In search of an adaptive social-ecological approach to understanding a tropical city

Abstract

This essay describes our effort to develop a practical approach to the integration of the social and ecological sciences in the context of a Latin-American city such as San Juan, Puerto Rico. We describe our adaptive social-ecological approach in the historical context of the developing paradigms of the Anthropocene, new integrative social and ecological sciences, and the social and ecological conditions in San Juan. The problems faced by tropical cities are more complex than implied by isolated studies of their sociology and ecology, a situation that demands a higher level of integration of available knowledge, i.e., a transdisciplinary approach. Underscoring our effort was the added challenge of making our work understandable and useful to the citizens of San Juan, while maintaining academic rigor in our research. Our working definition of Social-Ecology is: the combination of the social and ecological both objectively and subjectively at the level of the individual and the community to assure a healthy and livable society.

Parent Publication

• Acta Cientifica Vol. 26 (1-3)

Citation

Lugo, A.E.; Concepcion, C.M.; Santiago-Acevedo, L.E.; Munoz-Erickson, T.A.; Verdejo Ortiz, J.C.; Santiago-Bartolomei, R.; Forero-Montana, J.; Nytch, C.J.; Manrique, H. ; Colon-Cortes, W. 2012. In search of an adaptive social-ecological approach to understanding a tropical city. Acta Cientifica. 26(1-3): 121-134.