Mapping social–ecological systems: Identifying 'green-loop' and 'red-loop' dynamics based on characteristic bundles of ecosystem service use. (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hamann, Maike; Biggs, Reinette; Reyers, Belinda
• Is Part Of: Global environmental change. Volume 34(2015:Sep.)
• Page Start: 218
• Page End: 226
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Subjects: Ecosystem services -- Land use planning -- Natural resource management -- Human well-being -- Sustainability -- South Africa; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Human ecology -- Periodicals; Nature -- Effect of human beings on -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Politique gouvernementale -- Périodiques; Écologie humaine -- Périodiques; Homme -- Influence sur la nature -- Périodiques; Environmental policy; Human ecology; Nature -- Effect of human beings on; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 333.7
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2015.07.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-3780

Abstract

Highlights: We map social–ecological systems (SES) based on bundles of ecosystem service use. We identify three SES types characterized by distinct resource use dynamics. The emergent SES differ from an overlay of separate social and biophysical data. Social factors strongly influence the distribution of the systems. Each SES faces unique sustainability challenges, requiring tailored policy strategies. Abstract: We present an approach to identify and map social–ecological systems based on the direct use of ecosystem services by households. This approach builds on the premise that characteristic bundles of ecosystem service use represent integrated expressions of different underlying social–ecological systems. We test the approach in South Africa using national census data on the direct use of six provisioning services (freshwater from a natural source, firewood for cooking, firewood for heating, natural building materials, animal production, and crop production) at two different scales. Based on a cluster analysis, we identify three distinct ecosystem service bundles that represent social–ecological systems characterized by low, medium and high levels of direct ecosystem service use among households. We argue that these correspond to 'green-loop', 'transition' and 'red-loop' systems as defined by Cumming et al. (2014) . When mapped, these systems form coherent spatial units that differ from systems identified by additive combinations of separate social and biophysical datasets, the most common method of mapping social–ecological systems to date. The distribution of the systems we identified is mainly determined by social factors, such as household income, gender of the household head, and land tenure, and only partly determined by the supply of natural resources. An understanding of the location and characteristic resource use dynamics of different social–ecological systems allows for policies to be better targeted at the particular sustainability challenges faced in different areas.