Olsson et al_Sweden wetlands - Essay Example

Social-Ecological Transformation for Ecosystem Management Summary of the Development of Adaptive Co-management of a Wetland Landscape in Southern SwedenThe report has elaborated how the adaptive co-management has come about via self-organization mechanisms, started by key stewards in order to fit the context-specific issues and needs. Crisis perception in the resource catalyzed action, vision, resource triggered actions, development of social networks and a brief social and political window of opportunity was opened at a very important time accompanied by a wide support that was created for the new leadership levels amongst those of different levels in the society.

The report talks of transformability being understood as the ability to start social transformation that usually moves away from undesired and unsustainable trajectories towards new ones that develop management of preferred ecosystem states and the related values. The article also demonstrates the inter-linkage between social and ecological systems that implies that losing the key structuring social variables could affect the state of the ecosystem just as losing the major ecological elements.

Those systems that depend on one or more key stewards may be prone to changes. In an example, Peterson describes the management of the long-leaf pine forest in Florida and how the required stability of the forest is maintained as a major structuring variable. The loss of the forest cover through frequent fires has threatened the desired ecosystem states. The location of the forest is one of the factors that have led to its maintenance through active burning. The example illustrates how the structures and several processes are capable of giving a social memory of ecosystem supervision that maintains its capacity in changing times and may provide basis for transformability.

ReferencesHahn, T., & Folke, C. (2004). Social-Ecological Transformation for Ecosystem Management: the Development of Adaptive Co-management of a Wetland Landscape in Southern Sweden.