title: A social-ecological systems approach for environmental management.
abstract: Urgent environmental issues are testing the limits of current management approaches and pushing demand for innovative approaches that integrate across traditional disciplinary boundaries. Practitioners, scholars, and policy-makers alike call for increased integration of natural and social sciences to develop new approaches that address the range of ecological and societal impacts of modern environmental issues. From a theoretical perspective, social-ecological systems (SES) science offers a compelling approach for improved environmental management through the application of transdisciplinary and resilience concepts. A framework for translating SES theory into practice, however, is lacking. In this paper, we define the key components of an SES-based environmental management approach. We offer recommendations for integrating an SES approach into existing environmental management practices. Results presented are useful for management professionals that seek to employ an SES environmental management approach and scholars aiming to advance the theoretical foundations of SES science for practical application.
authors.affiliation: Center for Resilient Communities, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA; Tropical Conservation and Development, Center for Latin American Studies, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. Electronic address: avirapongse@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Arika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Virapongse
authors.affiliation: Madison River Group LLC, Ashburn, VA 20148, USA.
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.affiliation: College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59182, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth Covelli
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Metcalf
authors.affiliation: Heritage Program, Payette National Forest, United States Forest Service, McCall, ID 83638, USA.
authors.forename: Morgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zedalis
authors.affiliation: Department of Forest, Rangeland, and Fire Science, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA.
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gosz
authors.affiliation: Center for Resilient Communities, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kliskey
authors.affiliation: Center for Resilient Communities, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA; International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA.
authors.forename: Lilian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alessa
mesh_terms: D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D004463:Ecology; D006801:Humans; D011050:Policy Making; D011049:Social Control Policies; D014481:United States
keywords: Environmental management; Land management; Natural resource management; Social-ecological systems