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What do We Talk about When We Talk about Social-Ecological Systems? A Literature Review

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  • Cristina Herrero-Jáuregui

    (Departament of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain)

  • Cecilia Arnaiz-Schmitz

    (Socio-Ecosystems Laboratory, Autonomous University of Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain)

  • María Fernanda Reyes

    (IFEVA, Faculty of Agronomy, University of Buenos Aires, C1417DSE Buenos Aires, Argentina)

  • Marta Telesnicki

    (IFEVA, Faculty of Agronomy, University of Buenos Aires, C1417DSE Buenos Aires, Argentina)

  • Ignacio Agramonte

    (Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, 51003 Tartu, Estonia)

  • Marcos H. Easdale

    (National Institute for Agricultural Technology (INTA), Bariloche & CONICET, 8400 San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina)

  • María Fe Schmitz

    (Departament of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain)

  • Martín Aguiar

    (IFEVA, Faculty of Agronomy, University of Buenos Aires, C1417DSE Buenos Aires, Argentina)

  • Antonio Gómez-Sal

    (Life Sciences Department, Ecology, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Spain)

  • Carlos Montes

    (Socio-Ecosystems Laboratory, Autonomous University of Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

In the last decade, probably in response to global changes and the environmental crisis, the use of the term “social-ecological system” (SES) in scientific literature has grown. This is certainly a sign that the need and importance of transdisciplinary research has been recognized. Here, we explore whether the use of the term is a buzzword or, rather, actually represents a key concept in the integration of social and ecological research. We compiled a database of publications ( N = 1289) that mentioned SES in the title, keywords and abstract. Subsequently, we analyzed the authors’ affiliations, type of work (conceptual, empirical or review), study site, prevailing human use, temporal and spatial scales of the analysis, kind of variables analyzed (socioeconomic or biophysical), and the method/s used to integrate them. We detected four time spans in the use of the term (1975–1997, 1998–2006, 2007–2012, 2013–2016). Our results suggest that SES is a widely invoked concept in the study of the interface between social and ecological systems. Most works show some common elements, such as the analysis of resilience, ecosystem services, sustainability, governance and adaptive management. However, the majority of studies do not study SES as a whole, integrating both social and ecological variables and their feedback loops. We consider SES as a concept still in construction in order to build a necessary framework for the integration of social and ecological sciences. For a robust evolution, we recommend that one focus on: (i) A conscious, discussed and agreed effort of scientists to conduct the transdisciplinary research needed to study SES; and (ii) the development of methodological tools for the true integration of social and ecological data.

Suggested Citation

  • Cristina Herrero-Jáuregui & Cecilia Arnaiz-Schmitz & María Fernanda Reyes & Marta Telesnicki & Ignacio Agramonte & Marcos H. Easdale & María Fe Schmitz & Martín Aguiar & Antonio Gómez-Sal & Carlos Mon, 2018. "What do We Talk about When We Talk about Social-Ecological Systems? A Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:8:p:2950-:d:164612
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    Cited by:

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    3. A. T. Shruthi Gopirajan & Praveen Kumar & P. K. Joshi, 2022. "Unraveling the complex and dynamic Himalayan socio-ecological systems: a systematic review," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 1532-1559, February.
    4. Giulia Capotorti & Vera De Lazzari & Marta Alós Ortí, 2019. "Local Scale Prioritisation of Green Infrastructure for Enhancing Biodiversity in Peri-Urban Agroecosystems: A Multi-Step Process Applied in the Metropolitan City of Rome (Italy)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-20, June.
    5. Luo, Xiangyu & Jiang, Peng & Yang, Jingyi & Jin, Jing & Yang, Jun, 2021. "Simulating PM2.5 removal in an urban ecosystem based on the social-ecological model framework," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 47(C).
    6. Natalia Pérez León & Octavio Bruzzone & Marcos H. Easdale, 2020. "A Framework to Tackling the Synchrony between Social and Ecological Phases of the Annual Cyclic Movement of Transhumant Pastoralism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-15, April.
    7. Adela Itzkin & Mary C. Scholes & Jai Kumar Clifford-Holmes & Kate Rowntree & Bennie van der Waal & Kaera Coetzer, 2021. "A Social-Ecological Systems Understanding of Drivers of Degradation in the Tsitsa River Catchment to Inform Sustainable Land Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-28, January.
    8. Angioletta Voghera & Benedetta Giudice, 2019. "Evaluating and Planning Green Infrastructure: A Strategic Perspective for Sustainability and Resilience," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-21, May.
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    10. Qi Chen & Weiteng Shen & Bing Yu, 2018. "Assessing the Vulnerability of Marine Fisheries in China: Towards an Inter-Provincial Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-14, November.
    11. Matías Ginieis & Xiaoni Li, 2020. "Ranking of Sustainability Journals Using the Author Affiliation Index and Comparison to Other Journal Metrics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-18, February.
    12. Oscar González-Quiroz & Josabel Belliure & Antonio Gómez-Sal, 2021. "Assessing Land Dynamics and Sustainability on the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua: A Method Based on Comprehensive Land Units," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-20, April.
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