Oral Abstract Details

Author(s):
Wayde Morse, Megan Lupek, Bill McLaughlin

Affiliation:
Auburn University, Auburn University, University of Idaho

Presentation Type:
Oral

Topic Area:
The relationship(s) between land-use policies and ecological processes/disturbances along urban-rural interfaces

Abstract Text:
Understanding the processes that link social and ecological systems is critical for identifying and building resilience within these interdependent systems. A framework was developed as a heuristic device to explain social and ecological systems as they change over time. Specific attention is given to the decision making process of agents who continually influence the creation, reaffirmation or change to the social and ecological systems. A modern revision of Structuration Theory from the social sciences was combined with theory of Complex Adaptive Systems as applied in Hierarchical Patch Dynamics. Both social and ecological systems contain fast and slow variables that interact as recursive systems. Overtime, these systems develop relatively stable structures that both enable and constrain future actions of a diverse set of agents. This presentation focuses on the land use decision making process of agents situated within the context of the dynamic systems. As such, decision making is framed as a dynamic process where agents recurrently adapt to change in social and ecological systems. Agents’ motivations, capabilities, and knowledge are considered along with the perceived enabling and constraining influences at the systems level. Furthermore, agents’ monitoring of outcomes and adaptive strategies are considered. The framework was originally developed and applied in a case study analyzing the influence of payments for environmental services on landowner land-cover decisions and the resultant provision of environmental services in Costa Rica. That case will be presented along with current modifications to the framework that will be applied to a case study on the decisions of landowners to participate in conservation easements in Alabama.