An approach to understanding social-ecological space Andy Kliskey Lil Alessa Resilience and Adaptive Management Group University of Alaska Anchorage

Outline Context - The Anthropocene Existing tools to understand social-ecological systems Mapping perceptions – Kenai Peninsula landscape values Mapping vulnerabilities – Seward Peninsula

The Anthropocene Currently human activities and/or residence largely occupy Earth e.g. Ellis & Ramankutty, Front. Ecol. Environ recognizing coupled social-ecological systems. Such systems must be studied differently than traditional disciplines currently do.

Context Location, distance, space matters Source: Kliskey & Byrom, 2004, Trans. In GIS

Context Hotspots as localities of intensity or coincidence

Kenai Peninsula study Source: Alessa, Kliskey, Brown. Landscape & Urban Planning

Kenai Peninsula study Social survey techniques linked to GIS 561 useable surveys 23% response rate Mapping exercise Where important values are located Weighting (0-50) of the importance of that value at that location

Landscape values Aesthetic – areas / places valued for scenery Biological – valued for plant, animal, wildlife habitat Cultural – valued as locales for passing down traditional knowledge Recreation – valued for recreation activities and experiences Subsistence – valued for provision of food and materials Economic, Future, Historic, Intrinsic, Learning, Spiritual, Therapeutic, Wilderness

Kenai Peninsula study Point density mapping Kernel density

Kenai Peninsula study

Key Points A single space will host a plurality of values, including social ones held by different communities. Management of natural resources often assumes a standard set of values. Biophysical measures on their own do not convey enough information to ensure their sustainability over time. Kenai Peninsula study

Mapping vulnerability to change Vulnerability mapping on Seward Peninsula Community-derived (salmon habitat, permafrost distribution, proximity to streams, traditional use, mining sites) Source: Alessa, Kliskey, et al. Global Environmental Change, 2008.

Existing and Future Directions Distancing of society from resources Source: Alessa, Kliskey, Williams. Polar Geography, 2007.

Summary Important role for perceptions of biophysical state (resources) Need to include the human state Socio-ecological systems Need for new approaches toward understanding, representing, and modeling social-ecological space Acknowledgements: EPSCoR, Alaska SeaGrant, Greg Brown, Sean Mack, Paula Williams