Article
Development Studies
Diego Maiorano, Dishil Shrimankar, Suruchi Thapar-Bjorkert, Hans Blomkvist
Summary: This paper introduces a novel survey-based method for measuring people's empowerment, involving direct measurement of decision-making, assessment of the reasons for valuing choices, and consideration of social norms in strategic life decisions. The effectiveness of the method is demonstrated using original survey data from India, highlighting the importance of the Empowerment score for policy applications and evaluations.
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
A. T. Shruthi Gopirajan, Praveen Kumar, P. K. Joshi
Summary: This study systematically reviewed peer-reviewed literature on social-ecological systems (SES) in Himalayan countries, summarizing existing knowledge and discussing major drivers impacting the Himalayan SES. The research found that there is a spatial disparity in the studies, compounded by inconsistencies in conceptualization, cross-scale interactions, and geospatial exploration, masking the deeper realities of unique Himalayan SES. The study advocates for a comprehensive definition of SES, considering cross-scale interactions and mountain specificities, to ensure sustainable development in the region.
ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Sara Isernia, Sarah E. E. MacPherson, R. Asaad Baksh, Niels Bergsland, Antonella Marchetti, Francesca Baglio, Davide Massaro
Summary: This study translated and adapted the ESCoT social cognition assessment tool for an adult Italian population and demonstrated its reliability and validity in evaluating social cognition. Results showed the ESCoT total score was associated with age, and the subscore for intrapersonal social norm understanding was associated with education.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Rutenis Jancius, Algirdas Gavenauskas
Summary: The conducted research emphasizes the importance of parents' values and social environment factors in shaping pro-ecological attitudes. The study reveals that parents prioritize money in their personal values while also considering the well-being and education of their children. In terms of ecological values, safe food and fresh air are highly valued by parents, indicating their concern for their own and their children's health. The results also highlight the significant influence of family and school as social environment factors on parents' pro-ecological attitude. Furthermore, the study suggests that older, more educated parents living in urban areas are more likely to have a pro-environmental attitude.
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Catherine E. Amiot, Frederik Skerlj
Summary: The study showed that emphasizing social norms promoting sportspersonship, learning, and fun can increase parents' endorsement of these behaviors and values, and impact their children's on-ice behaviors positively.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Carl Latkin, Lauren A. Dayton, Grace Yi, Arianna Konstantopoulos, Ju Park, Catherine Maulsby, Xiangrong Kong
Summary: The study found that various factors such as trust, social norms, and political orientation influence COVID-19 vaccine intentions. To promote vaccine trust, strategies like social network diffusion and cross-partisan messaging are needed. Additionally, tailored campaigns based on gender and race differences are also necessary.
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Xiao Yu, Jianing Liang
Summary: This study examines the influence of social norms on individuals' fertility intentions from the perspectives of spatial proximity and social proximity using data from the China Family Panel Studies. The findings indicate that social norms significantly influence individual fertility intentions, with men, rural residents, and married individuals being more influenced by social norms. The study emphasizes the importance of reshaping social norms regarding fertility to enhance fertility rates in China.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Shihong Mao, Zhongjun Wu, Nan Jiang, Xiaohong Lai
Summary: The tea-vegetable gardens in Longsheng are unique agro-cultural landscapes created by the Miao, Yao, and Zhuang nationalities. These gardens have significant value and characteristics as they represent traditional agricultural practices and showcase the rich ecological wisdom of the indigenous peoples. Therefore, documenting and conserving the tea-vegetable gardens is crucial for the development and cultural preservation of the local farming communities.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Mingkang Yuan, Yi Xiao, Yang Yang, Cong Liu
Summary: Post-disaster reconstruction is crucial for achieving sustainable development in affected regions. This study explores the coupling and coordinated development of the economic-ecological-social (EES) complex system during the post-disaster reconstruction following the Wenchuan earthquake in China. The results indicate that post-disaster reconstruction significantly accelerates sustainable development, with distinct geographic stratification differences. Factors such as geographic location, ecological resource endowment, science and education, and the labor force are closely related to the coordination degree of the complex system.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Michael Spies, Mehwish Zuberi, Madlen Maehlis, Aksana Zakirova, Henryk Alff, Christoph Raab
Summary: Calls for a sustainable bioeconomy have increased recently as a response to global challenges. This article proposes a participatory approach to strategy formulation and evaluation in agricultural transformation and bioeconomy development. By integrating local knowledge and insights from diverse stakeholders, this approach enables a comprehensive evaluation of social and ecological effects and can contribute to more sustainable governance processes.
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Timothee Fouqueray, Julie Latune, Michel Trommetter, Nathalie Frascaria-Lacoste
Summary: This article investigates the technical and timber-focused framing of climate change by forest managers, and analyzes participants' negotiations when attempting to change the simulation rules of forest management. It highlights how establishing a payment system for ecosystem services can reduce financial imbalance driven by climate change.
ENVIRONMENTAL MODELLING & SOFTWARE
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Lin Xu, Haimi Yang, Maoliang Ling
Summary: Individuals' pro-environmental behaviors are influenced by what they consider important in life, namely their personal values. However, the relationship between values and actions is often weak, raising the question of when values are related to environmental behaviors. This study examines whether and how the impact of personal values on behavior varies across localized interpersonal contexts. The findings suggest that the influence of altruistic value prioritization on environmental behavior is more pronounced in housing estates with low levels of social norms, interpersonal trust, or neighbor ties. In contrast, individuals in strong interpersonal influences show high levels of environmental behavior regardless of altruistic value prioritization. These results highlight the importance of interpersonal contexts in understanding the value-behavior link.
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Nieves Montes, Carles Sierra
Summary: This research presents a method for automatically synthesizing value-aligned normative systems, and provides analytical tools to examine the alignment of values in such systems.
JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Viachaslau Filimonau, Jorge Matute, Magdalena Kubal-Czerwinska, Miroslaw Mika
Summary: This study surveyed 446 foodservice customers in Poland to examine the influence of religious values on personal norms and the moderating effect of social distance on injunctive norms. Results show that religious values indirectly affect personal norms through mediating factors such as compassion and family upbringing. Close encounters, like family and friends, amplify the effect of injunctive norms while distant encounters, like fellow countrymen, do not. Therefore, measures to reduce food waste should appeal to customers' compassion and remind them of their disapproval from (grand)parents and friends.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Cecilie Friis, Monica Hernandez-Morcillo, Matthias Baumann, Claudia Coral, Theresa Frommen, Arash Ghoddousi, David Loibl, Philippe Rufin
Summary: In order to address the challenges of sustainability in the twenty-first century, interdisciplinary human-environment research that integrates knowledge and perspectives across scales is crucial. However, the concepts of 'scale' and 'scaling' continue to pose challenges for researchers in this field. This study aims to clarify these challenges and propose potential solutions for bridging scales in interdisciplinary human-environment research. The main challenges identified include differences in research approaches, lack of resources for collaboration, conflicting perspectives on problem and scale definitions, and miscommunication. The proposed solutions emphasize open communication, data sharing, new techniques for upscaling or downscaling results, and improved collaboration. The study highlights the importance of interdisciplinary interactions and collaboration at individual, institutional, and academic system levels for bridging scales.
SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
L. Jamila Haider, Maja Schluter, Carl Folke, Belinda Reyers
Summary: The interdependence of social and ecological processes is crucial in enhancing human wellbeing and development. However, existing development interventions tend to prioritize economic growth over social-ecological interdependencies, resulting in weakened resilience and detrimental outcomes. A coevolutionary perspective that considers the evolving relationships between social and ecological systems can lead to more effective development interventions and a rethinking of resilience and development concepts.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Nadia Wessels, Nadia Sitas, Karen J. Esler, Patrick O'Farrell
Summary: The study explores community perceptions of urban natural open space systems and identifies associated ecosystem services and disservices, as well as challenges and opportunities for collaborative management and stewardship interventions to protect these systems.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dirk J. Roux, Peter Novellie, Izak P. J. Smit, Joop de Kraker, Samantha Mc Culloch-Jones, Luthando E. Dziba, Stefanie Freitag, Danie J. Pienaar
Summary: Adaptive management is a systematic approach that combines learning with implementation to facilitate continuous improvement in natural resource management. Learning from experience and adapting subsequent policies, strategies, and actions is appealing, but obstacles such as lack of documented lessons and insufficient attention to the social aspects of learning hinder its application.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Nadia Wessels, Nadia Sitas, Patrick O'Farrell, Karen J. Esler
Summary: Systematic conservation planning is a scientific method to prioritize scarce resources and minimize biodiversity and ecosystem service loss. The outcomes of implementing natural open space plans in urban areas are influenced by ecological, social, financial, and management factors. Understanding these factors allows local governments to respond to changing conditions and enhance conservation outcomes.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Maja Schluter, Guido Caniglia, Kirill Orach, Orjan Bodin, Nicolas Magliocca, Patrick Meyfroidt, Belinda Reyers
Summary: The complex nature of sustainability problems demands a rethinking of how theories are constructed and utilized in order to support interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary processes. Four ideal modes of theorizing and the concept of 'ecologies of theories' are proposed to meet the challenges and needs of sustainability science.
CURRENT OPINION IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Tomas Chaigneau, Sarah Coulthard, Tim M. Daw, Lucy Szaboova, Laura Camfield, F. Stuart I. I. I. I. I. I. Chapin, Des Gasper, Georgina G. Gurney, Christina C. Hicks, Maggie Ibrahim, Thomas James, Lindsey Jones, Nathanial Matthews, Colin McQuistan, Belinda Reyers, Katrina Brown
Summary: Well-being and resilience are considered to be related or even synergistic dimensions of sustainable development, but evidence suggests that they may actually work against each other in practice, highlighting potential trade-offs that could threaten sustainable development outcomes.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2022)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Belinda Reyers, Michele-Lee Moore, L. Jamila Haider, Maja Schluter
Summary: This article reviews the application of resilience science in sustainable development practice over the past decade and analyzes six shifts in practice. Despite the emergence of innovative complexity-oriented practices, dominant applications diverge from the science and face challenges.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Reinette Biggs, Hayley S. Clements, Graeme S. Cumming, Georgina Cundill, Alta de Vos, Maike Hamann, Linda Luvuno, Dirk J. Roux, Odirilwe Selomane, Ryan Blanchard, Jessica Cockburn, Luthando Dziba, Karen J. Esler, Christo Fabricius, Rebecka Henriksson, Karen Kotschy, Regina Lindborg, Vanessa A. Masterson, Jeanne L. Nel, Patrick O'Farrell, Carolyn G. Palmer, Laura Pereira, Sharon Pollard, Rika Preiser, Robert J. Scholes, Charlie Shackleton, Sheona Shackleton, Nadia Sitas, Jasper A. Slingsby, Marja Spierenburg, Maria Tengo, Belinda Reyers
Summary: This paper synthesizes insights on social-ecological system dynamics in the southern African context and highlights key themes including transdisciplinary research, ecosystem services and wellbeing, governance institutions and management practices, spatial relationships and cross-scale connections, and regime shifts, traps and transformations. The findings contribute to a context-sensitive global agenda for sustainability transformations.
ECOSYSTEMS AND PEOPLE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
David A. Keith, Jose R. Ferrer-Paris, Emily Nicholson, Melanie J. Bishop, Beth A. Polidoro, Eva Ramirez-Llodra, Mark G. Tozer, Jeanne L. Nel, Ralph Mac Nally, Edward J. Gregr, Kate E. Watermeyer, Franz Essl, Don Faber-Langendoen, Janet Franklin, Caroline E. R. Lehmann, Andres Etter, Dirk J. Roux, Jonathan S. Stark, Jessica A. Rowland, Neil A. Brummitt, Ulla C. Fernandez-Arcaya, Iain M. Suthers, Susan K. Wiser, Ian Donohue, Leland J. Jackson, R. Toby Pennington, Thomas M. Iliffe, Vasilis Gerovasileiou, Paul Giller, Belinda J. Robson, Nathalie Pettorelli, Angela Andrade, Arild Lindgaard, Teemu Tahvanainen, Aleks Terauds, Michael A. Chadwick, Nicholas J. Murray, Justin Moat, Patricio Pliscoff, Irene Zager, Richard T. Kingsford
Summary: As the United Nations develops a post-2020 global biodiversity framework, the need for new goals and targets for ecosystem conservation is being emphasized. Reliable and resilient research on ecosystem responses to environmental change and management is necessary to achieve dual imperatives of conserving biodiversity and sustaining ecosystem services. However, the lack of a globally consistent ecosystem classification hampers progress in developing conservation targets and sustainability goals.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Reinette (Oonsie) Biggs, Belinda Reyers, Ryan Blanchard, Hayley Clements, Jessica Cockburn, Graeme S. Cumming, Georgina Cundill, Alta de Vos, Luthando Dziba, Karen J. Esler, Christo Fabricius, Maike Hamann, Rebecka Henriksson, Karen Kotschy, Regina Lindborg, Linda Luvuno, Vanessa Masterson, Jeanne L. Nel, Patrick O'Farrell, Carolyn G. Palmer, Laura Pereira, Sharon Pollard, Rika Preiser, Dirk J. Roux, Robert J. Scholes, Odirilwe Selomane, Charlie Shackleton, Sheona Shackleton, Nadia Sitas, Jasper A. Slingsby, Marja Spierenburg, Maria Tengo
Summary: Sustainability-focused research networks and communities of practice are vital for capacity building and knowledge exchange in support of a more sustainable and equitable future. This paper reflects on the experiences of the Southern African Program on Ecosystem Change and Society (SAPECS) in building a community of practice on social-ecological systems research, with the aim of providing insights for the development of similar networks worldwide, particularly in the Global South.
ECOSYSTEMS AND PEOPLE
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Sander Jacobs, Eszter Kelemen, Patrick O'Farrell, Adrian Martin, Marije Schaafsma, Nicolas Dendoncker, Ram Pandit, Tuyeni H. Mwampamba, Ignacio Palomo, Antonio J. Castro, Mariaelena A. Huambachano, Anna Filyushkina, Haripriya Gunimeda
Summary: This paper critically examines the current political context in which valuation studies of nature are undertaken and challenges the belief that better valuation practices will lead to more just and sustainable futures. It argues that current practices risk overrepresenting the values of those in power and perpetuating the discrimination of nondominant stakeholders. The paper proposes a political typology of valuations to help professionals determine if valuation actions are constructive and enable systemic change.
CURRENT OPINION IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Samantha Mc Culloch-Jones, Peter Novellie, Dirk J. Roux, Bianca Currie
Summary: This study examines the learning capacity and network resilience in a conservation initiative on the West Coast of South Africa using social network analysis. The analysis shows that while the network has good structural features for learning, its high centrality may make it vulnerable in dealing with complex challenges. It suggests that core actors reflect on their roles, tap into the knowledge potential of actors on the network periphery, and incorporate social network research with qualitative monitoring for long-term planning.
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Gregg C. Brill, Pippin M. L. Anderson, Patrick O'Farrell
Summary: This study assesses how residents of a developing city in the Global South recognize and value the diverse cultural ecosystem services associated with freshwater ecosystems. The study reveals the spatial and temporal relationships between beneficiaries and landscape features, as well as the relational nature of ecosystem service values, benefits, and trade-offs. The findings contribute to a better understanding of social-ecological systems in urban areas.