Transitioning to a Blue Economy that prioritizes social equity will be challenging in ocean secto... more Transitioning to a Blue Economy that prioritizes social equity will be challenging in ocean sectors but could be comparatively easier for newer industries where appropriate guidelines can be followed from the start. We focus here on two emerging ocean sectors-blue carbon and ocean energy-and an evaluation of benefitsharing agreements at operational sites, and the recipients and types of these benefits. This is an initial yet useful gauge of progress towards integration of social equity concerns as envisioned under a Blue Economy. The number (n = 84) and scale of ocean energy sites is rapidly increasing but highly concentrated in a few regions. The ocean energy sector is currently focused on serving grids in urbanized areas and reducing national emissions, and economic benefit-sharing mechanisms with local residents are less common (35% of all sites). However, some cases show how local communities can be better included in the planning and implementation of ocean energy, including negotiation of subsequent economic benefits. Despite widespread interest in blue carbon, we found very few (n = 4) operational sites; nonetheless, these were deeply involved with and often led by local communities who are the main beneficiaries. Voluntary public and corporate social responsibility actions are useful, but government regulation must play an essential role in requiring equitable processes and supporting equitable outcomes, similar to now-standard environmental regulations to avoid negative impacts and increase the likelihood of ecological sustainability. Emerging ocean sectors have a unique opportunity to advance social equity and environmental sustainability within Blue Economies, but this will be much more easily achieved if equity guidelines are prioritized and mandated so that business-as-usual practices do not become entrenched.
11 SEPTEMBER 2009 VOL 325 SCIENCE www.sciencemag.org 1342 C R E D IT : C O U R T E S Y N O R T H ... more 11 SEPTEMBER 2009 VOL 325 SCIENCE www.sciencemag.org 1342 C R E D IT : C O U R T E S Y N O R T H W E S T F IS H E R IE S S C IE N C E C E N T E R /N O A A E cosystem-based management (EBM) represents a novel strategy to create enduring wealth while balancing trade-offs among social and ecological considerations. Born from management disasters caused by narrow, speciesor issue-specific decision-making processes, the approach represents a profound shift in natural resource management. It emphasizes human dependence on ecosystems, humility, and precaution in how we interact with and use the environment. It also highlights the need for institutional adaptation to change and ecological resilience. The degree to which stakeholders, scientists, and managers must consequently expand their worldview, understanding, and ethics is daunting. EcosystemBased Management for the Oceans provides a synthetic, cohesive perspective on these issues, making it essential reading for EBM researchers and pr...
In an effort to diversify sources of energy, reduce carbon emissions, and meet growing demands fo... more In an effort to diversify sources of energy, reduce carbon emissions, and meet growing demands for electricity, dozens of offshore wind farm sites are currently under consideration in the U.S. The Island Institute, a nonprofit community development organization based in Rockland, Maine, advocates for meaningful public engagement during decision-making processes, including those involving island communities and offshore wind. This organization engages local stakeholders, wind farm developers, scientists, engineers, state and federal agency decision-makers and others to learn from each other and carefully consider the trade-offs involved in developing an offshore wind farm
Proposals to develop renewable energy technologies may threaten local values, which can generate ... more Proposals to develop renewable energy technologies may threaten local values, which can generate opposition. Efforts to explain this opposition have focused on perceived negative aesthetic and environmental impact. Less attention has been paid to a fuller suite of the perceived risks and benefits associated with new energy technologies. This paper thus investigates impacts of an offshore wind farm pertaining to individual perceptions and judgments, and why risks to some ecosystem services might be cause for greater public concern than others. We find that this difference can be attributed to the affective and intuitive ways in which people perceive risk. Our mixed-methods design used interviews (n=27) that involved risk-benefit weighting tasks and an animated visualization to help people imagine an offshore wind farm in a familiar place. We found that affectively-loaded impacts (harm to charismatic wildlife and visual intrusion) were assigned greater weight than more easily quantifiable impacts (displacement of fishing, impact to tourism, cost of compliance with regulations). Interviewees identified increased regional energy self-sufficiency as the most valued potential benefit of an offshore wind farm. These results have implications for ecosystem service assessments generally and, more specifically, for our understanding of ‘affective’ dimensions of development proposals.
Despite broad recognition of the value of social sciences and increasingly vocal calls for better... more Despite broad recognition of the value of social sciences and increasingly vocal calls for better engagement with the human element of conservation, the conservation social sciences remain misunderstood and underutilized in practice. The conservation social sciences can provide unique and important contributions to society's understanding of the relationships between humans and nature and to improving conservation practice and outcomes. There are 4 barriers—ideological, institutional, knowledge, and capacity—to meaningful integration of the social sciences into conservation. We provide practical guidance on overcoming these barriers to mainstream the social sciences in conservation science, practice, and policy. Broadly, we recommend fostering knowledge on the scope and contributions of the social sciences to conservation, including social scientists from the inception of interdisciplinary research projects, incorporating social science research and insights during all stages of...
Each of the fields of conservation social science has made and can make a unique contribution to ... more Each of the fields of conservation social science has made and can make a unique contribution to understanding the relationship between humans and nature and to improving conservation outcomes. Conservation scientists, practitioners and organizations recognize the importance of the conservation social sciences and are increasingly engaging in and funding conservation social science research. Yet conservation organizations and funders often lack a clear understanding of the breadth of the conservation social sciences, the types of questions that each field of conservation social science poses, the methods used by disciplinary specialists, or the potential contribution of each field of conservation social science to improving conservation practice and outcomes. Limited social science capacity and knowledge within conservation organizations may also mean that conservation practitioners and organizations looking to fund conservation social science research do not know where or how to be...
The many qualities of marine environments are at the heart of debates about ‘environments and eco... more The many qualities of marine environments are at the heart of debates about ‘environments and economies’. Reflecting across papers presented in this session and case studies from coastal B.C., we explore questions about what we choose to value and why in the marine environment, and the problem of ‘winner-take-all’ systems of economic development and the concentration or risks versus benefits given particular environmental changes. Our cases indicate ways of thinking about marine economies less as discrete acts of extraction to be valued on markets or substituted with cash equivalents than as environments best understood as a cultural landscapes with long histories of economic, cultural and livelihood security. Examples are provided of richly inhabited landscapes with long histories of intergenerational knowledge transmission through seasonal acts of cultivation and harvesting; areas vibrantly alive with origin stories recorded and retold in place, where abundance and wealth of resources feed complex social and ceremonial orders that provide for cultural resilience. Cases also include efforts to maintain and reintroduce food sovereignty as coastal communities become depopulated and increasingly burdened by household poverty. Finally, we consider all of these cases in reference to new models for environmental planning, known as ecosystem service and cultural services approaches, which aim to reconcile the unnecessary decoupling of ‘environments’ and ‘economies’. As a metaphor and method, ecosystem services seek to integrate these to better link physical and cultural worlds; include values that people hold dear, and maintain the livelihoods and well being on which cultural continuity depends
Ecosystems provide many of the material building blocks for human well-being. Although quantifica... more Ecosystems provide many of the material building blocks for human well-being. Although quantification and appreciation of such contributions have rapidly grown, our dependence upon cultural connections to nature deserves more attention. We synthesize multidisciplinary peer-reviewed research on contributions of nature or ecosystems to human well-being mediated through nontangible connections (such as culture). We characterize these connections on the basis of the channels through which such connections arise (i.e., knowing, perceiving, interacting with, and living within) and the components of human well-being they affect (e.g., physical, mental and spiritual health, inspiration, identity). We found enormous variation in the methods used, quantity of research, and generalizability of the literature. The effects of nature on mental and physical health have been rigorously demonstrated, whereas other effects (e.g., on learning) are theorized but seldom demonstrated. The balance of evid...
Transitioning to a Blue Economy that prioritizes social equity will be challenging in ocean secto... more Transitioning to a Blue Economy that prioritizes social equity will be challenging in ocean sectors but could be comparatively easier for newer industries where appropriate guidelines can be followed from the start. We focus here on two emerging ocean sectors-blue carbon and ocean energy-and an evaluation of benefitsharing agreements at operational sites, and the recipients and types of these benefits. This is an initial yet useful gauge of progress towards integration of social equity concerns as envisioned under a Blue Economy. The number (n = 84) and scale of ocean energy sites is rapidly increasing but highly concentrated in a few regions. The ocean energy sector is currently focused on serving grids in urbanized areas and reducing national emissions, and economic benefit-sharing mechanisms with local residents are less common (35% of all sites). However, some cases show how local communities can be better included in the planning and implementation of ocean energy, including negotiation of subsequent economic benefits. Despite widespread interest in blue carbon, we found very few (n = 4) operational sites; nonetheless, these were deeply involved with and often led by local communities who are the main beneficiaries. Voluntary public and corporate social responsibility actions are useful, but government regulation must play an essential role in requiring equitable processes and supporting equitable outcomes, similar to now-standard environmental regulations to avoid negative impacts and increase the likelihood of ecological sustainability. Emerging ocean sectors have a unique opportunity to advance social equity and environmental sustainability within Blue Economies, but this will be much more easily achieved if equity guidelines are prioritized and mandated so that business-as-usual practices do not become entrenched.
11 SEPTEMBER 2009 VOL 325 SCIENCE www.sciencemag.org 1342 C R E D IT : C O U R T E S Y N O R T H ... more 11 SEPTEMBER 2009 VOL 325 SCIENCE www.sciencemag.org 1342 C R E D IT : C O U R T E S Y N O R T H W E S T F IS H E R IE S S C IE N C E C E N T E R /N O A A E cosystem-based management (EBM) represents a novel strategy to create enduring wealth while balancing trade-offs among social and ecological considerations. Born from management disasters caused by narrow, speciesor issue-specific decision-making processes, the approach represents a profound shift in natural resource management. It emphasizes human dependence on ecosystems, humility, and precaution in how we interact with and use the environment. It also highlights the need for institutional adaptation to change and ecological resilience. The degree to which stakeholders, scientists, and managers must consequently expand their worldview, understanding, and ethics is daunting. EcosystemBased Management for the Oceans provides a synthetic, cohesive perspective on these issues, making it essential reading for EBM researchers and pr...
In an effort to diversify sources of energy, reduce carbon emissions, and meet growing demands fo... more In an effort to diversify sources of energy, reduce carbon emissions, and meet growing demands for electricity, dozens of offshore wind farm sites are currently under consideration in the U.S. The Island Institute, a nonprofit community development organization based in Rockland, Maine, advocates for meaningful public engagement during decision-making processes, including those involving island communities and offshore wind. This organization engages local stakeholders, wind farm developers, scientists, engineers, state and federal agency decision-makers and others to learn from each other and carefully consider the trade-offs involved in developing an offshore wind farm
Proposals to develop renewable energy technologies may threaten local values, which can generate ... more Proposals to develop renewable energy technologies may threaten local values, which can generate opposition. Efforts to explain this opposition have focused on perceived negative aesthetic and environmental impact. Less attention has been paid to a fuller suite of the perceived risks and benefits associated with new energy technologies. This paper thus investigates impacts of an offshore wind farm pertaining to individual perceptions and judgments, and why risks to some ecosystem services might be cause for greater public concern than others. We find that this difference can be attributed to the affective and intuitive ways in which people perceive risk. Our mixed-methods design used interviews (n=27) that involved risk-benefit weighting tasks and an animated visualization to help people imagine an offshore wind farm in a familiar place. We found that affectively-loaded impacts (harm to charismatic wildlife and visual intrusion) were assigned greater weight than more easily quantifiable impacts (displacement of fishing, impact to tourism, cost of compliance with regulations). Interviewees identified increased regional energy self-sufficiency as the most valued potential benefit of an offshore wind farm. These results have implications for ecosystem service assessments generally and, more specifically, for our understanding of ‘affective’ dimensions of development proposals.
Despite broad recognition of the value of social sciences and increasingly vocal calls for better... more Despite broad recognition of the value of social sciences and increasingly vocal calls for better engagement with the human element of conservation, the conservation social sciences remain misunderstood and underutilized in practice. The conservation social sciences can provide unique and important contributions to society's understanding of the relationships between humans and nature and to improving conservation practice and outcomes. There are 4 barriers—ideological, institutional, knowledge, and capacity—to meaningful integration of the social sciences into conservation. We provide practical guidance on overcoming these barriers to mainstream the social sciences in conservation science, practice, and policy. Broadly, we recommend fostering knowledge on the scope and contributions of the social sciences to conservation, including social scientists from the inception of interdisciplinary research projects, incorporating social science research and insights during all stages of...
Each of the fields of conservation social science has made and can make a unique contribution to ... more Each of the fields of conservation social science has made and can make a unique contribution to understanding the relationship between humans and nature and to improving conservation outcomes. Conservation scientists, practitioners and organizations recognize the importance of the conservation social sciences and are increasingly engaging in and funding conservation social science research. Yet conservation organizations and funders often lack a clear understanding of the breadth of the conservation social sciences, the types of questions that each field of conservation social science poses, the methods used by disciplinary specialists, or the potential contribution of each field of conservation social science to improving conservation practice and outcomes. Limited social science capacity and knowledge within conservation organizations may also mean that conservation practitioners and organizations looking to fund conservation social science research do not know where or how to be...
The many qualities of marine environments are at the heart of debates about ‘environments and eco... more The many qualities of marine environments are at the heart of debates about ‘environments and economies’. Reflecting across papers presented in this session and case studies from coastal B.C., we explore questions about what we choose to value and why in the marine environment, and the problem of ‘winner-take-all’ systems of economic development and the concentration or risks versus benefits given particular environmental changes. Our cases indicate ways of thinking about marine economies less as discrete acts of extraction to be valued on markets or substituted with cash equivalents than as environments best understood as a cultural landscapes with long histories of economic, cultural and livelihood security. Examples are provided of richly inhabited landscapes with long histories of intergenerational knowledge transmission through seasonal acts of cultivation and harvesting; areas vibrantly alive with origin stories recorded and retold in place, where abundance and wealth of resources feed complex social and ceremonial orders that provide for cultural resilience. Cases also include efforts to maintain and reintroduce food sovereignty as coastal communities become depopulated and increasingly burdened by household poverty. Finally, we consider all of these cases in reference to new models for environmental planning, known as ecosystem service and cultural services approaches, which aim to reconcile the unnecessary decoupling of ‘environments’ and ‘economies’. As a metaphor and method, ecosystem services seek to integrate these to better link physical and cultural worlds; include values that people hold dear, and maintain the livelihoods and well being on which cultural continuity depends
Ecosystems provide many of the material building blocks for human well-being. Although quantifica... more Ecosystems provide many of the material building blocks for human well-being. Although quantification and appreciation of such contributions have rapidly grown, our dependence upon cultural connections to nature deserves more attention. We synthesize multidisciplinary peer-reviewed research on contributions of nature or ecosystems to human well-being mediated through nontangible connections (such as culture). We characterize these connections on the basis of the channels through which such connections arise (i.e., knowing, perceiving, interacting with, and living within) and the components of human well-being they affect (e.g., physical, mental and spiritual health, inspiration, identity). We found enormous variation in the methods used, quantity of research, and generalizability of the literature. The effects of nature on mental and physical health have been rigorously demonstrated, whereas other effects (e.g., on learning) are theorized but seldom demonstrated. The balance of evid...
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