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A Closer Look at Ecological Thinking

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

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A Closer Look at Ecological Thinking

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  1. By Nicholas Lawrence A Closer Look at Ecological Thinking

  2. 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.

  3. 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

  4. Lake Racken, Sweden

  5. 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

  6. Crayfish

  7. 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

  8. Results (Organization Levels)

  9. 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

  10. Results (Ecological Principles)

  11. Results (Ecological Principles)

  12. 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

  13. 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.”

  14. Questions?

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