Social-ecological systems

*General objectives

Social-ecological systems (SES) are complex systems resulting from constant interactions between natural and societal dynamics.

In this workshop, we propose to address the interactions between societies and ecosystems through objects that embody them, such as natural and/or anthropized environments (pastures, forests, lakes, etc.) or so-called natural hazards. This involves an approach that integrates social sciences (economics, sociology, history, human geography, etc.), environmental sciences (ecology, pedology, paleoecology, physical geography, etc.), climatology, mathematical modeling, and geosciences, as well as developing cross-disciplinary research through common objects of study. This workshop is therefore aimed at a very broad community of researchers within OSUG. Getting such diverse communities to work together will be the challenge of this workshop!

A wide range of conceptual tools will be used to address these issues:
– socio-ecosystem services
– ecology and metabolism of territories
– trajectories of socio-ecosystems
– governance and decision-making mechanisms

Interrelationships can be examined over the short term (recent dynamics) and over the long term (older dynamics reconstructed using archives (natural or historical)). It is essential to consider the history of systems in order to identify legacies in their current functioning, phases of disruption in their trajectory, etc.

In addition, the question of the scope of the study must also be addressed. Working at the territorial level allows for the involvement of stakeholders, but depending on the issues, multi-scale approaches (from local to global or vice versa) may be more appropriate for addressing complex systems.

*Workshop activities

This workshop brings together colleagues from very different backgrounds who are keen to transcend disciplinary boundaries and share common research topics. It is based on a possible link with the Zone Atelier Alpes, which now structures its activity around major types of socio-ecosystems.

*Facilitators and steering group members

Erwan Messager (EDYTEM), Isabelle Boulangeat (LESSEM), Florie Giacona (IGE)

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