a closer look at ecological thinking
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By Nicholas Lawrence. A Closer Look at Ecological Thinking. Introduction. Big facet of sustainability is sustainable resource use This can’t be done without understanding environmental dynamics/ using ecological thinking - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
A CLOSER LOOK AT ECOLOGICAL
THINKING
By Nicholas Lawrence
Introduction Big facet of sustainability is sustainable
resource use This can’t be done without understanding
environmental dynamics/ using ecological thinking
Having ecological knowledge of the environment leads to a better understanding of the environmental dynamics and how to best work within the system.
The Study Original Article:
Olsson, Per, and Folke Carl. “Local Ecological Knowledge and Institutional Dynamics for Ecosystem Management: A Study of Lake Racken Watershed, Sweden.” Ecosystems 4 (2001): 85–104. Print.
Crayfish management in Lake Racken, Sweden
They set out to show the existence of LEK (local ecological knowledge) and it’s importance in ecosystem management
Lake Racken, Sweden
Background Crayfish are largely enjoyed in Sweden The catching and eating of crayfish has
a large cultural aspect Crayfish plagued reduced native
populations by 95% Acid rain also threatens crayfish
populations
Crayfish
Methods Both qualitative and quantitative
methods were used 73 questionnaires sent to households
with fishing rights In depth qualitative interviews with 10
key informants Participant observation through public
meetings, informal meetings and newspapers
Results (Organization Levels)
Ecological Principles Time: long scale and short scale Place: local climate and geographic traits Species: local species and their
interactions Disturbance: type of disturbance, severity
and duration Landscape: local landscapes influence
local populations and communities
Results (Ecological Principles)
Results (Ecological Principles)
Significance Local ecological knowledge exists and is
combined with scientific knowledge Ecosystem was monitored at different
levels Comanagement played a key role in
enabling the inhabitants to react to disturbances
Conclusion Local ecological knowledge (LEK) was found at
different scales within the community LEK alone doesn’t imply sustainable management,
the nature of that LEK is important and institutional arrangements have to exist to make it work
Lake Racken could benefit from “adaptive comanagement systems—that is, flexible
community-based systems of resource management tailored to specific situations and supported by and working in collaboration with concerned governmental agencies, educational institutions, and where appropriate nongovernmental organizations.”
Questions?