Social-Ecological Resilience

Research Group Leaders: Reinette (Oonsie) Biggs , Rika Preiser, Laura Pereira and Scott Drimie

Social-ecological resilience is a rapidly emerging research area globally, and better understanding of social-ecological systems (SES) and resilience is being demanded by policy and governance processes at national and international levels. However, theoretical conceptualization of this area and methodological approaches for researching SES are still relatively underdeveloped. Much of the empirical work to date has been carried out in developed countries, where the issues and contexts often differ dramatically from those in the developing world. This theme aims to contribute to addressing these gaps, specifically contributing a Southern African perspective, and advancing understanding of how social-ecological systems and the ecosystem services they produce can be managed to build resilience and support sustainability transitions.

This theme includes work on social-ecological tipping points and regime shifts, social-ecological transformations, ecosystem services and human well-being, resilience assessments, and developing a regional community of practice.

 

Photo credit: ©gwendolynmeyer

©gwendolynmeyer

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