Minding the boundary: social-ecological contexts for fence ecology and management

Fencing is a globally ubiquitous yet largely underestimated human infrastructure. To date, most fencing-related research and management has focused on its biophysical outcomes. However, fencing is often part of coupled human and natural systems, and inevitably affects social and ecological dynamics and the links between them. Drawing from three key case studies in the US, China, and South Africa, we delineate five social pathways through which fencing shapes social-ecological dynamics in a landscape. We show that the social functions and physical appearance of fencing conjointly form a positive feedback loop that stimulates the proliferation of fences across entire landscapes, rendering fencing a more impactful feature than expected from its ecological impacts alone. The emerging field of fence ecology and management must embrace the social-ecological complexities of fenced landscapes to minimize unanticipated social consequences.

Automated summary

Fencing, a common yet underestimated human infrastructure, affects not only the ecological aspect but also the social dynamics in landscapes. Through case studies, it is found that the social functions and physical appearance of fencing create a positive feedback loop, leading to the widespread proliferation of fences in landscapes, making it more impactful than expected solely based on its ecological impacts. Therefore, fence ecology and management should consider the social-ecological complexities of fenced landscapes to minimize unintended social consequences.