Resilience of Coupled Socio-Ecological Systems: Historic Rice Fields of the U.S. South

Abstract

While resilience is defined differentially by social scientists and ecologists, sustainability is possible where resilient social and ecological systems meet and interact, and sustainable resilient systems promote societal use of ecosystem services supporting contemporary societal needs without risk to future generations. Yet it is possible for seemingly appropriate and rational decisions from individuals, and society at large, to be counter to long-term sustainable solutions. Historic rice field cultivation in the wetlands of the Carolinas and Florida provides an example of various forms of resilience and sustainability within the theoretical framework of alternate stable states, whereby a resilient system can exist in more than one state and where stability is achieved when disruptive variables are not so disruptive as to generate tipping points from one state to another. This contribution examines the changing role and political as well as environmental impacts of rice agriculture in the region with particular emphasis on the contingent processes of environmental and cultural transformation that took place between the seventeenth and twenty-first centuries.

Waterbird–habitat relationships in South Carolina: implications for protection, restoration, and management of coastal and inland wetlands

“…Therefore, candidate wetlands for immediate protection and future restoration are abandoned historic rice fields. We recommend restoring broken tidal historic rice field impoundments only if they are deemed resilient to sea‐level rise (Folk 2018 c ; Fields‐Black et al 2022). Conversely, inland historic rice fields are prime candidates for protection and restoration practically and legally because they maintain infrastructure from historic rice cultivation (i.e.…”

“…The South Atlantic is one of the most rapidly developing regions in the United States despite frequent tropical storms, flooding, and sea‐level rise (Hughes 2004; Barragán & de Andrés 2015; Graells et al 2021). These coastal pressures will result in irreversible alteration, degradation, and loss of low‐lying coastal and intertidal mudflats, marshes, and MTIs (Erwin et al 2006; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC] 2021; Fields‐Black et al 2022). Multiguild waterbird selection of MTIs suggests their loss in the South Atlantic could result in winter redistributions, potential population declines, or both (Erwin et al 2006; Meehan et al 2021).…”

“…levees, ditches, canals), infrastructural blueprints exist, and these fields are buffered from storm surges and located farther from navigable waters (Folk 2018 c ; Hanks et al 2021). Thus, historic inland rice fields should be prioritized for legal protection and restored to active management capabilities (Folk 2018 c ; Fields‐Black et al 2022). Regional GPs may also be adopted or generalized to other regions across the United States.…”

“…Regional GPs may also be adopted or generalized to other regions across the United States. Therefore, continued mapping of formerly impounded wetlands is essential to identify future restoration targets (Folk 2018 c ; Hanks et al 2021; Fields‐Black et al 2022). Last, long‐term plans for managed wetland emigration should emphasize connectivity between extant and future wetlands (e.g.…”