, also the chief mediator of the [...] Read more.
Drawing on Alfred Schütz’s thought, as well as on a number of modern pragmatists and practice theorists, we theorize incomegetting—referring to practices of getting income, typically salaried work—as the paramount structurer of everyday life and, therefore, also the chief mediator of the human–nature metabolism. Even though the pragmatics of everyday life as an aggregate underlie the bulk of environmental impacts, these insidious impacts impose little immediate influence on everyday life, in particular in the urban Global North. In other words, the pragmatic dimension of everyday activities—principally, work—that takes place within a vastly complex and globally interlinked productive world system, has most often no immediate connection to the “natural” environment. While parts of the populations are directly dependent in terms of livelihoods on the “natural” environment, these populations are typically pushed to the margins of the global productive system. The understanding formulated in this essay suggests that in environmental social sciences there is a reason to shift the epicenter of the analysis from consumption to everyday life, to the varied practices of incomegetting. Against the backdrop of this paper, universal basic income schemes ought to have radical impacts on the way we relate also to the “natural” environment and such schemes necessitate understanding the essence of money in our contemporary realities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Ecological Systems Sustainability)
14 pages, 2964 KiB  
Article
Spatiotemporal Evaluation of Socio-Ecological-Economic System Vulnerability: A County-Level Analysis of Chongqing, China
by Chunxia Liu, Qingqing He and Yuechen Li
Sustainability 2020, 12(9), 3912; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093912 - 11 May 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2106
Abstract
The research on vulnerability can provide insights into social, economic, and ecological risks. Therefore, the objective of this work was to measure the degree of socio-ecological-economic system (SEES) vulnerability in Chongqing, one of the regions with the high constraint of natural conditions and [...] Read more.
The research on vulnerability can provide insights into social, economic, and ecological risks. Therefore, the objective of this work was to measure the degree of socio-ecological-economic system (SEES) vulnerability in Chongqing, one of the regions with the high constraint of natural conditions and human activity in the southwest of China. For this, by using three criteria and 40 indices based on the exposure-sensitive-adaptive capacity (ESC) model, an index system was designed. The entropy method was used to determine the weight of the indices. Furthermore, the composite index model and coefficient of variation were applied to evaluate the spatiotemporal characteristics of SEES vulnerability in the study area at the county level. The results showed that the average vulnerability index of SEES from 2005 to 2010 in Chongqing was 0.5735. The development pressure was high, and the ability to resist disturbance from external risks was low. Regional sustainable development was facing challenges. Spatial distribution of SEES vulnerability of Chongqing varied from high (moderately vulnerable or worse) in the western counties to low (mildly vulnerable) in the northeastern and southeastern areas with better ecological bases. The general vulnerability of the ecological and economic subsystems continues to decrease. However, the vulnerability of the social subsystem tended to initially decrease and then increase. Overall, the differences in the pattern of SEES vulnerability of the counties declined. Moreover, economic and social development tended to balance. This study is helpful to understand the overall trend and characteristics of vulnerability change and provides theoretical methods and reference opinions to support regional sustainable development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Ecological Systems Sustainability)
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20 pages, 2278 KiB  
Article
Applying a Social–Ecological Systems Approach to Understanding Local Marine Management Trajectories in Northern Mozambique
by Kennedy Osuka, Sérgio Rosendo, Michael Riddell, Jeremy Huet, Mario Daide, Ercilio Chauque and Melita Samoilys
Sustainability 2020, 12(9), 3904; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093904 - 11 May 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3608
Abstract
This study applied the social–ecological systems framework (SESF) to six fishing communities in northern Mozambique where marine resource management is being implemented through the Our Sea Our Life project. Data on 11 variables and 27 indicators were organised using the SESF to represent [...] Read more.
This study applied the social–ecological systems framework (SESF) to six fishing communities in northern Mozambique where marine resource management is being implemented through the Our Sea Our Life project. Data on 11 variables and 27 indicators were organised using the SESF to represent the key system dimensions (Governance system, Actors, Resource units and Resource system). Variables within each dimension were weighed to a cumulative score of one. High scores (> 0.50) for Governance system occurred where communities had fisheries management rules and good knowledge of fishing gear regulations. High scores for Actors were evident in communities with few migrant fishers and high participation in village savings and loans associations. Elevated scores of the Resource units occurred where fishers targeted a variety of fish taxa. A healthy Resource system was found in communities neighbouring highly productive and resilient reefs, characterised by high fish biomass and diversity. The status of social and ecological conditions coupled with initial levels of project support and quality of technical support were linked with project achievements. Application of the SESF is therefore valuable in understanding interdependent linkages between social and environmental conditions to inform the design of localised management interventions for social–ecological sustainability. Full article
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26 pages, 3927 KiB  
Article
The Dynamic Evolution of the Ecological Footprint and Ecological Capacity of Qinghai Province
by Jing Guo, Jun Ren, Xiaotao Huang, Guifang He, Yan Shi and Huakun Zhou
Sustainability 2020, 12(7), 3065; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12073065 - 10 Apr 2020
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 3226
Abstract
Based on the ecological footprint (EF) model, the dynamic changes in the per capita EF and per capita ecological carrying capacity (EC) in Qinghai Province from 2007 to 2017 were quantitatively analysed. The grey GM(1,1) prediction model was used to predict the per [...] Read more.
Based on the ecological footprint (EF) model, the dynamic changes in the per capita EF and per capita ecological carrying capacity (EC) in Qinghai Province from 2007 to 2017 were quantitatively analysed. The grey GM(1,1) prediction model was used to predict the per capita EF, per capita EC, and EF of ten thousand yuan of GDP. Additionally, the spatial change characteristics of the sustainable development status of the study area in four time periods were analysed using GIS technology. The results showed the following. (1) In the 11-year study period, Qinghai Province’s EF per capita grew gradually, increasing from 2.3027 hm2 in 2007 to 2.9837 hm2 in 2017. (2) The EC per capita in Qinghai Province remained a slight linear upward trend. (3) The environmental sustainability in Qinghai Province deteriorated over time. (4) According to the spatial characteristics, the overall sustainable development state changed markedly in the eastern region but was stable in the central and western regions. This paper proposes some countermeasures and suggestions to help Qinghai Province work towards sustainable development, such as controlling the population, adjusting the industrial structure, developing a low-carbon circular economy, and implementing ecological engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Ecological Systems Sustainability)
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16 pages, 1442 KiB  
Article
Risks Without Borders: A Cultural Consensus Model of Risks to Sustainability in Rapidly Changing Social–Ecological Systems
by Berill Blair and Amy L. Lovecraft
Sustainability 2020, 12(6), 2446; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12062446 - 20 Mar 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4018
Abstract
Global sustainability goals cannot realistically be achieved without strategies that build on multiscale definitions of risks to wellbeing. Particularly in geographic contexts experiencing rapid and complex social and environmental changes, there is a growing need to empower communities to realize self-identified adaptation goals [...] Read more.
Global sustainability goals cannot realistically be achieved without strategies that build on multiscale definitions of risks to wellbeing. Particularly in geographic contexts experiencing rapid and complex social and environmental changes, there is a growing need to empower communities to realize self-identified adaptation goals that address self-identified risks. Meeting this demand requires tools that can help assess shared understandings about the needs for, and barriers to, positive change. This study explores consensus about risks and uncertainties in adjacent boroughs grappling with rapid social–ecological transformations in northern Alaska. The Northwest Arctic and North Slope boroughs, like the rest of the Arctic, are coping with a climate that is warming twice as fast as in other regions. The boroughs are predominantly inhabited by Iñupiat people, for whom the region is ancestral grounds, whose livelihoods are still supported by subsistence activities, and whose traditional tribal governance has been weakened through multiple levels of governing bodies and institutions. Drawing on extensive workshop discussions and survey experiments conducted with residents of the two boroughs, we developed a model of the northern Alaska region’s social–ecological system and its drivers of change. Using cultural consensus analysis, we gauged the extent of consensus across the boroughs about what key risks threaten the sustainability of their communities. Though both boroughs occupy vast swaths of land, each with their own resource, leadership, and management challenges, we found strong consensus around how risks that impact the sustainability of communities are evaluated and prioritized. Our results further confirmed that rapid and complex changes are creating high levels of uncertainties for community planners in both boroughs. We discuss the mobilizing potential of risk consensus toward collective adaptation action in the civic process of policy making. We note the contribution of cultural consensus analysis as a tool for cross-scale learning in areas coping with rapid environmental changes and complex social challenges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Ecological Systems Sustainability)
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Review

Jump to: Research, Other

29 pages, 2479 KiB  
Review
Collaborations in Environmental Initiatives for an Effective “Adaptive Governance” of Social–Ecological Systems: What Existing Literature Suggests
by Elena Andriollo, Alberto Caimo, Laura Secco and Elena Pisani
Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8276; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158276 - 24 Jul 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3326
Abstract
Moving from the scientific literature on the evaluation of environmental projects and programs, this study identifies how and under which conditions collaborations in environmentally sustainable projects are considered effective for the adaptive governance of SES. The method adopted is a systematic literature review [...] Read more.
Moving from the scientific literature on the evaluation of environmental projects and programs, this study identifies how and under which conditions collaborations in environmentally sustainable projects are considered effective for the adaptive governance of SES. The method adopted is a systematic literature review based on the quantitative and qualitative analysis of 56 articles selected through specific queries on the SCOPUS database and published from 2004 to 2020. Results of the quantitative analysis identify conditions able to evaluate collaborations, highlighting the need to adopt a transdisciplinary approach analysing both social and ecological challenges and assessing both social and ecological results. Moreover, they suggest preferring using primary data involving multi-sector and multi-scale actors and enlarging the geographical context to the most vulnerable countries. The results of the qualitative analysis provide specific recommendations for collaborations being effective when related to communication, equity, foresight, and respect, which need to be further strengthened by all actors. Multiplicity in visions and approaches should be seen as a resource able to stimulate creativity in social arrangements and environmental practices, making collaborations in environmental projects instrumental for the effectiveness of adaptive governance of SES. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Ecological Systems Sustainability)
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20 pages, 1279 KiB  
Review
Human–River Encounter Sites: Looking for Harmony between Humans and Nature in Cities
by Aude Zingraff-Hamed, Mathieu Bonnefond, Sebastien Bonthoux, Nicolas Legay, Sabine Greulich, Amélie Robert, Vincent Rotgé, José Serrano, Yixin Cao, Raita Bala, Alvin Vazha, Rebecca E. Tharme and Karl M. Wantzen
Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2864; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052864 - 06 Mar 2021
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 5983
Abstract
Human welfare depends on the health of nature. Decades of ill-conceived management practices caused a decline in the quality of human life, as well as in biological and cultural diversity. Simultaneously, they increased social and ecological risks. For instance, mismanagement of urban rivers [...] Read more.
Human welfare depends on the health of nature. Decades of ill-conceived management practices caused a decline in the quality of human life, as well as in biological and cultural diversity. Simultaneously, they increased social and ecological risks. For instance, mismanagement of urban rivers jeopardizes their ecological health and ability to provide ecosystem services. While demands for responsible urban riverscape design that fulfill both human and ecosystem needs are increasing, explicit recommendations to achieve these ambitious goals are still lacking. We present a first attempt of a conceptualization of Human–River Encounter Sites for urban rivers that targets reconciliation between humans and nature within urban river corridors. It builds upon the River Culture Concept with literature reviews and experiences from river restoration projects. We identify six tenets that are important to develop guidelines for Human–River Encounter Sites: health, safety, functionality, accessibility, collaboration, and awareness. This paper presents how these tenets can collectively help to harmonize the needs of citizens and biota, and to mitigate the current urban river crisis. This contribution feeds the debate on sustainable socio-ecological management of urban rivers and provides guidelines for the implementation of future urban river restorations and management efforts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Ecological Systems Sustainability)
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20 pages, 1646 KiB  
Review
Application of the Socio-Ecological System Framework to Forest Fire Risk Management: A Systematic Literature Review
by Ingrid Vigna, Angelo Besana, Elena Comino and Alessandro Pezzoli
Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 2121; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13042121 - 17 Feb 2021
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 5033
Abstract
Although increasing concern about climate change has raised awareness of the fundamental role of forest ecosystems, forests are threatened by human-induced impacts worldwide. Among them, wildfire risk is clearly the result of the interaction between human activities, ecological domains, and climate. However, a [...] Read more.
Although increasing concern about climate change has raised awareness of the fundamental role of forest ecosystems, forests are threatened by human-induced impacts worldwide. Among them, wildfire risk is clearly the result of the interaction between human activities, ecological domains, and climate. However, a clear understanding of these interactions is still needed both at the global and local levels. Numerous studies have proven the validity of the socioecological system (SES) approach in addressing this kind of interdisciplinary issue. Therefore, a systematic review of the existing literature on the application of SES frameworks to forest ecosystems is carried out, with a specific focus on wildfire risk management. The results demonstrate the existence of different methodological approaches that can be grouped into seven main categories, which range from qualitative analysis to quantitative spatially explicit investigations. The strengths and limitations of the approaches are discussed, with a specific reference to the geographical setting of the works. The research suggests the importance of local community involvement and local knowledge consideration in wildfire risk management. This review provides a starting point for future research on forest SES and a supporting tool for the development of a sustainable wildfire risk adaptation and mitigation strategy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Ecological Systems Sustainability)
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26 pages, 992 KiB  
Review
Sustainability Problematization and Modeling Opportunities
by Eniko Kovacs, Maria-Alexandra Hoaghia, Lacrimioara Senila, Daniela Alexandra Scurtu, Diana Elena Dumitras and Cecilia Roman
Sustainability 2020, 12(23), 10046; https://doi.org/10.3390/su122310046 - 01 Dec 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2631
Abstract
A sound theoretical ground is required for sustainability related concepts reconciliation and operationalization. The current study investigates the opportunities to conceive a homogenous sustainability model derived from theoretical ecology, using as a prototype the “organization” concept from the Chemical Organizations Theory (COT). A [...] Read more.
A sound theoretical ground is required for sustainability related concepts reconciliation and operationalization. The current study investigates the opportunities to conceive a homogenous sustainability model derived from theoretical ecology, using as a prototype the “organization” concept from the Chemical Organizations Theory (COT). A sustainability problematization and a literature examination try to capture and link some useful perspectives and sustainability connected concepts. Some of the most influential methods and tools are reviewed, in particular among those relating to the triple bottom line framework and to the ecological footprint family, together with concepts close to the core sustainability definition, like resilience and circularity. Theoretical ecology provides candidate goal functions based on self-organization gradients, such as fitness functions and thermodynamic orientors. The COT formalism provides a higher abstraction level and the algorithms for patterns identification in a reactions network. The sustainability problematization reveals the motifs of a possible model of “total ecosystem”, which subordinates the anthropic cultural (social–economic) system to the thermodynamic, chemical, biological, and cultural determinisms regulating biological and cultural species of an ecological network. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Ecological Systems Sustainability)
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17 pages, 415 KiB  
Review
Environmental Scenario Analysis on Natural and Social-Ecological Systems: A Review of Methods, Approaches and Applications
by Noelia Guaita García, Julia Martínez Fernández and Carl Fitz
Sustainability 2020, 12(18), 7542; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187542 - 13 Sep 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3249
Abstract
Scenario analysis is a useful tool to facilitate discussions about the main trends of future change and to promote the understanding of global environmental changes implications on relevant aspects of sustainability. In this paper, we reviewed 294 articles published between 1995–2019, to evaluate [...] Read more.
Scenario analysis is a useful tool to facilitate discussions about the main trends of future change and to promote the understanding of global environmental changes implications on relevant aspects of sustainability. In this paper, we reviewed 294 articles published between 1995–2019, to evaluate the state of the art use of models and scenarios to investigate the effects of land use change and climate change on natural and social-ecological systems. Our review focuses on three issues. The first explores the extent to which the environmental dynamics of land use and climate change were jointly analyzed and the spatial scales associated with such integrated studies. The second explores the modelling methodologies and approaches used in the scenario analysis. The third explores the methods for developing or building scenarios. Results show that in most predictions there is little integration of key drivers of change. We find most forecasting studies use a sectoral modelling approach through dynamic spatially distributed models. Most articles do not apply a participatory approach in the development of scenarios. Based on this review, we conclude that there are some gaps in how scenario analysis on natural and social-ecological systems are conducted. These gaps pose a challenge for the use of models and scenarios as predictive tools in decision-making processes in the context of global change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Ecological Systems Sustainability)
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19 pages, 1846 KiB  
Review
Transformability as a Wicked Problem: A Cautionary Tale?
by Samia Sediri, Michel Trommetter, Nathalie Frascaria-Lacoste and Juan Fernandez-Manjarrés
Sustainability 2020, 12(15), 5895; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12155895 - 22 Jul 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 6591
Abstract
Transformability is increasingly promoted as a way of moving societies toward more sustainable futures in the era of the Anthropocene, mostly because the concept of resilience has fallen short in many instances where impacts on social-ecological systems are continuous, varied, and usually unknown. [...] Read more.
Transformability is increasingly promoted as a way of moving societies toward more sustainable futures in the era of the Anthropocene, mostly because the concept of resilience has fallen short in many instances where impacts on social-ecological systems are continuous, varied, and usually unknown. While such transformations can play a crucial role in improving the sustainability of social-ecological systems, they may lead to unexpected and undesirable outcomes. This literature review on social-ecological transformability and wicked problems seeks to shed light on and acknowledge some of the limitations of transformability regarding unforeseen conditions. We argue that wicked problems arise in transformation initiatives in the presence of high complexity, deep uncertainty, deep conflicts, and divergence among stakeholders, as well as scale mismatches concerning spatial, temporal, and institutional processes. Our findings may explain why some transformation initiatives fail to generate expected changes on the ground, mainly in two cases: (a) a polarized configuration that maintains the status quo of the system to be transformed and (b) an unforeseen transformation that causes the system to lurch from crisis to crisis. To conclude, we recommend using diagnostic questions to prevent wicked problems in social-ecological transformations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Ecological Systems Sustainability)
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Other

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17 pages, 850 KiB  
Perspective
Sustainability Assessment of Pasture-Based Dairy Sheep Systems: A Multidisciplinary and Multiscale Approach
by Luis Javier R. Barron, Aitor Andonegi, Gonzalo Gamboa, Eneko Garmendia, Oihana García, Noelia Aldai and Arantza Aldezabal
Sustainability 2021, 13(7), 3994; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13073994 - 02 Apr 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2923
Abstract
This article describes a novel methodological approach for the integrated sustainability assessment of pasture-based dairy sheep systems. Most studies on livestock system sustainability focus on animal production, farm profitability, and mitigation strategies of greenhouse gas emissions. However, recent research indicates that pasture-based livestock [...] Read more.
This article describes a novel methodological approach for the integrated sustainability assessment of pasture-based dairy sheep systems. Most studies on livestock system sustainability focus on animal production, farm profitability, and mitigation strategies of greenhouse gas emissions. However, recent research indicates that pasture-based livestock farming also contributes positively to rural areas, and the associated increase in plant diversity promotes ecosystem functioning and services in natural and managed grasslands. Likewise, little attention has focused on how pasture-based livestock systems affect soil carbon changes, biodiversity, and ecotoxicity. Furthermore, the quality and safety of food products, particularly sheep milk and cheese, and socioeconomic issues such as cultural heritage and consumer behavior are often neglected in livestock system sustainability assessments. To improve the analysis of sustainability and adaptation strategies of livestock systems, we suggest a holistic approach that integrates indicators from diverse disciplines with complementary methods and models capable of capturing the complexity of these systems at multiple scales. A multidisciplinary perspective generates new indicators to identify critical trade-offs and synergies related to the resilience of dairy sheep livestock systems. A multiscale approach provides insights on the effects of socioeconomic and environmental changes associated with current dairy sheep grazing systems across multiple scales. The combined approach will facilitate the development and progressive implementation of novel management strategies needed to adapt pasture-based dairy sheep farms to changing conditions under future socioeconomic and environmental scenarios. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Ecological Systems Sustainability)
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