A socio-ecological approach for identifying and contextualising spatial ecosystem-based adaptation priorities at the sub-national level

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dc.contributor.authorBourne, Amandaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorHolness, Stephenen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorHolden, Petraen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorScorgie, Sarshenen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorDonatti, Camila I.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMidgle, Guyen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2017-10-09T10:19:01Z
dc.date.available2017-10-09T10:19:01Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.descriptionCITATION: Bourne, A., et al. 2016. A socio-ecological approach for identifying and contextualising spatial ecosystem-based adaptation priorities at the sub-national level. PLoS ONE, 11(5):e0155235, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0155235.
dc.descriptionThe original publication is available at http://journals.plos.org/plosone
dc.description.abstractClimate change adds an additional layer of complexity to existing sustainable development and biodiversity conservation challenges. The impacts of global climate change are felt locally, and thus local governance structures will increasingly be responsible for preparedness and local responses. Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) options are gaining prominence as relevant climate change solutions. Local government officials seldom have an appropriate understanding of the role of ecosystem functioning in sustainable development goals, or access to relevant climate information. Thus the use of ecosystems in helping people adapt to climate change is limited partially by the lack of information on where ecosystems have the highest potential to do so. To begin overcoming this barrier, Conservation South Africa in partnership with local government developed a socio-ecological approach for identifying spatial EbA priorities at the sub-national level. Using GIS-based multi-criteria analysis and vegetation distribution models, the authors have spatially integrated relevant ecological and social information at a scale appropriate to inform local level political, administrative, and operational decision makers. This is the first systematic approach of which we are aware that highlights spatial priority areas for EbA implementation. Nodes of socio-ecological vulnerability are identified, and the inclusion of areas that provide ecosystem services and ecological resilience to future climate change is innovative. The purpose of this paper is to present and demonstrate a methodology for combining complex information into user-friendly spatial products for local level decision making on EbA. The authors focus on illustrating the kinds of products that can be generated from combining information in the suggested ways, and do not discuss the nuance of climate models nor present specific technical details of the model outputs here. Two representative case studies from rural South Africa demonstrate the replicability of this approach in rural and peri-urban areas of other developing and least developed countries around the world.en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0155235
dc.description.versionPublisher's version
dc.format.extent21 pages
dc.identifier.citationBourne, A., et al. 2016. A socio-ecological approach for identifying and contextualising spatial ecosystem-based adaptation priorities at the sub-national level. PLoS ONE, 11(5):e0155235, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0155235
dc.identifier.issn1932-6203 (online)
dc.identifier.otherdoi:10.1371/journal.pone.0155235
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/102299
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherPublic Library of Science
dc.rights.holderAuthors retain copyright
dc.subjectClimatic changesen_ZA
dc.subjectRestoration ecologyen_ZA
dc.subjectEcosystem managementen_ZA
dc.subjectSustainable developmenten_ZA
dc.subjectBiodiversity conservationen_ZA
dc.subjectSpatial ecologyen_ZA
dc.titleA socio-ecological approach for identifying and contextualising spatial ecosystem-based adaptation priorities at the sub-national levelen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA
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