Social-Ecological Systems Approach: A Strategy Towards Sustainable Environmental Management

Social-ecological systems are dynamic and multi-level systems in which cultural, political, social, ecological, and technological components interact. Today, blindly pursuing the classic pattern of development and the stereotypical models, which do not take into account the ecological, social, and economic characteristics and complexities, has resulted in the detrimental effects on landscapes, causing ecological and social unsustainability. In this study, using a descriptive-analytical method and library research, a conceptual model and an appropriate-analytical framework were proposed to overcome environmental management challenges such as disregard of multiple scales, ignoring stakeholders’ perspectives, lack of adaptive management against sudden changes, use of inappropriate scales, institutional constraints, lack of empirical evidence and uncertainty. Results indicated that the new approach of social-ecological systems in planning and environmental management can provide the grounds for a progressive change in rational, authoritative, and sectoral planning and management towards democratic-oriented planning. The new approach includes change from the static to dynamic perspectives, attention to processes and trends in examining structures and functions, inclusion of holistic and systemic perspectives, development of common knowledge, involvement of the stakeholders, participation according to the philosophies of empowerment, equality and trust, training and social learning, adaptive capacity, adaptive governance, and monitoring systems. This new approach also provides a basis for sustainable management of the environment.