Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewed

Improving network approaches to the study of complex social–ecological interdependencies

Örjan Bodin, Steven M. Alexander, Jacopo A. Baggio, Michele L. Barnes, Ramiro Berardo, Graeme S. Cumming, Laura E. Dee, A. Paige Fischer, Manuel Fischer, María Mancilla García, Angela M. Guerrero, Jacob Hileman, Karin Ingold, Petr Matouš, Tiffany H. Morrison, Daniel Nohrstedt, Jeremy Pittman, Garry Robins, Jesse S. Sayles

Nature Sustainability · 2019

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Summary

This paper, published in Nature Sustainability, reviews and critiques network approaches to studying the complex interdependencies between social and ecological systems. The authors—a collaborative group spanning multiple institutions—assess how network analysis methods can be improved to better capture the dynamics of coupled human–environment systems, particularly in contexts of resource management and policy governance. The work appears designed to advance methodological practice in sustainability science by identifying limitations in current network approaches and proposing refinements for future application.

UK applicability

The methodological frameworks discussed are applicable to UK policy and practice contexts involving multi-stakeholder natural resource governance, environmental management, and food system resilience assessment, particularly where institutional networks and ecological outcomes are interdependent.

Key measures

Network analysis frameworks, methods for characterising social–ecological interdependencies, governance and institutional structures

Outcomes reported

The paper examines methodological approaches to network analysis as applied to complex social–ecological systems, with implications for understanding interdependencies in resource management and governance contexts.

Theme
Policy, governance & rights
Subject
Other / interdisciplinary
Study type
Narrative Review
Study design
Narrative review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
International
System type
Food supply chain
DOI
10.1038/s41893-019-0308-0
Catalogue ID
SNmohdwel6-llvcv9

Topic tags

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