Journal
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Volume 8, Issue 8, Pages 414-422Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1890/080215
Keywords
-
Categories
Funding
- Fenner School of Environment and Society
- Economic and Social Research Council [ES/G021694/1] Funding Source: researchfish
- ESRC [ES/G021694/1] Funding Source: UKRI
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Many adaptation strategies focus on improving short-term capacities to cope with environmental change, but ignore the possibility that they might inadvertently increase vulnerability to unforeseen changes in the future. To help develop more effective long-term strategies, we present a conceptual framework of adaptation. The framework emphasizes that in order to ensure that existing problems are not exacerbated, adaptation must: (1) address both human-induced and biophysical drivers of undesired ecological change; (2) maintain a diversity of future response options; and (3) nurture the kinds of human capacities that enable the uptake of those response options. These requirements are often not met when adaptation strategies rely on technological fixes, which tend to concentrate on coping with the biophysical symptoms of problems rather than addressing human behavioral causes. Furthermore, to develop effective, long-term adaptation, greater emphasis is needed on strategies that enhance, rather than erode, the human values, skills, and behaviors conducive to sustainable activities. Participatory approaches to environmental stewardship are part of the solution to this problem.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available