Social-Ecological Systems Institute (SESI)
Organisational unit: Institute
Organisation profile
Vision & Mission
We envision a fair world where the benefits generated within social-ecological systems are shared sustainably with other species, both within and across generations. Solutions to sustainability challenges are developed collaboratively across diverse scientific disciplines, knowledge systems, and social interests. To realise our vision, we recognise the need for transformative change. In pursuit of such change we:
- use place-based social-ecological systems thinking to understand and resolve sustainability challenges such as biodiversity loss and environmental injustice;
- bring together insights and approaches from the natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities in genuinely collaborative endeavours;
- integrate experiences, practices, and understandings from diverse knowledge systems;
- embed tools for transformative change into the social-ecological systems thinking via a leverage points perspective;
- develop and apply methods to bridge multiple scales and governance levels; and
- provide spaces for people sharing our vision to meet and exchange ideas.
Main research areas
We primarily conduct integrative and transdisciplinary research. In particular, the following topics are central to the Institute's research work:
- Biodiversity conservation
- Biocultural diversity
- Cross-scale governance
- Leverage points & transformation
- Ecosystem services
- Relational values
- Environmental justice
- 2025
- Published
The multifaceted spectra of power − A participatory network analysis on power structures in diverse dryland regions
Olofsson, V., Garcia, M. M., Castro, A. J., Calderón, S. C., Diallo, A. H., Aceituno, A. J., López-Rodríguez, M. D., Gonzalez, T. S., Silvino, A. S. & Aguiar, A. P., 01.07.2025, In: Global Environmental Change. 92, 12 p., 102984.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Unveiling disparities between planned and perceived equity arrangements in protected area co-governance: Evidence from the North Luangwa Ecosystem in Zambia
Kachali, R. N. & Loos, J., 07.2025, In: Environmental Science and Policy. 169, 9 p., 104068.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Human-wildlife conflict in Rwanda: Linking ecoregion, changing conservation status and the local communities’ perception
Sun, P., Bariyanga, J. D. & Wronski, T., 01.06.2025, In: Global Ecology and Conservation. 59, 17 p., e03550.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
The global distribution of authorship in economics journals
Aigner, E., Greenspon, J. & Rodrik, D., 01.05.2025, In: World Development. 189, 18 p., 106926.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- E-pub ahead of print
Mapping the intersection of planetary boundaries and environmentally extended input-output analysis: A systematic literature review
León, M. F. G., Bankert, A., Becerra, D. T. & Abson, D. J., 24.04.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Sustainable Production and Consumption.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- E-pub ahead of print
Exploring biocultural diversity: A systematic analysis and refined classification to inform decisions on conservation and sustainability
Otamendi-Urroz, I., Quintas-Soriano, C., Hanspach, J., Requena-Mullor, J. M., Lagies, A. S. & Castro, A. J., 16.04.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Ambio. 17 p., e517.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- Published
Biosphere Reserves as catalysts for sustainability transformations: five strategies to support place-based innovation
Dabard, C. H., Mann, C. & Martín-López, B., 01.04.2025, In: Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 73, 6 p., 101508.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- Published
Ancestral cuisine as regenerative social technologies in Amazon: eco-humanist perspectives towards a critical sustainable chemistry
Zonta, A. L. & Zuin, V. G., 04.2025, In: Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 52, 7 p., 101006.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Characterising landscape homogenisation: a qualitative approach based on five case studies
Cortés-Capano, G., Shumi, G., Raatikainen, K. J., Mahdavi-Nezhad, Z. & Loos, J., 04.2025, In: Ecosystems and People. 21, 1, 13 p., 2485282.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Horizontal portability: A proposal for representing place-based relational values in research and policy
Himes, A., Muraca, B., Allen, K., Chapman, M., Coelho-Junior, M. G., Cundill, G., Gould, R. K., Herrmann, T. M., Kenter, J. O., Nakachi, A. A., Nemogá, G. R., Ortiz-Przychodzka, S., Pearson, J., Rono, B., Saito, T., Tadaki, M. & Bonn, A., 04.2025, In: People and Nature. 7, 4, p. 752-764 13 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research