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Social Ecological Dynamics of Catchment Resilience
W Neil Adger1, Katrina Brown1, Catherine Butler1
1Geography, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4RJ, UK.
Water
|November 25, 2021
Summary
Understanding catchment resilience, the capacity of social-ecological systems in river basins to adapt to change, is key. This study highlights community resilience as vital for sustainable catchment management.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Social Science
- Ecology
Background:
- Catchment resilience involves social-ecological systems, including water, land, and communities.
- Unsustainable resource use and environmental degradation pose challenges to these systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose analyzing catchments as social-ecological systems for insights into interactions.
- To emphasize community resilience as a core component of catchment resilience.
- To explore methods for generating resilience through community engagement.
Main Methods:
- Review of social-ecological systems research.
- Analysis of methods for assessing community resilience.
- Review of social science and action research on community engagement.
Main Results:
- Social and ecological dynamics interact significantly within catchments.
- Community resilience is a crucial element for overall catchment resilience.
- Community engagement can foster resilience in complex adaptive systems.
Conclusions:
- Analyzing catchments as social-ecological systems offers valuable insights.
- Prioritizing social dynamics and community resilience is essential for sustainable catchment management.
- This approach informs both scientific understanding and practical applications in catchment management.
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