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pative strategy to improve the integrated groundwater management in this agricultural
dryland. At the end, we draw some conclusions on challenges faced in DSES research.
The Socio-Ecological Systems Approach on Integrated
Groundwater Management in Agricultural Drylands
Dryland Socio-Ecological Systems (DSES) Approach
Close to 50% of Mexico’s land area is characterized by arid and semi-arid climate
where land degradation and desertification are extensive and growing problems.
Hence, a dryland stewardship strategy at local level in Mexico must recognize that
drylands are SES where some of the largest and most far-reaching global environmental and social change problems occur, and thus are a daunting challenge for
science and society (Huber-Sannwald et al. 2012).
The DSES approach conceptualizes the environment as an open system consisting of ecological and social processes and components. These processes are integrated through interactions (e.g., management practices, adaptation, resource use)
that occur on multiple scales and through cycles, and are influenced by broad scale
forces (political and economic conditions) and large-scale biogeochemical conditions. System components interact within a dynamic, web-like structure that facilitates interdependencies and feedbacks influenced by direct and indirect drivers at
different temporal and spatial scales (Virapongse et al. 2016).
Disruptions to the hydrological cycles in drylands result in less and more erratic
rainfall that will exacerbate the already critical state of water scarcity and conflicts
over water allocation (Thomas 2008). Reduced land productivity, socioeconomic
problems, uncertainty in food security, migration and limited development are some
consequences of dryland degradation. When drylands are severely degraded, the
inhabitants of dryland regions are forced to make various adaptations, especially
water users (Ouessar et al. 2017).
The DSES implies to overcome a multidisciplinary view of the hydrological,
ecological, meteorological or socioeconomic aspects of land degradation as isolated
issues, to focus on their interactions and creating meaningful collaborations between
academic and non-academic people. That is why assessment of how both water and
human subsystems simultaneously affect, and are affected by land degradation has
been recognized as one of the most important and challenging topics for drylands
science (Huber-Sannwald et al. 2006; Holzer et al. 2018).
Integrated Groundwater Management in Dryland
Socio- Ecological Systems
The science that links the human subsystem and the water subsystem is called sociohydrology, which is aimed at understanding the dynamics and co-evolution of coupled human–water systems (Sivapalan et al. 2011). In the case of socio- ecological or
5 The Socio-Ecological Systems Approach to Research the Integrated Groundwater…
pative strategy to improve the integrated groundwater management in this agricultural
dryland. At the end, we draw some conclusions on challenges faced in DSES research.
The Socio-Ecological Systems Approach on Integrated
Groundwater Management in Agricultural Drylands
Dryland Socio-Ecological Systems (DSES) Approach
Close to 50% of Mexico’s land area is characterized by arid and semi-arid climate
where land degradation and desertification are extensive and growing problems.
Hence, a dryland stewardship strategy at local level in Mexico must recognize that
drylands are SES where some of the largest and most far-reaching global environmental and social change problems occur, and thus are a daunting challenge for
science and society (Huber-Sannwald et al. 2012).
The DSES approach conceptualizes the environment as an open system consisting of ecological and social processes and components. These processes are integrated through interactions (e.g., management practices, adaptation, resource use)
that occur on multiple scales and through cycles, and are influenced by broad scale
forces (political and economic conditions) and large-scale biogeochemical conditions. System components interact within a dynamic, web-like structure that facilitates interdependencies and feedbacks influenced by direct and indirect drivers at
different temporal and spatial scales (Virapongse et al. 2016).
Disruptions to the hydrological cycles in drylands result in less and more erratic
rainfall that will exacerbate the already critical state of water scarcity and conflicts
over water allocation (Thomas 2008). Reduced land productivity, socioeconomic
problems, uncertainty in food security, migration and limited development are some
consequences of dryland degradation. When drylands are severely degraded, the
inhabitants of dryland regions are forced to make various adaptations, especially
water users (Ouessar et al. 2017).
The DSES implies to overcome a multidisciplinary view of the hydrological,
ecological, meteorological or socioeconomic aspects of land degradation as isolated
issues, to focus on their interactions and creating meaningful collaborations between
academic and non-academic people. That is why assessment of how both water and
human subsystems simultaneously affect, and are affected by land degradation has
been recognized as one of the most important and challenging topics for drylands
science (Huber-Sannwald et al. 2006; Holzer et al. 2018).
Integrated Groundwater Management in Dryland
Socio- Ecological Systems
The science that links the human subsystem and the water subsystem is called sociohydrology, which is aimed at understanding the dynamics and co-evolution of coupled human–water systems (Sivapalan et al. 2011). In the case of socio- ecological or
5 The Socio-Ecological Systems Approach to Research the Integrated Groundwater…