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Adaptive Capacity and Environmental Governance pp 263–285Cite as

Building Transformative Capacity for Ecosystem Stewardship in Social–Ecological Systems

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Part of the book series: Springer Series on Environmental Management ((SSEM))

Abstract

We use a “resilience lens” to identify gaps in the understanding of capacity to transform social-ecological systems’ (SES) trajectories toward ecosystem stewardship and highlight some challenges that need to be addressed. We draw on the organizational evolution literature in combination with the latest insights on SES transformations to give a more detailed understanding of what constitute transformative capacity. Two case studies illustrate the possibilities and challenges. SES transformations require knowledge and skills that can link ecosystem and social system dynamics, and develop strategies to overcome barriers and enable institutional changes that foster transformations. We identify some criteria that seem important for developing a framework for analyzing transformations and assessing transformative capacity in social-ecological systems. These criteria include experimentation and innovation, agency and social networks, opportunity context, diversity, boundaries, and collaboration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden

    Per Olsson, Örjan Bodin & Carl Folke

  2. The Beijer Institute, The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, SE-104 05, Stockholm, Sweden

    Carl Folke

Authors
  1. Per Olsson
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  2. Örjan Bodin
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  3. Carl Folke
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Correspondence to Per Olsson .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Geography &, Environmental Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, N2L 3C5, Canada

    Derek Armitage

  2. Dept. Tourism & Environment, Brock University, Glenridge Ave. 500, St. Catharines, L2S 3A1, Canada

    Ryan Plummer

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Olsson, P., Bodin, Ö., Folke, C. (2010). Building Transformative Capacity for Ecosystem Stewardship in Social–Ecological Systems. In: Armitage, D., Plummer, R. (eds) Adaptive Capacity and Environmental Governance. Springer Series on Environmental Management. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-12194-4_13

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