Ecosystem Resilience on Human Terms

Area of Science:

• Socio-ecological systems analysis
• Environmental economics
• Ecosystem resilience

Background:

• Linked socioecological systems integrate economies, societies, and nature, emphasizing ecosystem services for human well-being.
• A growth-based economy on a constrained planet increases pressure on ecosystems, highlighting the need for resilience.
• Economic valuation of ecosystem services is challenged by extensive human activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the limitations of economic valuation for ecosystem services.
• To explore how ecosystem resilience manifests under human pressure.
• To assess the effectiveness of risk assessment approaches in socioecological systems.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of socioecological systems and economic valuation.
• Review of ecosystem resilience theory and tipping points.
• Critique of risk assessment methodologies in environmental management.

Main Results:

• Ecosystem resilience can lead to unexpected and negative outcomes, including species extinction.
• Economic valuation methods are insufficient to capture the full impact of human activities on ecosystem services.
• Existing risk assessment frameworks often focus on downstream consequences rather than root causes of environmental change.

Conclusions:

• Ecosystem resilience under severe human pressure may not sustain desired ecosystem services.
• A shift towards addressing upstream causes of environmental change is crucial.
• Rethinking our approach to managing linked socioecological systems is essential for long-term sustainability.