ADAPTIVE GOVERNANCE OF SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS
Abstract
▪ Abstract We explore the social dimension that enables adaptive ecosystem-based management. The review concentrates on experiences of adaptive governance of social-ecological systems during periods of abrupt change (crisis) and investigates social sources of renewal and reorganization. Such governance connects individuals, organizations, agencies, and institutions at multiple organizational levels. Key persons provide leadership, trust, vision, meaning, and they help transform management organizations toward a learning environment. Adaptive governance systems often self-organize as social networks with teams and actor groups that draw on various knowledge systems and experiences for the development of a common understanding and policies. The emergence of “bridging organizations” seem to lower the costs of collaboration and conflict resolution, and enabling legislation and governmental policies can support self-organization while framing creativity for adaptive comanagement efforts. A resilient social-ecological system may make use of crisis as an opportunity to transform into a more desired state.
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Deliberation and learning have been posited as processes that support a governance system's adaptive capacity.
“In the commons literature, deliberation and learning have been posited as processes that support a governance system's adaptive capacity (see Berkes, 2010; Blomquist, 2009; Folke et al., 2005; Gelcich, 2014).”
From Polycentric Systems of Governance: A Theoretical Model for the Commons (2019) · cites this paper as Folke et al., 2005
The existence of multiple, overlapping decision-making centers operating with some degree of autonomy helps make possible the production of place-specific institutions that are better tailored to a particular context or problem.
“First, the existence of multiple, overlapping decision-making centers operating with some degree of autonomy (attribute one) helps make possible the production of placespecific institutions that are better tailored to a particular context or problem (see Folke et al., 2005; Pahl-Wostl et al., 2012).”
From Polycentric Systems of Governance: A Theoretical Model for the Commons (2019) · cites this paper as Folke et al., 2005
Polycentric governance systems may be capable of producing institutions at levels that are most appropriate to ecological scale or level.
“Thus, Folke et al. (2005) observe that polycentric governance systems may be capable of producing institutions at levels that are most appropriate to ecological scale or level.”
From Polycentric Systems of Governance: A Theoretical Model for the Commons (2019) · cites this paper as Folke et al., 2005
The claim that polycentric governance systems provide good institutional fit for natural resource systems is based largely on the characteristic that they exhibit decision-making capability at different levels that generally correspond to the multiple spatial levels or dimensions of natural resource systems.
“The claim that polycentric governance systems provide good institutional fit for natural resource systems is based largely on the characteristic that they exhibit decision-making capability at different levels (e.g., local, state, and federal) that generally correspond to the multiple spatial levels or dimensions of natural resource systems (see Folke et al., 2005).”
From Polycentric Systems of Governance: A Theoretical Model for the Commons (2019) · cites this paper as Folke et al., 2005
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- Authors
- Folke, C., Hahn, T., Olsson, P., & Norberg, J.
- Affiliations
- Stockholm University (SE)
- Venue
- Annual Review of Environment and Resources
- Publisher
- Annual Reviews
- Published
- 2005-11-21
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 441-473
- ISSN
- 1543-5938 (ISSN-L)
- 1545-2050
- OpenAlex
- W1976759885
- Cited by
- 5,814
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 540 · 2025: 358 · 2024: 253 · 2023: 302 · 2022: 296 · 2021: 434 · 2020: 317 · 2019: 347 · 2018: 408 · 2017: 289 · 2016: 306 · 2015: 380 · 2014: 313 · 2013: 267 · 2012: 255
- FWCI
- 7.74
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Annual Review of Environment and Resources (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Sustainability and Climate Change Governance
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law › Coastal and Marine Management
- Social Sciences › Public Administration › Public Policy and Administration Research
- Keywords
- adaptive governance, social-ecological systems, ecosystem-based management, abrupt environmental change, crisis, social regeneration, self-organization, social networks, bridging organizations, institutional learning, resilience
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