IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i22p9661-d1514913.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Coupled Human and Natural Systems: A Novel Framework for Complexity Management

Author

Listed:
  • Dhanushki Perera

    (School of Engineering and Technology, Central Queensland University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia)

  • Ziyad Abunada

    (School of Engineering and Technology, Central Queensland University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia)

  • Ahmed AlQabany

    (World Bank, Washington, DC 20433, USA)

Abstract

Coupled human and natural systems (CHANS) represent dialectic interaction between human and nature subsystems. This dynamic interaction involves a prominent level of complexity stemming from the uncertain interrelation between the systems and the incorporated subsystems. The complexity within CHANS includes reciprocal effects, nonlinearity, uncertainties, and heterogeneity. Although many researchers have highlighted the significance of understanding the nature of the coupling effect, most of the prevailing literature emphasises either human or natural systems separately, while considering the other as exogenous, despite evaluating the reciprocal and complex interrelations. The current review utilises the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). It focuses on synthesising the prevailing literature on the CHANS framework in several disciplines, focusing on the approach, findings, limitations, and implications. The review comprises 56 relevant articles, found through Endnote and Covidence database searches. The findings identify the dominant complexity character as reciprocal effects and feedback loops, confirming the complex interactions between human and natural systems. Furthermore, the review provides evidence surrounding the significance of developing an analytical framework that can better explain the complex connections between humans and nature, as it provides a comprehensive understanding of CHANS and their potential impacts.

Suggested Citation

  • Dhanushki Perera & Ziyad Abunada & Ahmed AlQabany, 2024. "Coupled Human and Natural Systems: A Novel Framework for Complexity Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-24, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:22:p:9661-:d:1514913
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/22/9661/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/22/9661/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wandersee, Sarah M. & An, Li & López-Carr, David & Yang, Yeqin, 2012. "Perception and decisions in modeling coupled human and natural systems: A case study from Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve, China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 229(C), pages 37-49.
    2. Boumans, Roelof & Roman, Joe & Altman, Irit & Kaufman, Les, 2015. "The Multiscale Integrated Model of Ecosystem Services (MIMES): Simulating the interactions of coupled human and natural systems," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 12(C), pages 30-41.
    3. Richard Aspinall & Michele Staiano, 2017. "A Conceptual Model for Land System Dynamics as a Coupled Human–Environment System," Land, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-9, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Laura McKinney & Devin C. Wright, 2021. "Climate Change and Water Dynamics in Rural Uganda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-12, July.
    2. Ulfia A. Lenfers & Julius Weyl & Thomas Clemen, 2018. "Firewood Collection in South Africa: Adaptive Behavior in Social-Ecological Models," Land, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-17, August.
    3. Mostafa Shaaban & Carmen Schwartz & Joseph Macpherson & Annette Piorr, 2021. "A Conceptual Model Framework for Mapping, Analyzing and Managing Supply–Demand Mismatches of Ecosystem Services in Agricultural Landscapes," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-19, January.
    4. Barasa Bernard & Majaliwa J. G. Mwanjalolo & Banduga Moses & Katwere James & Magaya Paul & Sadadi Ojoatre & Wanjiru Lydia & Margaret N. Walusimbi, 2022. "A Simplified Spatial Methodology for Assessing Land Productivity Status in Africa," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-19, May.
    5. Shiliang Liu & Yuhong Dong & Hua Liu & Fangfang Wang & Lu Yu, 2023. "Review of Valuation of Forest Ecosystem Services and Realization Approaches in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-16, May.
    6. Jacqueline M. Vadjunec & Amy E. Frazier & Peter Kedron & Todd Fagin & Yun Zhao, 2018. "A Land Systems Science Framework for Bridging Land System Architecture and Landscape Ecology: A Case Study from the Southern High Plains," Land, MDPI, vol. 7(1), pages 1-20, February.
    7. Dike Zhang & Jianpeng Wang & Ying Wang & Lei Xu & Liang Zheng & Bowen Zhang & Yuzhe Bi & Hui Yang, 2022. "Is There a Spatial Relationship between Urban Landscape Pattern and Habitat Quality? Implication for Landscape Planning of the Yellow River Basin," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-17, September.
    8. Jixian Mo & Jie Li & Ziying Wang & Ziwei Song & Jingyi Feng & Yanjing Che & Jiandong Rong & Siyu Gu, 2023. "Spatiotemporal Evolution of Wind Erosion and Ecological Service Assessments in Northern Songnen Plain, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-20, March.
    9. Kenny, Daniel C. & Costanza, Robert & Dowsley, Tom & Jackson, Nichelle & Josol, Jairus & Kubiszewski, Ida & Narulla, Harkiran & Sese, Saioa & Sutanto, Anna & Thompson, Jonathan, 2019. "Australia's Genuine Progress Indicator Revisited (1962–2013)," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 1-10.
    10. Hongmi Koo & Janina Kleemann & Christine Fürst, 2018. "Land Use Scenario Modeling Based on Local Knowledge for the Provision of Ecosystem Services in Northern Ghana," Land, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-21, May.
    11. Xinyu Ouyang & Xiangyu Luo, 2022. "Models for Assessing Urban Ecosystem Services: Status and Outlooks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-20, April.
    12. Staes, Jan & Broekx, Steven & Van Der Biest, Katrien & Vrebos, Dirk & Olivier, Beauchard & De Nocker, Leo & Liekens, Inge & Poelmans, Lien & Verheyen, Kris & Jeroen, Panis & Meire, Patrick, 2017. "Quantification of the potential impact of nature conservation on ecosystem services supply in the Flemish Region: A cascade modelling approach," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 124-137.
    13. Jianfang Liu & Qian Zhang & Qianyi Wang & Yaoping Lv & Yingqi Tang, 2023. "Gross Ecosystem Product Accounting of a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System: The Longxian Rice–Fish Symbiotic System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-16, July.
    14. You Zuo & Lin Zhang, 2023. "Research on Local Ecosystem Cultural Services in the Jiangnan Water Network Rural Areas: A Case Study of the Ecological Green Integration Demonstration Zone in the Yangtze River Delta, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-21, July.
    15. Longlong Tang & Kiyotada Hayashi & Kazunori Kohyama & Ai Leon, 2018. "Reconciling Life Cycle Environmental Impacts with Ecosystem Services: A Management Perspective on Agricultural Land Use," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-16, February.
    16. Lopes, Rita & Videira, Nuno, 2017. "Modelling feedback processes underpinning management of ecosystem services: The role of participatory systems mapping," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 28(PA), pages 28-42.
    17. Xu, Xibao & Jiang, Bo & Tan, Yan & Costanza, Robert & Yang, Guishan, 2018. "Lake-wetland ecosystem services modeling and valuation: Progress, gaps and future directions," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 33(PA), pages 19-28.
    18. Hao Wang & Fei Yao & Huasheng Zhu & Yuanyuan Zhao, 2020. "Spatiotemporal Variation of Vegetation Coverage and Its Response to Climate Factors and Human Activities in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas: Case Study of the Otindag Sandy Land in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-18, June.
    19. Ruibing Meng & Jiale Cai & Hui Xin & Zhongju Meng & Xiaohong Dang & Yanlong Han, 2023. "Spatio-Temporal Changes in Land Use and Habitat Quality of Hobq Desert along the Yellow River Section," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-24, February.
    20. Yang Tang & Yongbo Yuan & Qingyu Zhong, 2021. "Evaluation of Land Comprehensive Carrying Capacity and Spatio-Temporal Analysis of the Harbin-Changchun Urban Agglomeration," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-19, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:22:p:9661-:d:1514913. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.