A model integrating social-cultural concepts of nature into frameworks of interaction between social and natural systems

Abstract

Existing frameworks for analysing interactions between social and natural systems (e.g. Social-Ecological Systems framework, Ecosystem Services concept) do not sufficiently consider and operationalize the dynamic interactions between people's values, attitudes and understandings of the human-nature relationship at both individual and collective levels. We highlight the relevance of individual and collective understandings of the human-nature relationship as influencing factors for environmental behaviour, which may be reflected in natural resource management conflicts, and review the diversity of existing social-cultural concepts, frameworks and associated research methods. Particular emphasis is given to the contextsensitivity of social-cultural concepts in decision-making. These aspects are translated into a conceptual model aiming not to replace but to expand and enhance existing frameworks. Integrating this model into existing frameworks provides a tool for the exploration of how social-cultural concepts of nature interact with existing contexts to influence governance of social-ecological systems.

Incorporating multilevel values into the social-ecological systems framework

“…A second assertion we make is that greater focus on individuals relative to collectives will provide an opportunity for measuring processes that operate at multiple scales (e.g., individual personalities, cultural cognition) and shape human behavior (Newell et al 2014, Manfredo et al 2014, Jones et al 2016, Raymond and Kenter 2016. Research focused on the psychology of behavior change is underrepresented in the SESF literature, despite its contributions to knowledge of the drivers of decisions that influence how human and nonhuman activities create new dynamics and form complex, adaptive networks over time (Berkes et al 2003, Liu et al 2007, Collins et al 2011, Muhar et al 2018. Finally, the bidirectional relationships between both individual and group values on the one hand and collective action on the other hand must be considered in future SESF research because single and double-loop feedbacks facilitate social learning in collectives that stimulate value shifts over time.…”

Combining Bio-Cultural and Asset Based Approach Towards Sustainable Utilization of Catchment Resources

“…However, most of the existing frameworks such as Social-Ecological Systems framework and Ecosystem Services concept did not consider how an individual and collective behavior interact with each other to influence the interactions and dynamics in human-nature systems. [34,12] recommended more work is required to explore the role of behavior at both individual and collective levels in understanding the socio-nature system.…”

“…For example, ABCD was a strategy for sustainable community-driven development [26]. The appeal of ABCD lies in the premise that communities can sustainably manage themselves by identifying and mobilizing existing, but often unrecognized assets (including norms, values, understanding, institutions, skills and customs), and thereby respond to and create local opportunity for themselves instead of depending on resources from outsiders [34]. ABCD also provides an opportunity for the inclusion of local stakeholders in the management process while building strong, resilient and sustainable communities, and at the same time, ensuring that communities are fair, equitable and strong in the face of so much global change such as freshwater scarcity [26].…”

“…ABCD also provides an opportunity for the inclusion of local stakeholders in the management process while building strong, resilient and sustainable communities, and at the same time, ensuring that communities are fair, equitable and strong in the face of so much global change such as freshwater scarcity [26]. On the other hand, biocultural diversity helps to understand ways in which man interacts with hydrological systems, which behavior (s) can lead to transformations of hydrological functions, and how man reacts to these changes [15,35,7,34]. Little is known about the integration of these two approaches in understanding the links between hydrology and local systems, particularly in Africa.…”

“…In this context, the concept "nature" will be in terms of aquatic ecosystems, particularly catchments. The interactions between humans and nature can be well understood in the conceptualization of the socio-cultural aspect of human life in relation to nature, that is, the complex relationship between human and their natural environment [34]. The socio-cultural concepts include worldview, norms, beliefs, thoughts, actions, institutions, livelihood and practices, value, and attitude [24,43,44,34].…”