What do We Talk about When We Talk about Social-Ecological Systems? A Literature Review

Abstract

In the last decade, probably in response to global changes and the environmental crisis, the use of the term "social-ecological system" (SES) in scientific literature has grown. This is certainly a sign that the need and importance of transdisciplinary research has been recognized. Here, we explore whether the use of the term is a buzzword or, rather, actually represents a key concept in the integration of social and ecological research. We compiled a database of publications (N = 1289) that mentioned SES in the title, keywords and abstract. Subsequently, we analyzed the authors' affiliations, type of work (conceptual, empirical or review), study site, prevailing human use, temporal and spatial scales of the analysis, kind of variables analyzed (socioeconomic or biophysical), and the method/s used to integrate them. We detected four time spans in the use of the term ). Our results suggest that SES is a widely invoked concept in the study of the interface between social and ecological systems. Most works show some common elements, such as the analysis of resilience, ecosystem services, sustainability, governance and adaptive management. However, the majority of studies do not study SES as a whole, integrating both social and ecological variables and their feedback loops. We consider SES as a concept still in construction in order to build a necessary framework for the integration of social and ecological sciences. For a robust evolution, we recommend that one focus on: (i) A conscious, discussed and agreed effort of scientists to conduct the transdisciplinary research needed to study SES; and (ii) the development of methodological tools for the true integration of social and ecological data.

Evaluating and Planning Green Infrastructure: A Strategic Perspective for Sustainability and Resilience

“…This analysis has its main focus in the identification of the key characteristics which compose a social-ecological system, where "social and ecological systems are deeply interconnected and co-evolving across spatial and temporal scales" [9] (p. 14). Social-ecological systems are particularly relevant nowadays in the understanding of resilience [10] and have inspired advances in sustainability science and practice [11]. In the social-ecological systems approach, where the "delineation between social and natural systems is artificial and arbitrary" [12] (p. 4), it is emphasized that "people, communities, economies, societies, cultures are embedded parts of the biosphere and shape it, from local to global scales" [13] (p. 1).…”

A Framework for the Integration of Nature-Based Solutions into Environmental Risk Management Strategies

“…Several studies have already been conducted on this topic [23,26]; nonetheless, the methodology proposed by Martin-Lopez et al [14] seems to better fit the aims of this study. More specifically, the SES is identified by juxtaposing different layers of ecological (considering climate, topology, lithology, and geomorphology) and socio-economic (considering economic, demographic, and ES use variables) features of the study area, highlighting their overlapping areas [27].…”

A Framework to Tackling the Synchrony between Social and Ecological Phases of the Annual Cyclic Movement of Transhumant Pastoralism

“…The integration of social and ecology sciences is emphatically required to attain sustainable development in arid and semiarid regions [1]. Nevertheless, whereas theoretical proposals in the field of socio-ecological system research have been increasingly developed over the last two decades, methodologies and many operative issues are still major barriers to facilitating a more integrated understanding [2][3][4]. Socio-ecological systems are complex, adaptive and co-evolving, delimited by spatial or functional boundaries surrounding specific ecosystems and their problem context [5].…”