Program on ecosystem change and society: An international research strategy for integrated social-ecological systems

Stephen R. Carpenter, Carl Folke, Albert Norström, Olof Olsson, Lisen Schultz, Bina Agarwal, Patricia Balvanera, Bruce Campbell, Juan Carlos Castilla, Wolfgang Cramer, Ruth DeFries, Pablo Eyzaguirre, Terry P. Hughes, Stephen Polasky, Zainal Sanusi, Robert Scholes, Marja Spierenburg

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

90 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Program on Ecosystem Change and Society (PECS), a new initiative within the ICSU global change programs, aims to integrate research on the stewardship of social-ecological systems, the services they generate, and the relationships among natural capital, human wellbeing, livelihoods, inequality and poverty. The vision of PECS is a world where human actions have transformed to achieve sustainable stewardship of social-ecological systems. The goal of PECS is to generate the scientific and policy-relevant knowledge of social-ecological dynamics needed to enable such a shift, including mitigation of poverty. PECS is a coordinating body for diverse independently funded research projects, not a funder of research. PECS research employs a range of transdisciplinary approaches and methods, with comparative, place-based research that is international in scope at the core.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)134-138
Number of pages5
JournalCurrent Opinion in Environmental Sustainability
Volume4
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2012

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Referees and the editor provided excellent comments that led to improvements in the manuscript. We are grateful for support of Mistra, Ebba och Sven Schwartz Stiftelse, and the Water Sustainability and Climate program of NSF.

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