Scale and ecosystem-based management: Navigating mismatches between socio-ecological systems
February 1, 2025 - Ellis, J.; Macpherson, E.; Thrush, S.; Fisher, K.; Pilditch, C.; Jorgensen, E.; Low, J.; Stephenson, F.; Allison, A.; Geange, S.; Hewitt, J.
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EmailJournal or Book Title: BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
DOI:10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111000
Abstract: Ecosystem Based Management (EBM) is a dynamic process, focused on understanding and managing human interactions with ecosystems across a range of organisational, spatial and temporal scales. Scale-dependency in different disciplines and the interactions between them will affect both the decision-making process and its success. Unsurprisingly, many of the problems encountered by societies in managing natural ecosystems arise because of a mismatch between the scale of management and the scale(s) of the ecological processes being managed. This research therefore aims to produce new knowledge to better understand and communicate scaledependencies for EBM. We evaluate scale-dependencies in social-ecological systems and provide case study examples where scale is explicitly recognised resulting in 'scale fit'. Case studies include research that acknowledges ecological heterogeneity when scaling up information and place-based customary practices. We do this against a background of the organisations and legal instruments that are responsible for managing marine systems to ensure social-ecological resilience. Opportunities to align policy and law with marine ecosystems include a series of legal and policy innovations to set high-level, cross-sectoral and cross-scalar policy intention for oceans management which could collectively support EBM approaches across sectors and scales. This research aims to facilitate the development of decision-making practices that explicitly identify scaledependencies to increase the success of EBM decision-making processes.
Type of Publication: Article
