Better balancing the social and natural dimensions in sustainability research

Olsson, Lennart; Ness, Barry

doi:10.5751/es-11224-240407

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Educational history, frequency of river visitation, leisure activities, living close to a river, and other sociodemographic factors influenced students' perceptions of non-perennial rivers but did not change the general observed pattern. Our study centers human dimensions in the study of non-perennial rivers, which we consider necessary to guide conservation policies and help to counterbalance the current biophysical focus that characterizes almost all research on these systems [35,36]. We conclude that improving people's perceptions of non-perennial rivers is crucial if we are to grow public support to conserve these ecosystems and apply sustainable policies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are Non-Perennial Rivers Considered as Valuable and Worthy of Conservation as Perennial Rivers?

et al. 2020

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Non-perennial rivers, watercourses that cease to flow at some point in time and space, are widespread globally but often lack effective protections. Although it is thought that these ecosystems are undervalued by society, empirical studies exploring people’s perceptions of non-perennial rivers are uncommon. We carried out an image-based survey at three U.S. universities to measure students’ perception of riverscapes according to seven characteristics: aesthetics, naturalness, habitat for biodiversity, habitat for fish, need of human intervention, importance for human well-being, and conservation value. Our results showed that non-perennial rivers are generally considered less valuable and worthy of conservation than their perennial counterparts. Furthermore, several factors influenced peoples’ perception of non-perennial rivers, including where they live, their educational history, how often they visit rivers, their leisure activities, and whether they live close to a river. Our findings suggested the need to improve people’s perceptions of non-perennial rivers as a step toward increased protection for these ecosystems. This current challenge demands combined actions by researchers from diverse disciplines and professionals working from different perspectives, including policymakers and educators.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are Non-Perennial Rivers Considered as Valuable and Worthy of Conservation as Perennial Rivers?

et al. 2020

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“…With few exceptions, sustainability science's engagement with sociology is marginal [134]. We highlighted four overlapping conceptual and methodological aspects within sociology for integration into the core of sustainability science analysis and research: (1) the role of social construction and critical realism; (2) the dynamic between structure and agency; (3) historical specificity; and (4) the necessity of collective action.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sociology for sustainability science

et al. 2021

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Sociological insights are often underutilized in sustainability science. To further strengthen its commitment to interdisciplinary problem-driven, solutions-oriented research, sustainability science can better incorporate fundamental sociological conceptions into its core. We highlight four aspects of sociological thought that we consider crucial for advancing sustainability science research: (1) social construction and critical realism, (2) structure and agency, (3) historical specificity, and (4) collective action. We draw on examples from sociology to support a dynamic understanding of how social relations interact with the bio-geo-physical world. This necessary integration of sociological insights, we argue, is critical to generate comprehensive assessments of the causes and consequences of human-induced environmental change, and tend to be overlooked or oversimplified within the field of sustainability science. Beyond that, it can stimulate the development and implementation of viable solutions to sustainability challenges.

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“…In addition, as fisheries increasingly share the waters with other sectors and industries, fisheries management is also challenged to incorporate considerations of other relevant activities in the marine environment in more holistic integrated management (IM) approaches (Charles et al 2010, Stephenson et al 2019a. This evolution has resulted in the consideration of fisheries as part of social-ecological systems (Ommer et al 2012) with a broad spectrum of objectives and requiring a different, interdisciplinary concept of sustainability that is very much broader than those focused on narrow conservation and economic objectives (for more holistic analyses, see Breslow et al 2016, Olsson andNess 2019). Those seeking to adjust policies and decisions to multiple objectives and dimensions of sustainability must also overcome the persistent influence of powerful management panaceas, formulaic policy prescriptions such as individual transferable quotas and marine protected areas purported to solve problems in any context (Pinkerton andDavis 2015, Young et al 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This research on full-spectrum sustainability contributes to broader efforts at integrating human dimensions into sustainability assessments. Although the emergence of new approaches and fields such as sustainability science over the last two decades have begun to develop frameworks cutting across natural and social sciences and coconstructing knowledge with scientific communities and society (Kates et al 2001), preparing the next generation of sustainability scientists requires better attention to the broader and fundamental social structures often overlooked in the field, including interests, power, and social change and overcoming practical challenges of university training, the development of team-science skills, and effectively integrating diverse stakeholder perspectives into research (Breslow et al 2016, Killion et al 2018, Olsson and Ness 2019. Creatively, collaboratively and proactively addressing diverse social-ecological challenges will become even more challenging https://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol25/iss2/art1/ in the future because of climate and ocean change (McDonald et al 2019).…”

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confidence: 99%

Full-spectrum sustainability: an alternative to fisheries management panaceas

Foley¹,

Pinkerton²,

Wiber³

et al. 2020

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This introduction to the special feature describes the development and application of a "full-spectrum sustainability" evaluation framework that emerged from a transdisciplinary research process. The framework and corresponding case studies described in this paper originated in the work of a Canadian Fisheries Research Network project that sought to enhance fisheries management by including diverse social-ecological considerations in fisheries management evaluation. The first section discusses the tendency of sustainability evaluation frameworks in fisheries to focus on ecological and economic considerations and introduces the Canadian Fisheries Research Network's four pillar approach, which includes ecological, economic, social and cultural, and institutional/ governance categories. To illustrate the comprehensive nature of this framework, the second section provides a comparison of the framework with elements in the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals. The third section provides an overview of the eight papers in this special feature that explore the development and application of full-spectrum sustainability. The conclusion synthesizes some key findings, highlighting four overall critical and ongoing challenges associated with advancing full-spectrum sustainability evaluation in Canada and elsewhere: the politics of transdisciplinary research; integrating social considerations into management agencies reluctant to move beyond ecological and economic considerations; dynamic and diverse issues involved in supporting robust and inclusive governance processes; and translating technical frameworks into usable practical instruments for different societal actors.

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Better balancing the social and natural dimensions in sustainability research

Cited by 4 publications

References 12 publications

Are Non-Perennial Rivers Considered as Valuable and Worthy of Conservation as Perennial Rivers?

Are Non-Perennial Rivers Considered as Valuable and Worthy of Conservation as Perennial Rivers?

Sociology for sustainability science

Full-spectrum sustainability: an alternative to fisheries management panaceas

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