A model of mountain socio-ecological systems to catalyze multi-actor collaborations towards sustainability

Abstract

Addressing sustainability challenges in mountains requires multi-actorcollaboration and interdisciplinarity. Yet, such processes of knowledge co-creation need to account for the existence of diverse representations of mountain socio-ecological systems amongst actors. We build on literature and picture-based interviews with local actors to first explore and describe the potential diversity of representations of mountain social-ecological systems and subsequently develop a conceptual model of such systems that can help actors acknowledge and share their representations. In this model, which integrates the human and natural components, as well as their interactions, the human component is further refined with five personal stance components. These component help describe how individuals position themselves with respect to the system in the specific context of mountains. We use the example of alpine tourism management to illustrate how the model and these components help to achieve a holistic understanding of the factors at stake for different acctors involved in the management of mountain regions.