Resilience-based stewardship: Strategies for navigating sustainable pathways in a changing world

F. Stuart Chapin*, Gary P. Kofinas, Carl Folke, Stephen R. Carpenter, Per Olsson, Nick Abel, Reinette Biggs, Rosamond L. Naylor, Evelyn Pinkerton, D. Mark Stafford, Will Steffen, Brian Walker, Oran R. Young

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

224 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Accelerated global changes in climate, environment, and social-ecological systems demand a transformation in human perceptions of our place in nature and patterns of resource use. The biology and culture of Homo sapiens evolved for about 95% of our species' history in hunting-and-gathering societies before the emergence of settled agriculture. We have lived in complex societies for about 3%, and in industrial societies using fossil fuels for about 0.1% of our history. The pace of cultural evolution, including governance arrangements and resource-use patterns, appears insufficient to adjust to the rate and magnitude of technological innovations, human population increases, and environmental impacts that have occurred. Many of these changes are accelerating, causing unsustainable exploitation of ecosystems, including many boreal and tropical forests, drylands, and marine fisheries. The net effect has been serious degradation of the planet's life-support system on which societal development ultimately depends (see Chapters 2 and 14).

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPrinciples of Ecosystem Stewardship
Subtitle of host publicationResilience-Based Natural Resource Management in a Changing World
PublisherSpringer
Pages319-337
Number of pages19
ISBN (Print)9780387730325
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009

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