7
Sustainability Science (SuS) has emerged as a new transdisciplinary academic
discipline in the last decade and offers a new, broad-perspective approach to deal
with complex, long-term global issues, such as human-induced climate and ecosystem changes. It aims to promote solutions that contribute to rebuilding a sound relationship between human societies and the environment (UNESCO 2017). SuS
research is highly integrated, participatory, and solution driven and, as such, is well
suited to the study of SEPLS. Using case studies, literature reviews, and SuS analyses, this book explores various approaches to stakeholder participation, policy development, and appropriate actions for the future of SEPLS. It provides communities,
researchers, and decision-makers at various levels with new tools and strategies for
exploring scenarios and creating future visions for sustainable societies.
This book presents up-to-date experience and analyses of various approaches to
the sustainable resource management of SEPLS, primarily based on experiences
in Asia.
1.4 Objectives and Organization of the Book
SEPLS are areas in which the majority of inhabitants rely on the well-being of the
landscape or seascape ecosystem. By definition, a harmonious relationship between
the natural environment and the people who inhabit it is essential to ensure community and environmental well-being as well as to build resilience in the ecosystems that support this well-being. Understanding SEPLS and the forces of change
that can weaken their resilience requires the integration of knowledge across a wide
range of academic disciplines as well as from indigenous knowledge and experience. Moreover, given the wide variation in the socio-ecological makeup of SEPLS
around the world, as well as in their political and economic contexts, individual
communities will be at the forefront of tailoring the approaches necessary to their
unique circumstances. Including SuS research approaches and integration of indigenous and local knowledge systems and scientific knowledge, this book explores
various approaches to stakeholder participation, policy development, and appropriate action for the future of SEPLS. By providing such approaches and tools, this
book shows how decision-makers and policy planners can promote robust collaborations between different stakeholders that will contribute to the effective implementation of conservation and development policies for sound resource management
in SEPLS.
While Chaps. 2–5 cover specific case studies of land/seascapes in Japan (Chaps.
2–4) and in Bangladesh (Chap. 5), Chaps. 6–8 consist of a series of review articles
that explore lessons learned from assessing resilience in SEPLS (Chap. 6), solutions
for the sustainable management of SEPLS in Asia (Chap. 7), and the effectiveness
of biodiversity science–policy interfaces (SPIs) from local to global scales (Chap.
8). The book highlights various approaches to navigate the sustainable resource
management of SEPLS from local to global scales.
1 Introduction: Socio-ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes
Sustainability Science (SuS) has emerged as a new transdisciplinary academic
discipline in the last decade and offers a new, broad-perspective approach to deal
with complex, long-term global issues, such as human-induced climate and ecosystem changes. It aims to promote solutions that contribute to rebuilding a sound relationship between human societies and the environment (UNESCO 2017). SuS
research is highly integrated, participatory, and solution driven and, as such, is well
suited to the study of SEPLS. Using case studies, literature reviews, and SuS analyses, this book explores various approaches to stakeholder participation, policy development, and appropriate actions for the future of SEPLS. It provides communities,
researchers, and decision-makers at various levels with new tools and strategies for
exploring scenarios and creating future visions for sustainable societies.
This book presents up-to-date experience and analyses of various approaches to
the sustainable resource management of SEPLS, primarily based on experiences
in Asia.
1.4 Objectives and Organization of the Book
SEPLS are areas in which the majority of inhabitants rely on the well-being of the
landscape or seascape ecosystem. By definition, a harmonious relationship between
the natural environment and the people who inhabit it is essential to ensure community and environmental well-being as well as to build resilience in the ecosystems that support this well-being. Understanding SEPLS and the forces of change
that can weaken their resilience requires the integration of knowledge across a wide
range of academic disciplines as well as from indigenous knowledge and experience. Moreover, given the wide variation in the socio-ecological makeup of SEPLS
around the world, as well as in their political and economic contexts, individual
communities will be at the forefront of tailoring the approaches necessary to their
unique circumstances. Including SuS research approaches and integration of indigenous and local knowledge systems and scientific knowledge, this book explores
various approaches to stakeholder participation, policy development, and appropriate action for the future of SEPLS. By providing such approaches and tools, this
book shows how decision-makers and policy planners can promote robust collaborations between different stakeholders that will contribute to the effective implementation of conservation and development policies for sound resource management
in SEPLS.
While Chaps. 2–5 cover specific case studies of land/seascapes in Japan (Chaps.
2–4) and in Bangladesh (Chap. 5), Chaps. 6–8 consist of a series of review articles
that explore lessons learned from assessing resilience in SEPLS (Chap. 6), solutions
for the sustainable management of SEPLS in Asia (Chap. 7), and the effectiveness
of biodiversity science–policy interfaces (SPIs) from local to global scales (Chap.
8). The book highlights various approaches to navigate the sustainable resource
management of SEPLS from local to global scales.
1 Introduction: Socio-ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes