Restoring the human capacity for conserving biodiversity: a social–ecological approach

Achieving biodiversity targets will require acknowledging that human societies are highly interconnected with the biophysical life-support system, conforming social–ecological systems. Under the social–ecological systems framework, we recognize that human wellbeing depends, in part, upon ecosystems;...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sustainability science 2015-10, Vol.10 (4), p.699-706
Main Authors: Martín-López, Berta, Montes, Carlos
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Biodiversity
Climate Change Management and Policy
Decision making
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecosystems
Environment
Environmental Economics
Environmental Management
Knowledge
Landscape Ecology
Note and Comment
Public Health
Science
Social conditions & trends
Social-ecological systems
Studies
Sustainability
Sustainability science
Sustainable Development
Timber
Values
Wildlife conservation
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Summary:Achieving biodiversity targets will require acknowledging that human societies are highly interconnected with the biophysical life-support system, conforming social–ecological systems. Under the social–ecological systems framework, we recognize that human wellbeing depends, in part, upon ecosystems; additionally, biodiversity conservation depends on human behavior and governance. Precisely, under the social–ecological systems paradigm, three conservation challenges emerge: (1) to recognize the value pluralism of biodiversity in science and decision-making, (2) to acknowledge that social–ecological systems require institutional diversity to be managed effectively, and (3) to go beyond scientific disciplines towards a real transdisciplinary science. In this context, sustainability science emerges as the body of knowledge able to understand the complex interactions of social-ecological systems. Consequently, we argue that the current challenge of biodiversity conservation needs to be addressed through the operationalization of sustainability science along the three lines above.
ISSN:1862-4065
1862-4057
DOI:10.1007/s11625-014-0283-3