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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 3, 2026

Field Collection and Laboratory Maintenance of Canopy-Forming Giant Kelp to Facilitate Restoration

Field Collection and Laboratory Maintenance of Canopy-Forming Giant Kelp to Facilitate Restoration

Published on: June 7, 2024

Ecosystem management as a wicked problem.

Ruth DeFries¹, Harini Nagendra²

¹Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA. rd2402@columbia.edu.

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|April 22, 2017

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Ecosystem management, facing complex "wicked problems," requires adaptive strategies beyond simple formulas. An incremental approach balances intervention with acknowledging ecosystem complexity for sustainable resource management.

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Environmental Management
Conservation Science

Background:

Ecosystems are vital self-regulating systems providing essential resources.
Increasing resource demands necessitate human intervention, replacing natural regulation.
Traditional single-species management approaches fail to address ecosystem complexity.

Purpose of the Study:

To reframe ecosystem management as a complex "wicked problem."
To explore effective strategies for navigating multifaceted ecosystem challenges.
To avoid pitfalls of oversimplification and inaction in environmental management.

Main Methods:

Recognizing the inherent complexity and unpredictable consequences of ecosystem interventions.
Identifying approaches such as multisector decision-making and adaptive management.
Engaging diverse stakeholders through collaborative processes and market-based solutions.

Main Results:

Ecosystem management is characterized by complexity, lacking simple, clear-cut solutions.
Effective strategies involve cross-boundary institutions and incorporating natural capital.
Collaborative processes are crucial for addressing inequalities and diverse stakeholder needs.

Conclusions:

Ecosystem management is a "wicked problem" requiring nuanced, adaptive strategies.
Avoid the traps of assuming simple solutions or succumbing to complexity-induced inaction.
An incremental approach offers a pragmatic pathway for effective ecosystem management.