Complex socio-ecological systems/Case studies

April 1st

Case studies on Resilience of Complex SES.

Readings:
Anderies, J.M., Walker, B.H. & Kinzig, A.P., 2006. Fifteen Weddings and a Funeral : Case Studies and Resilience- based Management. Ecology And Society, 11(1).
Anderies et al. conceptualize resilience as a collection of ideas about how to interpret complex systems, or as a way of thinking, a perspective or even paradigm for analyzing social-ecological systems. The authors maintain that the ongoing development of resilience theory requires that it be confronted with case studies to help better understand systems and policy for SESs. They summarize some of the insights from the application of resilience-based concepts to 15 to fifteen of these. They argue that resilience will probably not obviate the need for theories in ecology, economics, and other social sciences but, that it can help integrate particular theories in a way that produces a better understanding of the dynamic that exists of linked SESs operating at multiple scales. Anderies et al. also address management extensively, arguing that resilience thinking offers an improvement over ways of intervening in SESs like maximum sustainable yield.

Scheffer, M., Brock, W. & Westley, F., 2000. Socioeconomic Mechanisms Preventing Optimum Use of Ecosystem Services: An Interdisciplinary Theoretical Analysis. Ecosystems, 3(5), pp.451-471.