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Towards a Single Integrative Metric on the Dynamics of Social-Environmental Systems

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  • Jiquan Chen

    (Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
    Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA)

  • Ranjeet John

    (Department of Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA)

  • Changliang Shao

    (National Hulunber Grassland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Zutao Ouyang

    (Earth System Science Department, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

  • Elizabeth A. Mack

    (Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA)

  • Geoffrey M. Henebry

    (Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
    Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA)

  • Gang Dong

    (School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China)

  • Ginger R. H. Allington

    (Department of Geography, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA)

  • Amber L. Pearson

    (Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA)

  • Fangyuan Zhao

    (National Hulunber Grassland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100875, China)

  • David P. Roy

    (Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
    Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA)

  • Peilei Fan

    (Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
    School of Planning, Design, and Construction, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA)

  • Gabriela E. Shirkey

    (Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA)

  • Li Tian

    (Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China)

  • Maira Kussainova

    (Sustainable Agriculture Center, Kazakh National Agrarian University, Almaty 050010, Kazakhstan)

  • Jingyan Chen

    (Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China)

  • David E. Reed

    (Department of Environmental Science, University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, Chickasha, OK 73018, USA)

  • Michael Abraha

    (Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA)

Abstract

Integrating the dynamics and interconnections of natural and human system properties into a single measure would make it simpler to reliably and repeatedly assess and compare different social-environmental systems (SES). We propose a novel metric to assess the magnitudes and variations in SES dynamics by integrating longitudinal gross domestic product, population, and ecosystem net primary production. We use annual public data across the Asian Drylands Belt (ADB) from 1992 through 2016 for 18 political entities as our testbed for assessing the efficacy of the metric. We perform cross-comparisons with existing natural and social science metrics to demonstrate the validity of the proposed metric, including the Human Development Index and the Palmer Drought Severity Index. The new metric demonstrates notable and meaningful differences in trends among the political entities that reflect major social, economic and environmental events over the 25-year period. It provides unique perspectives about the three pillar components (social, economic and environmental systems) in each of the 18 political entities (PE) of the ADB. The metric also shows meaningful associations with key economic and environmental indicators and great potential for broader application and evaluation, given additional testing in other countries, regions, and biomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiquan Chen & Ranjeet John & Changliang Shao & Zutao Ouyang & Elizabeth A. Mack & Geoffrey M. Henebry & Gang Dong & Ginger R. H. Allington & Amber L. Pearson & Fangyuan Zhao & David P. Roy & Peilei Fa, 2021. "Towards a Single Integrative Metric on the Dynamics of Social-Environmental Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-17, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:20:p:11246-:d:654363
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    References listed on IDEAS

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