Modeling social-ecological problems in coastal ecosystems: A case study

"Bimodeling” approach is investigated in one complex social-ecological system in coastal Kenya

Abstract

Complex social-ecological systems (SES) are not amenable to simple mathematical modeling. However, to address critical issues in SES (e.g., understanding ecological resilience/amelioration of poverty) it is necessary to describe such systems in their entirety. Based on empirical knowledge of local stakeholders and experts, we mapped their conceptions of one SES. Modelers codified what actors told us into two models: a local-level model and an overarching multiple-entity description of the system. Looking at these two representations together helps us understand links between the locally specific and other levels of decision taking and vice-versa. This “bimodeling” approach is investigated in one SES in coastal Kenya.

Citation

Forrester, J.; Greaves, R.; Taylor, R.; Noble, H. Modeling social-ecological problems in coastal ecosystems: A case study. Complexity (2014) : n/a-n/a. [DOI: 10.1002/cplx.21524]

Modeling social-ecological problems in coastal ecosystems: A case study

Updates to this page

Published 1 January 2014