The minimum complexity necessary
The value of a simple Social-Ecological systems analysis in holistic marine environmental management
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6455348 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Gemma Smith (0009-0006-3704-5917), Jonathan P Atkins, Amanda Gregory, Michael Elliott (0000-0002-2519-4871) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 9 |
| Pages | 100476-100476 |
| Publication date | 2025-02-04 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Sustainable Futures (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2666-1888 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.sftr.2025.100476 |
| OpenAlex | W4407130963 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 64 |
The marine environment is a complex adaptive system, in which natural components interact with pressures from human activities and climate change. Effective marine management must navigate this complexity to protect biodiversity and ensure societal benefits. Increasingly, it is recognised that a functional, integrated approach is essential for sustainable management. This paper presents a comprehensive interrogation of nine existing Social-Ecological System (SES) frameworks, aiming to learn from these and identify the most suitable approach for managing the complex and adaptive nature of marine systems. Through a rigorous SWOT analysis and the application of appropriate characteristics criteria derived from the Ecosystem Approach principles, we evaluate various frameworks potential for operationalising ecosystem-based marine management. Key attributes such as holism, resilience, cross-scale interactions, stakeholder involvement, and adaptive learning emerge as critical to effective marine management. Our analysis reveals that while no single framework is perfect, the Integrated Systems Analysis (ISA) demonstrates the potential due to its holistic approach, explicit learning design, stakeholder inclusion, and proven application in marine and coastal contexts. Nonetheless, recognising ISA's limitations, we propose integrating elements from other frameworks and Systems Thinking tools to create a refined, practical approach termed ‘Simple SES.’ The resulting ‘Simple SES’ aims to provide a tailored, yet manageable approach for practitioners, deciphering the complexity of marine systems and supporting well-informed decision-making. This work advances SES theory and practice, developing an operationalised framework that aligns with the goals of sustainable and successful marine management thereby making ecosystem-based management more achievable and integrative by applying a systems approach
Biology · Environmental resource management · Epistemology · Simple (philosophy · Value (mathematics · Coastal and Marine Management · Computer Science · Environmental Science · Marine and fisheries research · Sustainability and Climate Change Governance · Ecology
Marine spatial planning in reality
The Viable System Model
Ecosystems and the Biosphere as Complex Adaptive Systems
Fisheries and coastal governance as a wicked problem
The fifth discipline, the art and practice of the learning organization
The Ecosystem Services Framework and Natural Capital Conservation
A diagnostic approach for going beyond panaceas
A General Framework for Analyzing Sustainability of Social-Ecological Systems
A framework for vulnerability analysis in sustainability science
A framework linking ecosystem services and human well‐being
A review of the social-ecological systems framework
Mapping social-ecological systems archetypes
The ecological, economic, and social importance of the oceans
Co-production of knowledge and sustainability transformations
The ebb and flow of adaptive co-management
Evaluating an instrument for institutional crafting
Multi-level governance for large marine commons
Simplifying the complex
Dilemmas in a general theory of planning
An introduction to cybernetics
Social-ecological system framework
Exploring the social-ecological systems discourse 20 years later
Introduction to the Special Feature Practicing Panarchy
Social-ecological systems as complex adaptive systems
Capturing emergent phenomena in social-ecological systems
Comparison of Frameworks for Analyzing Social-ecological Systems
Studying human-nature relations in aquatic social-ecological systems using the social-ecological action situations framework
A Systems Approach Framework for Coastal Zones
Brain of the Firm
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |