Ecosystem stewardship: sustainability strategies for a rapidly changing planet

F. Stuart Chapin; Stephen R. Carpenter; Gary P. Kofinas; Carl Folke; Nick Abel; William C. Clark; Per Olsson; D. Mark Stafford Smith; Brian Walker; Oran R. Young; Fikret Berkes; Reinette Biggs; Morgan Grove; Rosamond L. Naylor; Evelyn Pinkerton; Will Steffen; Frederick J. Swanson

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2009.10.008

Treesearch

Ecosystem stewardship: sustainability strategies for a rapidly changing planet

Formally Refereed

Authors:

F. Stuart Chapin, Stephen R. Carpenter, Gary P. Kofinas, Carl Folke, Nick Abel, William C. Clark, Per Olsson, D. Mark Stafford Smith, Brian Walker, Oran R. Young, Fikret Berkes, Reinette Biggs, Morgan Grove, Rosamond L. Naylor, Evelyn Pinkerton, Will Steffen, Frederick J. Swanson

Year:

2010

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Pacific Northwest Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2009.10.008

Source:

Trends in Ecology & Evolution

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Download (PDF 2.28 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/36802.pdf

Abstract

Ecosystem stewardship is an action-oriented framework intended to foster the social-ecological sustainability of a rapidly changing planet. Recent developments identify three strategies that make optimal use of current understanding in an environment of inevitable uncertainty and abrupt change: reducing the magnitude of, and exposure and sensitivity to, known stresses; focusing on proactive policies that shape change; and avoiding or escaping unsustainable social-ecological traps. As we discuss here, all social-ecological systems are vulnerable to recent and projected changes but have sources of adaptive capacity and resilience that can sustain ecosystem services and human well-being through active ecosystem stewardship.

Keywords

ecosystem management, resource management, forest policy, public participation, public interest

Citation

Chapin, F. Stuart; Carpenter, Stephen R.; Kofinas, Gary P.; Folke, Carl; Abel, Nick; Clark, William C.; Olsson, Per; Smith, D. Mark Stafford; Walker, Brian; Young, Oran R.; Berkes, Fikret; Biggs, Reinette; Grove, J. Morgan; Naylor, Rosamond L.; Pinkerton, Evelyn; Steffen, Will; Swanson, Frederick J. 2010. Ecosystem stewardship: sustainability strategies for a rapidly changing planet. Trends in Ecology & Evolution. 25(4): 241-249.