scholarly journals Can people be sentinels of sustainability? Identifying the linkages among ecosystem health and human well-being

FACETS ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 148-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip A. Loring ◽  
Megan S. Hinzman ◽  
Hanna Neufeld
Keyword(s):  
Political Ecology ◽  
Ecosystem Health ◽  
Social Epidemiology ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Constitutive Relationship ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Human Needs ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
Sustainability Research ◽  
Negative Impacts

Human well-being depends on the health of ecosystems, but can human well-being also be an indicator of ecosystem health, and perhaps even sustainability? Research shows that ecosystem health and human well-being are often mutually reinforcing, whether in the direction of wellness and sustainability or poverty and degradation. However, while well-being is increasingly recognized as an important consideration when managing ecosystems, human needs and activities are often still thought of only in terms of their negative impacts on ecosystems. In this essay, we explore the proposition that there can be a mutually constitutive relationship between people’s well-being and the health of ecosystems, and discuss what such a relationship would mean for expanding the use of human well-being indicators in ecosystem-based management. Specifically, we discuss two areas of theory: ecosocial theory from social epidemiology and the marginalization–degradation thesis in political ecology; collectively, these provide a justification, in certain circumstances at least, for thinking of well-being as not just an add-on in natural resource management but as an indicator of ecosystem health and a prerequisite of social-ecological sustainability. We conclude with a discussion of future research needs to further explore how human well-being and ecosystem health interact.

Housing

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth A. Reinert
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Housing Provision ◽  
Human Needs ◽  
Regulatory Frameworks ◽  
Human Need ◽  
Displaced People ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
United Nations System ◽  
Housing Deprivation

This chapter considers housing as a basic good that satisfies critical basic human needs for shelter. Housing satisfies not only the human need for shelter but also as a place in which the provision of other basic goods can occur. The chapter also considers the widespread but unknown extent of housing deprivation and the consequent negative impacts for well-being, including health. It examines the subsistence right to housing and the role of this right within the United Nations system of human rights. It also examines the issue of refugees and displaced people, urban slums, approaches to housing provision, and regulatory frameworks.

Education Services

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth A. Reinert
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Education Quality ◽  
Special Role ◽  
Relative Role ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Education Services ◽  
Human Needs ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
United Nations System

This chapter considers education services as a basic good that satisfy critical basic human needs, which allow individuals to effectively participate in society. It considers the widespread nature of education services deprivation and the consequent negative impacts for well-being and growth. The chapter examines the subsistence right to education services and the role of this right within the United Nations system of human rights. It also examines the special role of girls’ education, education quality, and accountability; and the potential role for schools to serve as basic goods provision centers. It concludes with a consideration of demand-side issues and education provisioning processes, including the relative role of public and private provision.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Human Well-Being and Carbon Emissions

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 547
Author(s):  
Qin Li ◽  
Hongmin Chen
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Human Needs ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
The Relationship

Governments around the world are actively exploring strategies to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change. In addition to technological progress, promoting a transformation of residents’ behaviors to a low carbon mode is also a solution. Many people are concerned about how to reduce carbon emissions while ensuring human well-being. Starting from the comparative analysis of two main theories of human well-being, this paper sorted out existing well-being measurement methods from the perspectives of “top-down” and “bottom-up” and further sorted out research on the relationship between human well-being and energy carbon emissions. While “top-down” research is conducive to the layout of macro policies, “bottom-up” research can better help to promote the transformation of society to a low carbon life by estimating the energy consumption and carbon emissions contained in human needs. Current research discusses human well-being, human needs, energy use and carbon emissions, respectively, but they are not systematically integrated. Furthermore, this paper proposes a framework combining these aspects to analyze the relationship between human well-being and carbon emissions. In addition, this paper suggests future research directions.

scholarly journals Ocean grabbing

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Bennett ◽  
Hugh Govan ◽  
Terre Satterfield
Keyword(s):  
Vulnerable Populations ◽  
Conservation Management ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Marine Resources ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
Systematic Inquiry ◽  
Development Objectives

The term “ocean grabbing” has been used to describe actions, policies or initiatives that deprive small-scale fishers of resources, dispossess vulnerable populations of coastal lands, and/or undermine historical access to areas of the sea. Rights and access to marine resources and spaces are frequently reallocated through government or private sector initiatives to achieve conservation, management or development objectives with a variety of outcomes for different sectors of society. This paper provides a definition and gives examples of reallocations of marine resources or spaces that might constitute “ocean grabbing”. It offers a tentative framework for evaluating whether marine conservation, management or development is ocean grabbing and proposes an agenda for future research. For a reallocation to be considered ocean grabbing, it must: (1) occur by means of inadequate governance, and (2) be implemented using actions that undermine human security and livelihoods, or (3) produce impacts that reduce social–ecological well-being. Future research on ocean grabbing will: document case studies, drivers and consequences; conduct spatial and historical analyses; and investigate solutions. The intent is to stimulate rigorous discussion and promote systematic inquiry into the phenomenon of ocean grabbing.

scholarly journals Beyond Maslow’s Pyramid: Introducing a Typology of Thirteen Fundamental Needs for Human-Centered Design

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pieter Desmet ◽  
Steven Fokkinga
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Design Practice ◽  
User Centered Design ◽  
Discussion Section ◽  
Human Needs ◽  
The Hierarchical Structure ◽  
Fundamental Needs ◽  
General Discussion Section

This paper introduces a design-focused typology of psychological human needs that includes 13 fundamental needs and 52 sub-needs (four for each fundamental need). The typology was developed to provide a practical understanding of psychological needs as a resource for user-centered design practice and research with a focus on user experience and well-being. The first part of the manuscript briefly reviews Abraham Maslow’s pioneering work on human needs, and the underlying propositions, main contributions and limitations of his motivational theory. The review results in a set of requirements for a design-focused typology of psychological needs. The second part reports on the development of the new typology. The thirteen needs were selected from six existing typologies with the use of five criteria that distinguish fundamental from non-fundamental needs. The resulting typology builds on the strengths of Maslow’s need hierarchy but rejects the hierarchical structure and adds granularity to the need categories. The third part of the paper describes three examples of how the need typology can inform design practice, illustrated with student design cases. It also presents three means for communicating the need typology. The general discussion section reflects on implications and limitations and proposes ideas for future research.

scholarly journals Understanding How Smallholders Integrated into Pericoupled and Telecoupled Systems

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Dou ◽  
Ramon da Silva ◽  
Paul McCord ◽  
Julie Zaehringer ◽  
Hongbo Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Area Of Interest ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Agricultural Investments ◽  
Smallholder Systems

Increasing connections and influences from near to far have changed social structures, access to natural resources, and essential livelihoods of smallholders (i.e., those with incomes generated primarily from natural resources on small rural properties). However, the potential benefits and negative impacts from these connections to smallholders’ livelihoods and social-ecological effects remain understudied. In this paper, we applied the frameworks of pericoupling and telecoupling (human-nature interactions between adjacent and distant systems, respectively) to systematically investigate how the flows linking smallholder systems to other systems affect their livelihoods, and causing varying economic, social, and environmental effects from case to case. We synthesized 12 cases of smallholder systems around the world that are linked to adjacent and distant systems through flows of goods, people, resources, and/or information. In each case, we summarized smallholders’ agency, i.e., capability on the formation or operation of these flows, and the changes on livelihoods on the economic, social, and environment effects. Results suggest that strong smallholder agency is associated more with positive than negative effects. Smallholders with medium to high agency have greater overall well-being within the area of interest. Smallholders integrated in pericoupled systems often have strong agency. Being spillover systems in an intercoupled system (e.g., large-scale agricultural investments) can often cause negative outcomes unless smallholders have additional pericoupling flows. Our findings suggest one potential approach to ending poverty and increasing well-being for smallholders is creating and increasing pericoupling flows to empower smallholders for desired livelihood and social-ecological outcomes.

scholarly journals We adapt … but is it good or bad? Locating the political ecology and social-ecological systems debate in reindeer herding in the Swedish Sub-Arctic

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gloria L. Gallardo F. ◽  
Fred Saunders ◽  
Tatiana Sokolova ◽  
Kristina Börebäck ◽  
Frank Van Laerhoven ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Political Ecology ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Cultural Tradition ◽  
Reindeer Herding ◽  
Social Ecological Systems ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
Economic Practice ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Key Aspects

Abstract Reindeer herding (RDH) is a livelihood strategy deeply connected to Sami cultural tradition. This article explores the implications of two theoretical and methodological approaches for grasping complex socioenvironmental relationships of RDH in Subarctic Sweden. Based on joint fieldwork, two teams – one that aligns itself with political ecology (PE) and the other with social-ecological systems (SES) – compared PE and SES approaches of understanding RDH. Our purpose was twofold: 1) to describe the situation of Sami RDH through the lenses of PE and SES, exploring how the two approaches interpret the same empirical data; 2) to present an analytical comparison of the ontological and epistemological assumptions of this work, also inferring different courses of action to instigate change for the sustainability of RDH. Key informants from four sameby in the Kiruna region expressed strong support for the continuation of RDH as a cultural and economic practice. Concerns about the current situation raised by Sami representatives centered on the cumulative negative impacts on RDH from mining, forestry and tourism. PE and SES researchers offered dissimilar interpretations of the key aspects of the RDH socio-economic situation, namely: the nature and scale of RDH systems; the ubiquitous role of conflict; and conceptualizations of responses to changing socioenvironmental conditions. Due to these disparities, PE and SES analyses have radically divergent sociopolitical implications for what ought to be done to redress the current RDH situation. Keywords: Reindeer herding, political ecology, social-ecological systems, resilience, interdisciplinary, ontological assumptions, conflicts/consensus, adaptation

Counterpoint in the music classroom: Creating an environment of resilience with peer mentoring and LGBTQIA+ students

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 582-592
Author(s):  
Andrew Goodrich
Keyword(s):  
Music Education ◽  
Peer Mentoring ◽  
Music Teachers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Safe Spaces ◽  
Music Classroom ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
The Social ◽  
Peer Harassment

LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual) students face significant challenges that include peer harassment and health risks surpassing those of students who do not identify as being gay. Learning environments that include peer mentoring promote resilience and help LGBTQIA+ students gain a sense of well-being. Researchers in music education have recently begun to explore the various complexities that exist in the recognition of sexual orientation in the music classroom, yet research on how peer mentoring assists LGBTQIA+ students with resilience is noticeably absent. Drawing upon available educational research, the social-ecological framework of resilience served as the theoretical framework with how teachers can work with LGBTQIA+ students to become resilient through the process of peer mentoring. Five themes surfaced while conducting this review: the necessity of (a) setting the foundation for peer mentoring, (b) creating safe spaces, (c) encouraging socialization, (d) establishing leadership and identity, and (e) acknowledging intersectionality. Peer mentoring contributes to student well-being and positive sexual identity for LGBTQIA+ students. Salient concepts found in the literature can aid LGBTQIA+ students in the music classroom and inform future research in music education by portraying ways music teachers can use peer mentoring to create an environment of resilience for LGBTQIA+ students.

scholarly journals Cooperating With “Open Cards”—The Role of Small Intermediary Businesses in Realizing Sustainable International Coffee Supply

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna Weber ◽  
Arnim Wiek
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Economic Resilience ◽  
Being There ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Environmental Integrity ◽  
Sustainability Challenges ◽  
Sustainability Principles

Despite improvements, international food supply in general and coffee supply in particular continue to cause significant greenhouse gas emissions, economic inequities, and negative impacts on human well-being. There is agreement that dominant economic paradigms need to change to comply with the sustainability principles of environmental integrity, economic resilience, and social equity. However, so far, little empirical evidence has been generated to what extent and under which conditions sustainable international coffee supply could be realized through small intermediary businesses such as roasteries, breweries, and/or retailers. This case study reports on a collaborative project between a small coffee brewery and its customers in the U.S. and a small coffee roastery and its suppliers in Mexico that demonstrates how sustainable coffee supply could look like and explores under which conditions it can be realized. A research team facilitated the cooperation using a transdisciplinary research approach, including field visits and stakeholder workshops. The project (i) assessed the sustainability challenges of the current supply and value chains; (ii) developed a vision of a joint sustainable coffee supply chain; (iii) build a strategy to achieve this vision, and (iv) piloted the implementation of the strategy. We discuss the project results against the conditions for sustainable international coffee supply offered in the literature (why they were fulfilled, or not). Overall, the study suggests that small intermediary coffee businesses might have the potential to infuse sustainability across their supply chain if cooperating with “open cards.” The findings confirm some and add some conditions, including economic resilience through cooperation, problem recognition, transparency, trust, and solidarity across the supply chain. The study concludes with reflections on study limitations and future research needs.

scholarly journals Biologia Futura: integrating freshwater ecosystem health in water resources management

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 337-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janos J. Bogardi ◽  
Jan Leentvaar ◽  
Zita Sebesvári
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Ecosystem Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystem ◽  
Water Quality Guidelines ◽  
Human Needs ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Quality Guidelines ◽  
Physico Chemical

AbstractSustainable water use implies the simultaneous protection of water quality and quantity. Beyond their function to support human needs such as drinking water provision, transportation and recreation freshwater bodies are also habitats. Conceiving them as water users on their own with respective biological, physico-chemical and morphological requirements could help maintaining their healthy state. Healthy freshwater ecosystems are also attractive for high-value human uses. Dwindling per capita availability of water, increasing demands, human well-being and climate change lead to competition for, and pressures on freshwater ecosystems. This has been conceptualized through the modification of the drivers–pressures–state–impacts–responses framework. This distinguishes between pressures, associated with the achievement of human well-being, and stressors, which are defined as the negative effect of excessive pressures or combination thereof on aquatic ecosystems. Guidelines usually specify threshold values to classify water bodies as appropriate for certain utilitarian uses. However, only few guidelines focus on freshwater ecosystem health. Eight guidelines for monitoring of freshwater ecosystem health were analysed in the UNEP-funded project “International Water Quality Guidelines for Ecosystems”. Based on this review, general benchmark values are proposed for key physico-chemical indicators. Furthermore, adaptive pathways towards improved monitoring and protection of the health of freshwater ecosystems are recommended. In this paper, we review the main findings of the report and also review its recent uptake. Water quality guidelines for freshwater ecosystems cannot be conceived without societal consensus and vision. Different climatic, geographical and socioeconomic contexts are to be considered too. Their development is embedded in an adaptive cycle. Its multiple phases and steps indicate a long-term approach including reassessment and potential revisions.

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