A5058151403- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Sustainability and Climate Change Governance
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Urban Green Space and Health
- Economic and Environmental Valuation
- Sustainable Development and Environmental Policy
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Environmental Education and Sustainability
- Marine and fisheries research
- Climate Change Communication and Perception
- Innovative Approaches in Technology and Social Development
- Energy, Environment, Economic Growth
- Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration
- Urban Agriculture and Sustainability
- Radiomics and Machine Learning in Medical Imaging
- Innovation, Sustainability, Human-Machine Systems
- Complex Systems and Decision Making
- Urban Planning and Landscape Design
- Ecosystem dynamics and resilience
- Community Development and Social Impact
- Environmental Sustainability and Technology
- Environmental and Social Impact Assessments
- Environmental Conservation and Management
- Rural development and sustainability
- African studies and sociopolitical issues
Stellenbosch University
2016-2024
University of Exeter
2024
University of Minnesota
2018-2021
Stockholm Resilience Centre
2015-2017
Stockholm University
2015-2017
University of Cape Town
2011-2012
The magnitude and pace of global change demand rapid assessment nature its contributions to people. We present a fine-scale modeling current status future scenarios for several contributions: water quality regulation, coastal risk reduction, crop pollination. find that where people's needs are now greatest, nature's ability meet those is declining. Up 5 billion people face higher pollution insufficient pollination nutrition under land use climate change, particularly in Africa South Asia....
Oteros-Rozas, E., B. Martín-López, T. Daw, E. L. Bohensky, J. Butler, R. Hill, Martin-Ortega, A. Quinlan, F. Ravera, I. Ruiz-Mallén, M. Thyresson, Mistry, Palomo, G. D. Peterson, Plieninger, K. Waylen, Beach, C. Bohnet, Hamann, Hanspach, Hubacek, S. Lavorel and Vilardy 2015. Participatory scenario planning in place-based social-ecological research: insights experiences from 23 case studies. Ecology Society 20(4):32.http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ES-07985-200432
Formalised knowledge systems, including universities and research institutes, are important for contemporary societies. They are, however, also arguably failing humanity when their impact is measured against the level of progress being made in stimulating societal changes needed to address challenges like climate change. In this we used a novel futures-oriented participatory approach that asked what future envisioned systems might need look how get there. Findings suggest will be much more...
We present an approach to identify and map social–ecological systems based on the direct use of ecosystem services by households. This builds premise that characteristic bundles service represent integrated expressions different underlying systems. test in South Africa using national census data six provisioning (freshwater from a natural source, firewood for cooking, heating, building materials, animal production, crop production) at two scales. Based cluster analysis, we three distinct...
Pereira, L. M., T. Hichert, M. Hamann, R. Preiser, and Biggs. 2018. Using futures methods to create transformative spaces: visions of a good Anthropocene in southern Africa. Ecology Society 23(1):19. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-09907-230119
Abstract Natural infrastructure such as parks, forests, street trees, green roofs, and coastal vegetation is central to sustainable urban management. Despite recent progress, it remains challenging for decision-makers incorporate the benefits of natural into design planning. Here, we present an approach support greening cities by quantifying mapping diverse now in future. The relies on open-source tools, within InVEST (Integrated Valuation Ecosystem Services Tradeoffs) software, that compute...
The establishment of interdisciplinary Master's and PhD programs in sustainability science is opening up an exciting arena filled with opportunities for early-career scholars to address pressing challenges. However, embarking upon endeavor as scholar poses a unique set challenges: develop individual scientific identity strong specific methodological skill-set, while at the same time gaining ability understand communicate between different epistemologies. Here, we explore challenges that...
Rising inequalities and accelerating global environmental change pose two of the most pressing challenges twenty-first century. To explore how these phenomena are linked, we apply a social-ecological systems perspective review literature to identify six different types interactions (or “pathways”) between inequality biosphere. We find that research so far has only considered one-directional effects on biosphere, or vice versa. However, given potential for complex dynamics socioeconomic...
Balvanera, P., T. M. Daw, Gardner, B. Martín-López, A. Norström, C. Ifejika Speranza, Spierenburg, E. Bennett, Farfan, Hamann, J. N. Kittinger, Luthe, Maass, G. D. Peterson, and Pérez-Verdin. 2017. Key features for more successful place-based sustainability research on social-ecological systems: a Programme Ecosystem Change Society (PECS) perspective. Ecology 22(1):14. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-08826-220114
Social-ecological interactions have been shown to generate interrelated and reoccurring sets of ecosystem services, also known as service bundles. Given the potential utility bundles concept, along with recent surge in interest it is timely reflect on its current use for future. Based our bundle experience, expertise, analyses, we found critical elements advancing concept deepening impact In this paper 1) examine different conceptualizations concept; 2) show range benefits using a approach;...
A key aim of sustainable development is the joint achievement prosperity, equality, and environmental integrity: in other words, material living standards that are high, broadly-distributed, low-impact. This has often been called "triple bottom line". But instead, what if there a "trilemma" inhibits simultaneous these three goals? We analysed international patterns trends relationships between per-capita gross national income, Gini coefficient for income distribution, ecological footprint...
Abstract Sub-Saharan Africa is under-represented in global biodiversity datasets, particularly regarding the impact of land use on species’ population abundances. Drawing recent advances expert elicitation to ensure data consistency, 200 experts were convened using a modified-Delphi process estimate ‘intactness scores’: remaining proportion an ‘intact’ reference species group particular use, scale from 0 (no individuals) 1 (same abundance as reference) and, rare cases, 2 (populations that...
We take a social-ecological systems perspective to investigate the linkages between ecosystem services and human well-being in South Africa. A recent paper identified different types of country, based on distinct bundles service use. These system were found represent increasingly weak direct feedbacks nature people, from rural "green-loop" communities urban "red-loop" societies. Here we construct explore whether can be used identify same that using Based national census data, three bundle...
Sitas, N., Z. V. Harmáčková, J. A. Anticamara, Arneth, R. Badola, Biggs, Blanchard, L. Brotons, M. Cantele, K. Coetzer, DasGupta, E. Den Belder, S. Ghosh, Guisan, H. Gundimeda, Hamann, P. Harrison, Hashimoto, Hauck, B. Klatt, Kok, Krug, Niamir, O'Farrell, Okayasu, I. Palomo, Pereira, Riordan, F. Santos-Martín, O. Selomane, Y. Shin, and Valle Tobar. 2019. Exploring the usefulness of scenario archetypes in science-policy processes: experience across IPBES assessments. Ecology Society 24(3):35....
Globally, cities face massive environmental and societal challenges such as rapid population growth climate change. In response, natural infrastructure is increasingly recognized for its potential to enhance resilience improve human well-being. Here, we examine the role of ecosystem services approaches in urban planning, which both aim sustain long-term benefits cities. While two are intertwined share deep roots social-ecological systems framing, they confer complementary strengths practice,...
The global uptake of green infrastructure in urban settings holds considerable promise for fostering both social and ecological benefits. Recognizing the imperative to ensure equitable distribution these advantages, this paper draws on rich traditions justice considerations within studies inform research greening. Focusing three key trends - reconceptualizing 'urban' category, acknowledging role historical processes shaping contemporary uneven unjust geographies, considering power dynamics...
The United Nations’ Agenda 2030 marks significant progress towards sustainable development by making explicit the intention to integrate previously separate social, economic and environmental agendas. Despite this intention, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which were adopted implement agenda, are fragmented in their formulation largely sectoral. We contend that while design of SDG monitoring is based on a systems approach, it still misses most dynamics complexity relevant sustainability...
Non-technical summary We argue that the ways in which we as humans derive well-being from nature – for example by harvesting firewood, selling fish or enjoying natural beauty feed back into how behave towards environment. This feedback is mediated institutions (rules, regulations) and individual capacities to act. Understanding these relationships can guide better interventions sustainably improving alleviating poverty. However, more attention needs be paid experience-related benefits...
Social-ecological systems (SES) research has emerged as an important area of sustainability science, informing and supporting pressing issues transformation towards more sustainable, just equitable futures. To date, much SES been done in or from the Global North, where challenges contexts for transformations are substantially different South. This paper synthesises emerging insights on dynamics that can inform actions advance to support specifically southern African context. The draws work...
Identifying research gaps and priorities is paramount to advance sustainability science contribute a sustainable future. This editorial contributes this effort by contemplating the agenda aligning it with recent changes in global dynamics. Drawing on consultations board members of Sustainability Science journal review relevant literature, we identified 12 key topics. These topics are interpreted within strategic framework encompassing three themes: (1) goals that drive science, (2)...