Accounting for the links between social and ecological systems for effective nature conservation

Abstract

Environmental problems and their solutions are determined by the complex ways in which social and ecological systems interact. Yet knowledge on these interactions and the challenges they pose to biodiversity conservation is scarce. Analytical and planning approaches to help understand and account for these challenges are needed. This is particularly important in the context of conservation initiatives that take a collaborative multi-stakeholder approach to decision-making. Such initiatives face numerous challenges, including the problem of fit -when governance systems do not fit or match the characteristics of the biophysical system. In this thesis novel methodological approaches and existing social-ecological system frameworks are employed to investigate the problem of fit in the context of biodiversity conservation, and to demonstrate how the interactions between social and ecological systems can be accounted for in conservation planning.This thesis represents an important contribution to social-ecological research.I examine the relevance of the problem of fit to biodiversity conservation through a review of the challenges for the science of conservation planning related to a particular type of 'fit challenge': scale mismatch. A scale mismatch occurs when the scales for planning and implementing conservation actions do not match the scale of biophysical processes (Chapter 2, published in Conservation Biology). I identify how scale mismatches arise in association with the different stages of conservation planning (e.g. problem assessment, formulation of actions). I find that this type of fit challenge can result in partial solutions, ineffective actions, or actions that are not implemented. This review highlights the need for researchers and practitioners to understand and account for fit challenges in conservation research and management, and suggestions are provided on how this might be achieved.I investigate the problem of fit through an assessment of the capacity for collaborative conservation initiatives to address three key challenges associated to social-ecological fit:spatial scale mismatch (chapters 3 and 4), the common management of areas (chapter 4), and the management of interconnected ecological units (chapter 4). In these empirical studies I analyse data collected through semi-structured interviews and a survey of stakeholders involved in 'Gondwana Link', -a large-scale conservation initiative that aims to restore ecological connectivity in the south west of Australia.I characterise the interactions between stakeholders in this initiative as a conservation social network. I assess if the structure of the interactions enable the coordination of plans and actions across scales of planning and management (Chapter 3, published in iii Conservation Letters). I apply a novel network theoretical approach to statistically analyse the different forms of stakeholder interactions, including cross-scale collaboration. I find that the structure of stakeholder interactions predisposed cross-scale collabo...